1It is not agreeable to the Christian profession to regard the rich, and despise the poor. 10The guilt of any one breach of the law. 13The obligation to mercy. 14Faith without works is dead. 20We are justified, as Abraham and Rahab were, by works, and not by faith only.
1MY brethren, have not 1the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2the Lord of glory, 3witha respect of persons.
1 That is, the christian faith, whereof Christ is the Foundation, 1 Cor. 3:11.
2 Hereby is shown the dignity of the christian faith, which has not only respect to Christ crucified for us, 1 Cor. 2:2, but Who is also God from everlasting, and now sits in glory at the right hand of God in the highest place. See 1 Cor. 2:8; Heb. 1:3; 1 Peter 3:22. Others join this word glory to the word faith, because faith has mainly respect to this, that Christ by His suffering is entered into His glory, and shall also bring all believers into the same, and make them partakers of the same.
3 That is, of the outward condition of men, which makes nothing to the matter, as riches, powers, etc. See Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11, hereof the annotations at Acts 10 on verse 34; Rom. 2 on verse 11.
a Lev. 19:15; Deut. 16:19; Prov. 24:23; Mat. 22:16.
2For if there come unto your 4assembly 5a man with a gold ring, in 6goodly apparel,b and there come in also a 7poor man 8in vile raiment;
4 Gr. synagoge, whereby are not understood the Jewish schools or synagogues where Christians came no more to exercise their worship of God, but all manner of places where Christians came together to exercise the worship of God.
5 That is, rich men who are preferred only by reason of their riches or worldly pomp, amongst whom are oftentimes found such as are described in verses 6, 7.
6 Or, glistening.
b clothing, garments*
7 Namely, though he be devout and faithful.
8 Gr. in sordid clothing.
3And ye have 9respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here 10in a good place; and say to 11the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
9 That is, cast your eyes altogether upon him with reverence.
10 Gr. well, or, honorable.
11 Namely, who comes into the assembly. See verse 2.
412Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become 13judges of evil thoughts?
12 Or, are ye not condemned in yourselves? That is, convinced in your consciences that you do amiss therein.
13 That is, you have judged that your evil reasonings in this accepting of person were good and proper. Or, ill reasoning judges, that is, perverse judges.
5Hearken,c my beloved brethren, 14Hath not God 15chosen 16the poor of this world 17rich in faith, and heirs 18of the kingdom which he hath promisedd to them 19that love him?
c John 7:48; 1 Cor. 1:26, etc.
14 That is, have you not read, heard, or understood that God, etc.
15 Namely, from everlasting before the foundation of the world, Eph. 1:4, and called in time.
16 Not all, but more poor than rich, 1 Cor. 1:26.
17 Or, to become rich in faith, etc. See the like phrase, Rom. 8:29; even as the following words necessarily require this sense.
18 Namely, of heaven, and of all heavenly good things, although they have not the goods of this world.
d Exod. 20:6; 1 Sam. 2:30; Prov. 8:17; Mat. 5:3.
19 Namely, be they poor or rich; which he adds, that the rich might not think that they were totally excluded from election, and from this kingdom.
6But ye have 20despised the poor. Do not rich men 21oppress you, and draw you 22before the judgment seats?
20 Namely thereby, that you give more honor to such a rich man than to a poor believer, whom you despise.
21 He proves that such rich men are not worthy of such honor, because of their wickedness, seeing they violently oppress the faithful.
22 Namely, there, by a vain show of justice, to accuse falsely the faithful, and unmercifully cause them to be condemned. See Mat. 10:17.
7Do not they blaspheme 23that worthy name by 24the which ye are called?
23 Namely, of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
24 Namely, when you were baptized in His name. Or, after which you are called, namely, Christians; a Hebrew phrase, see the like Gen. 48:16; Isa. 4:1.
8If ye 25fulfil 26the royal law according to the scripture, Thoue shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
25 Or, keep, for, suppose that a man kept the entire law of the love to the neighbor, and he accepted the person as was said, he is a transgressor of the same law; forasmuch as the love to the neighbor can have no place where the neighbor is despised, as is declared in the following verse.
26 That is, the most important and universal law, under which all other are comprehended; as also a common highway is called the king’s high way, Num. 21:22; or, which God, a Lord and King over all, has prescribed and commanded us.
e Lev. 19:18; Mat. 22:39; Mark 12:31; Rom. 13:9; Gal. 5:14; Eph. 5:2; 1 Thes. 4:9.
9But if ye have respect 27to persons, ye 28commit sin, and are convinced of 29the law as transgressors.
27 Namely, as is declared before in verses 1, 2, etc.
28 Gr. work, that is, do a work which is sin, as being contrary to the love unto the neighbor.
29 Namely, related in the previous verse.
10Forf30whosoever shall keep 31the whole law, and yet 32offend in one point, he 33is guilty of all.
f Deut. 27:26; Mat. 5:19; Gal. 3:10.
30 Not that any man can perfectly keep the whole law, but this is spoken conditionally, if there were any man, or if anyone boasts thereof, as the young man in Mat. 19:20.
31 Namely, except this one thing wherein he makes a wrong step.
32 That is, to sin, a similitude taken from them, who in walking or running stumble with their foot and fall. See afterwards James 3:2.
33 That is, has made himself guilty of the punishment, which the law pronounces against transgressors, Deut. 27:26. Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words, etc., for, he who dares to contemn the Law-giver in one, he dares to contemn Him also in the other, and he who wounds one member of the body, is said to have wounded the whole body.
11For he that said, Dog not commit adultery, 34said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
g Exod. 20:14; Mat. 5:27.
34 That is, it is one and the same Law-giver, Who has forbidden one as well as the other.
12So 35speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged 36by the law of liberty.
35 Namely, without the acceptation of persons.
36 That is, by the Gospel, whereby is proclaimed that we are by Christ made free from the severity of the law. See in James 1:25 previously, and consequently shall have to expect the heavier judgment, if we misuse this grace to unmercifulness. Others translate it, as who henceforward shall judge your brethren by the law of liberty, that is, according to the doctrine of the Gospel, without respect of persons.
13Forh he shall have 37judgment without mercy, 38that hath shewed no mercy; and 39mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
h Mat. 6:15; 18:35; Mark 11:25; Luke 16:25.
37 That is, which is not mollified or tempered with mercy, or grace of forgiveness.
38 That is, who shall have used or shown no love towards his neighbor, among whom also are they, who by accepting of persons, despise the poor. See Matthew 25.
39 This some understand of the mercy of God, which boasts against the severe judgment of the law, as having overcome and taken the same away from all believers by Christ. But the foregoing words seem to require that it be understood of the mercy of men, which he has shown to his neighbor. This (one) boasts, that is, causes the man, who has shown it, to boast and rejoice in Christ, against the judgment of condemnation, that it shall not come upon him; seeing it is certain that it shall not come upon true believers, John 5:24; Rom. 8:1; 1 Cor. 15:55, and he, by the works of mercy and love, is assured of the truth and uprightness of his faith, Mat. 25:35; Gal. 5:6.
1440Whatidoth it profit, my brethren, though a man 41say he hath faith, and have not works? can 42faith 43save him?
40 Namely, for a man’s comfort and salvation.
i Mat. 7:26; James 1:23.
41 That is, outwardly profess and boast, whereas in truth he has no true faith.
42 That is, such a faith, which is without works.
43 That is, justify him before God? He will say, in no wise.
15Ifj a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
j Luke 3:11; 1 John 3:17.
16And one of you 44say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; 45what doth it profit?
44 That is, would show love to them only in words.
45 He means: none; neither to the poor, nor to him who loves only with words.
17Even so faith, if it hath not works, 46is dead, being alone.
46 Or, in itself, that is, has no profit to justification; and no more power to save, than a dead body without a soul has power to produce any operations of life. See verse 26.
18Yea, 47a man may 48say, 49Thou hast faith, and 50I have works: 51shew me thy faith 52without thy works, and I will shew thee 53my faith 54by my works.
47 Namely, who has the true and lively faith, which is effectual by good works.
48 Namely, to an hypocrite, who boasts of faith, and brings forth no good works.
49 Namely, a faith that is without good works. Or, thou sayst that thou hast faith. Be it so.
50 That is, a faith with works, or effectual by good works.
51 That is, go to, if thou hast true faith, as thou boastest and imaginest, show it by works, even as a tree shows by good fruits that it is a good tree, Mat. 7:17, 18.
52 Others read by thy works. Most Greek copies have by thy works, which has also a good sense.
53 Namely, that it is a sincere and true faith.
54 Namely, as by the fruits of a true faith, and a certain evidence of the same.
19Thou believest 55that there is one God; 56thou doest well: thek devils also 57believe, and 58tremble.
55 That is, thou believest not, as the Gentiles do, that there are many gods, but that there is but one God, Who hath revealed Himself in His Word, Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:6.
56 Namely, so far that you believe that article to be true, as it is also; but such knowledge and assent to the articles of the faith is not enough unto an upright and true faith. The proof follows.
k Mark 1:24.
57 That is, know and assent also that there is but one God; and notwithstanding have not therefore a true faith.
58 Or, quake. Namely, because of the fearful judgment of God whereunto they are reserved, 2 Peter 2:4, and trust not in the grace of God, neither seek to serve Him as their Father.
20But 59wilt thou know, 60O vain man, that faith 61without works is dead?
59 That is, do you want to be yet more clearly instructed in this point? I will yet prove it to you more clearly by the examples of Abraham and Rahab.
60 That is, O dissembling man, who vainly boasts of faith, without showing the same faith with works.
61 That is, if it be without good works, as verse 17.
21Was not Abraham 62our father 63justified by works, whenl he had 64offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
62 That is, who is a father of all true believers, Rom. 4:1, 11, 16, whose spiritual children therefore are justified by no other faith, than whereby Abraham was justified.
63 This seems to contradict with which Paul says in Romans 4 and Galatians 3, where he teaches and proves that Abraham was justified not by works, but by faith; which has caused some, yea even of the ancient teachers, to doubt whether this epistle of James ought to be acknowledged for Holy Scripture. But if the matter be well looked into, there is no contradiction at all. For, Paul’s intention is to teach contrary to the false teachers, that a man is not justified before God by his own righteousness, consisting of the works of the law which we have done, but only by faith, that is, by the righteousness of Christ received by true faith, Rom. 3:28; Gal. 2:16; Philip. 3:9; Titus 3:4, 5; Heb. 10:38; and this he proves by the example of Abraham, Romans 4. But the intention of James is to teach contrary to the superficial christians, that faith, whereby we are justified before God, is not only a knowledge with assent, or an outward profession of the articles of faith, but also a firm confidence of the heart in the grace of God in Christ, which stirs up and brings forth good works in true believers, whereby they are assured, and show before others, that they have true saving faith, and are justified before God. And to this end he also here produces the example of Abraham, and shows that his faith, whereby he was justified before God, was such a faith, and that this appears principally by that great work of faith, when he would have offered up his son Isaac. Both these doctrines, of Paul as well as of James are true and agreeable to Scripture, and are in no wise contradictory. Therefore, when James says here that Abraham was justified by works, that is, as he himself declares, by that work when he offered up Isaac, he understands by these words, by works, that Abraham showed by his works that he had a true and lively faith, and that by good works, as fruits of the same, he showed before God and men that he was truly justified before God. So that James does not take the word justified in that signification which Paul does, when he speaks of man’s justification before God, but for a showing forth of that justification before God and men; as also by the word faith, when he denies that we are justified thereby only, verse 24, he understands a bare assent and profession of the christian faith, which is not accompanied with trust, nor with good works, like true saving faith. For, that, to speak properly, Abraham was not justified before God by that work, appears clearly from Gen. 15:6 where it is said, that for some years before, ere he offered up his son when he believed the promise of this son, Abraham was justified by God through faith, as James testifies here also, verse 23.
l Gen. 22:10.
64 That is, would have offered, or was about to offer him, which work was a clear evidence of a true and very strong faith, Rom. 4:18, 19, 20.
2265Seest thou how faith 66wrought with his works, and by works was faith 67made perfect?
65 Or, thou seest then.
66 Namely, powerfully to show and to testify by good works, that he was justified before God.
67 That is, declared and shown to be a faith that had all its parts, and was perfect and upright; as this word to be perfect is also taken for: to be proven to be perfect, 2 Cor. 12:9.
23And 68the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abrahamm believed God, and 69it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and 70he was called the Friend of God.
68 That is, by that work he has shown to be true what the Scripture says of him, that he was justified by faith, forasmuch as by this work it appears that he had the true justifying faith, and was justified before God by faith. And it appears here also that James ascribes justification before God properly not to works, but to faith which shows itself by works.
m Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6.
69 See the exposition hereof, Rom. 4:3.
70 These words are not found in Genesis 15, but the thing may be collected from that which is said in Gen. 22:12, 16, 18, and is such called in 2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8.
2471Ye see then how that 72by works a man is justified, and not by faith 73only.
71 Or, Thou seest now then, as verse 22.
72 That is, is testified and shown to be justified by good works.
73 That is, not by such a faith which is without good works, or, that does not bring forth good works with it.
25Likewise also was not Rahabn74the harlot justified 75by works, when she 76had received 77the messengers, and had sent them out 78another way?
n Joshua 2:1; 6:23; Heb. 11:31.
74 See of this word, Heb. 11:31.
75 See the exposition verse 21. And it appears also from this, seeing she could not properly be justified before God by this one good work, that therefore these words must be improperly understood, namely, that by this work she showed that her faith was a true and justifying faith. See Heb. 11:31.
76 Namely, with peace, Heb. 11:31, without reporting or discovering them, but affording them all help.
77 Or, who are sent, namely, who were sent forth to spy out the land of Canaan.
78 Namely, to escape the danger. See Joshua 2.
26For as the body 79without the spirit is dead, so 80faith 81without works is dead also.
79 That is, without the quickening soul, which moves it, and produces operations of life, as Psalm 104:29; Isa. 2:22; that is, without breath or motion.
80 That is, the knowledge and assent to the articles of faith, or the outward profession of the same.
81 That is, when it is not accompanied with good works. See verses 17, 20.