The connection of thought with what goes before appears to be this. God cannot be the author of temptation, which thus leads to sin and death, because all good and perfect gifts, and these only, come from him. read more
Do not err, my beloved brethren - This is said as if there were great danger of error in the point under consideration. The point on which he would guard them, seems to have been in respect to the opinion that God was the author of sin, and that the evils in the world are to be traced to him. There was great danger that they would embrace that opinion, for experience has shown that it is a danger into which men are always prone to fall. Some of the sources of this danger have been already... read more
James 1:16-17. Do not err, &c. By supposing that God is the author of sin, or that any thing which is sinful in the heart or conduct of man can, with truth, be ascribed to him: as well might darkness and coldness be attributed to the sun. It is indeed a grievous error to ascribe the evil, and not the good, which we receive, to God. No evil, but every good gift Of every kind: whatever is beautiful, excellent, and good in any creature in the universe; all the members and senses of our... read more
1:1-18 LIFE’S TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIESJames’ readers are scattered over the area of the early church’s expansion (1:1), but no matter where they live, they share the same responsibilities as Christians everywhere. One of these responsibilities requires them to do something that by nature is very difficult, namely, face the trials of life with joy. This joy comes through the knowledge that trials help believers to develop endurance and so strengthen their Christian character (2-4).When faced with... read more
Do not err = Be not deceived. beloved . App-135 . read more
Be not deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.Be not deceived ... Inherent in this is the fact that it is just possible now for men to be deceived through the allurements of sin as it was when Eve was tempted in Eden. The great temptation in all sin is to be deceived into thinking that, after all, it will not prove to be as bad as God... read more
James 1:16. Do not err, &c.— Or, Be not deceived. read more
16. Do not err in attributing to God temptation to evil; nay (as he proceeds to show), "every good," all that is good on earth, comes from God. read more
II. TRIALS AND TRUE RELIGION 1:2-27James began his letter, which is in many ways a lecture, by dealing with the problem of trials that all believers encounter. Jews who became Christians in the early history of the church experienced much antagonism and persecution from their unbelieving fellow Jews, as is clear in the Book of Acts. All Christians who take a stand for the Lord continue to have to deal with such trials. Thus James’ inspired advice is perennially relevant. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:16-17
All good is from God. The exhortation of James 1:16 introduces additional confirmation of the truth that God cannot tempt men to sin. He is the Author of all good. He not only abhors evil, but from him come those gracious influences which destroy it. Three shades of thought appear in the argument of James 1:17 . I. CONSIDER HIS GIFTS . Each of these is "perfect" in its matter, and " good " in the manner of its bestowal. While raw sins ( James 1:14 ) and ripe sins ( ... read more