James 1:22 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:22

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only - Obey the gospel, and do not merely listen to it. Compare Matthew 7:21.Deceiving your own selves - It is implied here, that by merely hearing the word but not doing it, they would deceive their own souls. The nature of this deception was this, that they would imagine that that was all which was required, whereas the main thing was that they should be obedient. If a man supposes that by a mere punctual attendance on preaching, or a respectful... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 1:22

James 1:22. But be ye doers of the word See on Matthew 7:21; Matthew 7:24. We are then doers of the word, when, being enlightened by its doctrines, awed by its threatenings, and encouraged by its promises, we, through the aid of divine grace, love and obey its precepts, both those which enjoin repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, as terms necessary to be complied with in order to our justification and regeneration, and those subsequent commands which show how those, who... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 1:19-27

1:19-2:26 PUTTING BELIEF INTO PRACTICEThe Bible and everyday life (1:19-27)A tendency in human nature is for people to become ill-tempered, especially in times of difficulty or stress. Christians must not excuse their ill-temper by claiming that they are defending God’s honour. Such attitudes have no place in the Christian life. They must be replaced by new attitudes that arise from studying God’s Word and putting its teachings into practice (19-21).Christians must not merely read God’s Word,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 1:22

be = become. hearers . Greek. akroates. Only here, verses: James 1:23 , James 1:25 .Romans 2:13 . deceiving . Greek. paralogizomai, to deceive by false reasoning. Only here and Colossians 2:4 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:22

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.This is exactly the teaching of Paul in Romans 2:13; and taken together with what James would write in the second chapter, it is clear enough that this epistle was written for the purpose of correcting the abuse of Paul's teaching regarding justification by faith. By this reference, James almost says, "My teaching is exactly what the apostle Paul really taught." "Not the hearers of the law, but the doers of the law... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:22

James 1:22. Hearers only, deceiving, &c.— The Jews did indeed place much of their religion in going up at proper times to the synagogue to hear the law read; and there may possibly be an allusion to that disposition, The exact signification of the word παραλογιζομενοι, rendered deceiving, is, "imposing upon any, by a sophistical show of argument;" and here it is used with peculiar propriety. The Jews have a proverb, "That he who hears the law, and does not practise it, is like a man who... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:22

22. Qualification of the precept, "Be swift to hear": "Be ye doers . . . not hearers only"; not merely "Do the word," but "Be doers" systematically and continually, as if this was your regular business. James here again refers to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:21-29). deceiving your own selves—by the logical fallacy (the Greek implies this) that the mere hearing is all that is needed. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2-27

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:19-27

C. The Proper Response to Trials 1:19-27Having explained the value of trials and our options in trials, James next exhorted his readers to respond properly to their trials. In this section he stressed the Word of God because it is the key to resisting temptations and responding to trials correctly (cf. Matthew 4:1-11)."Receptivity to the Word, responsiveness to the Word, and resignation to the Word are essential to spiritual growth. One must accept God’s Word, act on it, and abide by it."... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:22

Doing the Word of God in this context means persevering in God’s will when we experience temptation to depart from it. Hearing God’s will is good as far as it goes, and it is indispensable, but obedience should follow. Some Christian disciples delude themselves by thinking that knowing God’s will is enough, but it is only foundational to doing God’s will."The blessing does not come in studying the Word, but in doing the Word." [Note: Wiersbe, p. 16.] "The call to ’do what it says’ lies at the... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:22

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 1:22

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 1:19-27

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 1:22

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:22

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:22

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:22

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2-27

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:19-27

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:22

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