Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:7

Verse 7 7Worthy, or good name. I doubt not but that he refers here to the name of God and of Christ. And he says, by, or, on, the which ye are called; not in prayer, as Scripture is wont sometimes to speak, but by profession; as the name of a father, in Genesis 48:16, is said to be called on his offspring, and in Isaiah 4:1, the name of a husband is called on the wife. It is, then, the same as though he had said, “The good name in which ye glory, or which ye deem it an honor to be called by;... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:8

Verse 8 Now follows a plainer declaration; for he expressly points out the cause of the last reproof, for they were officiously attentive to the rich, not from love, but on the contrary, from a vain desire of attaining their favor: And it is in anticipation, by which he obviated an excuse on the other side; for they might have objected and said, that he ought not to be blamed, who humbly submiteth himself to the unworthy. James, indeed, concedes that this is true, but he shews that it was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:9

Verse 9 When, in the second place, he says, that those who had respect of persons were convinced, or reproved by the law, the law is taken according to its proper meaning. For since we are bidden by God’s command to embrace all mortals, every one who, with a few exceptions, rejects all the rest, breaks the bond of God, and inverts also his order, and is, therefore, rightly called a transgressor of the law. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:1-7

Respect of persons. In the closing sentences of the preceding chapter James has been speaking of the true cultus or ritual of the Church; and here he warns his readers against a violation of it which they were in danger of committing, and of which indeed they had been already guilty, even when assembled for public worship. I. THE EVIL HERE CONDEMNED . (Verse 1) It is that of Pharisaic contempt of the poor. The apostle does not, of course, mean that social distinctions are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:1-13

Respect of persons is inconsistent with the first principles of Christianity. 1. One great function of Christianity was to create a sphere in which there should be neither Jew nor Gentile, Greek nor barbarian, bond nor free. "All equal are within the Church's gate" is true, not only of the material building, but equally of the spiritual fabric of the Catholic Church, which, like her Divine Head, is no respecter of persons. Bengel well remarks that the equality of Christians, indicated... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:1-13

Respect of persons. Amongst the other evils of which these Christian Jews were guilty, was the gross evil of respect of persons. James presents the scene graphically, according to his wont. There is the synagogue, with the worshippers gathering for worship, some taking the good places, as it were the chancel-seats, near to the ark with the roll of the Law, and to the table of the Lord; some the lower seats, away from the speaker anti the Word. When, lo, a rich man enters, some stranger to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:5-9

Proof of the sinfulness of respect of persons. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:7

That worthy Name ( τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα ); the honorable Name ; probably the Name of Christ, by which the disciples were known ( Acts 11:26 ), and for which they suffered ( Acts 5:41 ; 1 Peter 5:14 -16). By the which ye are called ; literally, which was called upon you ( τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ ὑμᾶς ). A similar expression is found in St. James's speech in Acts 15:17 , in a quotation from Amos 9:12 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:8

What is the connection with the foregoing? ΄έντοι is ignored altogether by the A.V. Translate, with R.V., howbeit if ye fulfill , etc.; Vulgate, tamen. According to Huther, St. James here meets the attempt which his readers might, perhaps, make to justify their conduct towards the rich with the law of love; whilst he grants to them that the fulfillment of that law is something excellent, he designates προσωποληπτεῖν directly as a transgression of the law. Alford thinks that the... read more

Group of Brands