Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:19

Err from the truth - Stray away from the Gospel of Christ; and one convert him - reclaim him from his error, and bring him back to the fold of Christ. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:20

Let him know - Let him duly consider, for his encouragement, that he who is the instrument of converting a sinner shall save a soul from eternal death, and a body from ruin, and shall hide a multitude of sins; for in being the means of his conversion we bring him back to God, who, in his infinite mercy, hides or blots out the numerous sins which he had committed during the time of his backsliding. It is not the man's sins who is the means of his conversion, but the sins of the backslider,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:17

Verse 17 17Elias was a man. There are innumerable instances in Scripture of what he meant to prove; but he chose one that is remarkable above all others; for it was a great thing that God should make heaven in a manner subject to the prayers of Elias, so as to obey his wishes. Elias kept heaven shut by his prayers for three years and a half; he again opened it, so that it poured down abundance of rain. Hence appeared the wonderful power of prayer. Well known is this remarkable history, and is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:20

Verse 20 20Let him know. I doubt whether this ought rather to have been written, γιςώσκετε, “know ye.” Both ways the meaning however is the same. For James recommends to us the correction of our brethren from the effect produced that we may more assiduously attend to this duty. Nothing is better or more desirable than to deliver a soul from eternal death; and this is what he does who restores an erring brother to the right way: therefore a work so excellent ought by no means to be neglected. To... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:13-18

The life in God. The guiding thought of these verses is the intimacy of connection between our life and God. And the Christian, above all, should realize this truth, so attested in the incarnation and ascension of our Lord. For heaven has come down to earth; nay, earth has been raised to heaven. So, then, according to these verses, our sorrowing and rejoicing are to be "in the Lord;" in sickness we are to seek our restoration from the Lord; at all times our effectual prayer is to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:13-20

Exhortations with respect to practical conduct in health and sickness. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:14-18

The power and value of intercessory prayer I. THE POWER AND VALUE OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER , enforced by the instance of the effect of Elijah's prayers—the petitions of a man who was of like passions with us , and therefore one from whose ease it is fair to argue to our own. Intercessory prayer may be viewed as a privilege and work in which all can have their share. While Joshua is down in the valley fighting with Amalek, Moses in the mount must lift up holy hands to God in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:16-18

Mutual confession and prayer. In the latter part of James 5:15 the apostle has hinted at the connection between sin and suffering. He proceeds now to urge upon the sick and the erring, on proper occasions to acknowledge to their brethren the sins of which they may have been guilty, if they would be "healed" in body and soul, as a result of the intercessions offered on their behalf. I. THE DUTY . ( James 5:16 ) It is twofold. 1. Mutual confession. The subject here is not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 5:17-18

Illustration of the last statement of James 5:16 , from the case of Elijah, "a righteous man" under the old covenant, but one "of like passions with us," and therefore one from whose case it is lawful to argue to our own. Subject to like passions as we are . ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν : simply "of like passions with us;" cf. Acts 14:15 , where it is used in just the same way. In the LXX . only in Wis. 7:3. He prayed earnestly. προσευχῇ προσηύξατο : a Hebraism , not infrequent in... read more

Group of Brands