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George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - James 5:20

He who causeth a sinner to be converted, &c. St. James concludes his epistle with a work of charity, one of the most acceptable to Almighty God, and most beneficial to our neighbour, when any one becomes instrumental in converting others from their errors, or from a wicked life; for it is only God that can convert the heart. But he who with a true and charitable zeal, animated with the love of God and of his neighbour, makes this the chief business of his life, has this comfort here given... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - James 5:19-20

19,20 It is no mark of a wise or holy man, to boast of being free from error, or to refuse to acknowledge an error. And there is some doctrinal mistake at the bottom of every practical mistake. There is no one habitually bad, but upon some bad principle. This is conversion; to turn a sinner from the error of his ways, not merely from one party to another, or from one notion and way of thinking to another. There is no way effectually and finally to hide sin, but forsaking it. Many sins are... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - James 5:1-99

James 5 IN THE CLOSING verses of chapter 4 James was addressing those of his own people belonging to the prosperous commercial class, who professed to receive Jesus as their Lord. In the opening of the fifth chapter his thoughts turn to the rich Jews, and these, as we have before mentioned, were almost to a man found amongst the unbelieving majority. In the first six verses he has some severe and even scorching things to say about them, and to them. The accusation he brings against them is... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - James 5:16-20

Admonition to forgiveness and loving intercession: v. 16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. v. 17. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. v. 18. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. v. 19. ... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - James 5:7-20

X. FINAL THEME AND CONCLUSIONFURTHER ADDRESS TO THE BRETHREN. FINAL THEME: EXHORTATION TO ENDURANCE IN LONG-SUFFERING PATIENCE UNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD.—ENCOURAGEMENT THERETO. CONDITION THEREOF. FINAL PROMISEJames 5:7-207Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early7 and latter rain. 8Be ye also patient;8 establish your hearts: for the coming of the... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - James 5:12-20

Effectual Prayer James 5:12-20 In view of the judgment-seat, at which we shall have to give an account of our words, we shall do well to employ the simplest, plainest speech, Matthew 5:34 ; Matthew 12:36-37 . How shall we act in any given situation? The Apostle says in effect, be perfectly natural . The suffering should pray, the glad sing, the sick confess his sins and call for believing prayer. The oil is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The body is the Holy Spirit’s temple, and He is asked... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - James 5:1-20

Approaching the conclusion of his letter, the writer addressed a terrible indictment and solemn warning to the rich. He showed the failure of possessions, and how they may become the curse of life. Selfish life which results in oppression of the poor and consequent robbery of God is known by God. The teaching reveals remarkably the divine passion for justice. To those who suffer, the writer addressed words full of tender comfort. He called them to patience. All that was said at the beginning... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - James 5:19-20

HUMAN AGENCY IN THE SINNER’S CONVERSION TO GOD‘Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.’ James 5:19-Proverbs : The text suggests for us the great object of Christian zeal, the means of its accomplishment, and presents us with some motives to engage in it. I.—The great object of Christian zeal is the conversion of the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:19-20

A Final Word On The Importance Of The Brothers Having A Practical Concern For Each Other (James 5:19-20 ). All through his letter James has been seeking to ‘convert sinners from the errors of their ways’, leading up to his final exhortation to prayer and praise in James 5:13-18. Now he passes on that responsibility to ‘my brothers’. That idea had begun in James 5:18, and the incentive that he now gives is not that they will thereby receive a reward, but that they will be doing eternal good... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:20

‘And will cover a multitude of sins.’ To ‘cover’ sins is an Old Testament way of speaking of atonement and cleansing, thus his final words bring out the writer’s deep involvement in Old Testament ideas (compare Psalms 32:1; Psalms 85:2 LXX, the only other two examples where the Greek word is connected with sin, and there forgiveness, pardon and being ‘justified’ are in mind, for sin will not be imputed to them). Those who are turned round will have their sins ‘covered’ before God. They will be... read more

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