James 1:17 ESV

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - James 1:13-18

III. FIRST ADMONITION WITH REFERENCE TO THE FIRST FORM OF TEMPTATION: VISIONARINESSCAUTION AGAINST THE VISIONARINESS WHICH REPRESENTS THE TEMPTATION AS GOD’S CAUSE. THE HIDEOUS FORM OF THE SELF-TEMPTATION OF THE ERRING AND THEIR END, DEATH.—THE OPPOSING IMMUTABILITY OF THE FATHER OF LIGHTS IN HIS BLESSING RULE AND THE EXALTATION OF HIS PRINCELY CHILDREN BORN BY THE WORD OF TRUTH.James 1:13-18(VJames James 1:16-21. Epistle for Fourth Sunday after Easter.)13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - James 1:12-18

God Rewards, Not Tempts James 1:12-18 The word temptation may stand for trial and testing, without implying that there is any necessary impulse toward evil; or it may stand for the direct impulse of the evil one. Here, however, it is used in this latter sense. But of whatever kind the temptation is, whether upward or downward, whether of pain and sorrow at the permission of God, or of direct solicitation to evil at the suggestion of Satan, those who refuse to swerve from their high quest of... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - James 1:1-27

James wrote to Christians in the midst of temptation and trial. He showed first that the issue of testing is that they "may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing." It is therefore to be looked upon as a means of blessing and received with joy. He clearly pointed out that God is never the Author of temptation as enticement toward evil, and in a passage full of remarkable force revealed the process of such temptation. It is an appeal through desire to some perfectly legitimate need of life,... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - James 1:17

THE GIFTS OF GOD‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.’ James 1:17 Thus does the Holy Apostle St. James, to whom, after the Resurrection, had been vouchsafed a special manifestation of his beloved Lord, delight to honour the Great Benefactor of the human race before Whom his soul bowed down in reverent worship. I. God is the Father of lights.( a) The lights of the natural... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:16-18

All Things Come To Men Through The Unchanging Creator Including Our Begetting Through The Word of Truth. Thus Men Should Be Silent Before Him And, Rather Than Speaking Angrily And Unbefittingly, Receive The Implanted Word With Meekness. (James 1:16-18 ). But while temptation may not come from God (James 1:13), all good giving and every perfect gift certainly do so, something which they must not be deceived about. And this in context includes the gift of wisdom (James 1:5). And it also... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:17

‘All good (beneficial) giving 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.’ For the source of all truly beneficial giving is God, and the source of every gift which is perfect in its entirety, is God. And these are gifts that come ‘from above’. (Compare James 1:18 that follows with John 3:3, ‘You must be born from above’). They are heavenly in origin, and therefore outweigh all else. And the... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:12-18

James 1:12-Job : . The Beatitude on Endurance ( cf. James 5:11 and note). “ Trial” is still neutral: it is affliction which tests and develops loyalty. But since human nature has a bias towards evil, a trial “ exerted upon man’ s evil “ desire” ( James 1:14) becomes a “ temptation.” As in Romans 5:4, “ endurance” produces approvedness,” which brings the reward. The word “ crown” (as papyri show), can mean a royal diadem as well as a wreath of victory: the latter is better here. Peter’ s “... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - James 1:17

Every good gift; Greek, giving; and so it may be distinct from gift in the next clause; to show, that whereas men sometimes give good gifts in all evil way, and with an evil mind, God’s giving, as well as gift, is always good; and therefore when we receive any thing of him, we should look not only to the thing itself, but to his bounty and goodness in giving it. Or, it may be rendered as our translators do, gift, and so the word is sometimes used by profane writer’s themselves; and then, though... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - James 1:16-18

CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTESJames 1:17. Father of lights.—The luminaries of heaven; as symbols of all kinds of lights, natural, intellectual, spiritual. Shadow of turning.—Or shadow that is cast by turning. The terms “variableness” and “shadow of turning” distinctly refer to the movements of the heavenly bodies, and decide the idea of James in speaking of God as “Father of lights.”James 1:18. Begat.—More lit. “brought He us forth.” Word of truth.—Not here the personal Logos, but the revealed... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - James 1:17

James 1:17 The Uniformity of Nature. I. The uniformity of nature rebukes man's faint-heartedness. When we are crushed with many a bereavement, ought it to be a matter of complaint to us that nature, which has, perhaps, caused our transient anguish, should appear to treat us with total disregard? It is a salutary reminder that we make too much of our individual sorrows; that we are but parts of a vast whole; that our days on earth are but a setting forth and a beginning, not a finishing. II.... read more