James 1:13

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:13

God is not the author of temptation; cf. Ecclesiasticus 15:11, 12, " Say not thou, It is through the Lord that I fell away: for thou oughtest not to do the things that he hateth. Say not thou, He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of the sinful man." From God ; ἀπὸ θεοῦ (the article is wanting in א , A, B, C, K, L). Contrast ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας . ἀπὸ θεοῦ is a more general expression than ὑπὸ θεοῦ , which would refer the temptation immediately to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:13-18

The genesis of sin. 1. Four stages are described. 2. God is not tempted with evil, and he doth not temps to evil. "Ascribe it not to the Father of lights , but to the prince of darkness. But ascribe all good, from the smallest spark to the greatest beam, from the least good giving to the best and most perfect gift of all, to him, the Father of lights'. If there can be no change with the Father of lights, no "shadow east by turning," what folly to suppose that the works of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:13

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God - See the remarks on the previous verse. The apostle here seems to have had his eye on whatever there was in trial of any kind to induce us to commit sin - whether by complaining, by murmuring, by apostacy, or by yielding to sin. So far as that was concerned, he said that no one should charge it on God. He did nothing in any way with a view to induce men to do evil. That was only an incidental thing in the trial, and was no part of the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 1:13

James 1:13. Let no man say, when he is tempted To commit sin, in whatever way it may be; I am tempted of God God has laid this temptation in my way; for God cannot be tempted with evil It cannot appear desirable, or otherwise than detestable, in God’s eyes; nor can he be inclined to it in any degree, through any external object, or any internal motion; neither tempteth he any man He does not persuade or incline, much less constrain any one to sin by any means whatever. The word... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 1:1-18

1:1-18 LIFE’S TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIESJames’ readers are scattered over the area of the early church’s expansion (1:1), but no matter where they live, they share the same responsibilities as Christians everywhere. One of these responsibilities requires them to do something that by nature is very difficult, namely, face the trials of life with joy. This joy comes through the knowledge that trials help believers to develop endurance and so strengthen their Christian character (2-4).When faced with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 1:13

no man = no one. Greek. medeis. of = from. App-104 . cannot be, &c . = is incapable of being tempted. Greek. apeirastos. Only here. evil . App-128 . neither tempteth he any man = and He Himself tempteth no one (Greek. oudeis) . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:13

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:The purpose of this verse is to take away from men any excuse for their yielding to sin. There is not any need for the commentators to dig up references in the Talmud, or in Wisdom, or in Sirach, or in mythology for something which might have led to James' inclusion of this admonition. The book of Genesis records the fact of Adam's blaming Eve for his sin, with the implied... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:13

James 1:13. St. James had said so much about the benefit of temptations, or trials, that he thought it necessary to guard his readers against so dangerous a mistake, as that of making God the author of sin, or ascribing temptations to him, as they signify "a seducing men to what is evil:" In that sense they proceed not from God, but from the lusts of men, which, if complied with, end in death, instead of bringing men to a crown of life. Though, therefore, trials may be ascribed to God, yet... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:13

13. when . . . tempted—tried by solicitation to evil. Heretofore the "temptation" meant was that of probation by afflictions. Let no one fancy that God lays upon him an inevitable necessity of sinning. God does not send trials on you in order to make you worse, but to make you better (James 1:16; James 1:17). Therefore do not sink under the pressure of evils (James 1:17- :). of God—by agency proceeding from God. The Greek is not "tempted by," but, "from," implying indirect agency. cannot be... 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

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