James 2:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 2:1

My brethren - Perhaps meaning brethren in two respects - as Jews, and as Christians. In both respects the form of address would be proper.Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ - Faith is the distinguishing thing in the Christian religion, for it is this by which man is justified, and hence, it comes to be put for religion itself. Notes, 1 Timothy 3:9. The meaning here is, “do not hold such views of the religion of Christ, as to lead you to manifest partiality to others on account of their... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 2:1-4

James 2:1-4. My brethren The equality of Christians intimated by this name is the ground of the admonition; have That is, hold; not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory Of which glory all who believe in him partake; with respect of persons So as to give undue preference to any on account of their external circumstances; honour none merely for being rich, despise none merely for being poor. Remember that the relation in which the meanest of your fellow-Christians... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 2:1-13

Favouritism destroys love (2:1-13)Standards of judgment in the church are not the same as those in the society round about. People ought not to be given important places in the church merely because they have important places in the society. Likewise poor people should not be ignored (2:1-4). God welcomes people into his kingdom regardless of wealth or social position, and gives his riches to them equally. James notes how strange it is that the Christians should show special favour to the rich,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 2:1

have = hold. faith . App-150 . Lord . App-98 . Jesus Christ . App-98 . XI glory . Compare 1 Corinthians 2:8 . Seep. 1511. with . App-104 . respect of persons . Greek. prosopolepsia. See Romans 2:11 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 2:1

The first section of this chapter (James 2:1-13) carries a warning against courting the favor of middle-upper income people or the wealthy, against showing special courtesies and solicitude. There are no doubt many congregations which are tempted to do this very thing. After all, there are budgets to be subscribed, programs to be financed and all kinds of good works which require constant scrambling on the part of the church elders and deacons in their efforts to finance such things. Therefore,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 2:1

James 2:1. With respect of persons.— The word Προσωποληψια signifies the respect of persons in judgment, not purely according to the merits of the cause, but according to external respects which relate not to it. As for instance, 1st, The dread of any man's power, or the fear of what he may do to us if we judge against him. See Leviticus 19:15.Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 1:17. Or, 2nd, The poverty of any man, which renders him less able to suffer punishment or loss. See Exo 3:3 rdly, It is... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 2:1

1. brethren—The equality of all Christians as "brethren," forms the groundwork of the admonition. the faith of . . . Christ—that is, the Christian faith. James grounds Christian practice on Christian faith. the Lord of glory—So 1 Corinthians 2:8. As all believers, alike rich and poor, derive all their glory from their union with Him, "the Lord of glory," not from external advantages of worldly fortune, the sin in question is peculiarly inconsistent with His "faith." BENGEL, making no ellipsis... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 2:1

1. The negative command 2:1James came right to the point; we know exactly what his concern was. Personal favoritism is hardly a glorious characteristic, and it is inconsistent for a Christian who worships the glorious Lord Jesus Christ to practice it (cf. Matthew 22:16 Acts 10:34). All earthly distinctions disappear in the presence of our glorious Lord. It was especially appropriate for James to address his readers as "my brethren" here since he proceeded to encourage them to practice brotherly... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 2:1-13

A. The Problem of Favoritism 2:1-13James’ previous reference to hypocritical religiosity (James 1:26-27) seems to have led him to deal with one form of this problem that existed among Christian Jews of his day. It is still with us today. It is the problem of inconsistent love for other people that manifests itself in how we treat them. James wrote this chapter to exhort his readers to deal with this very basic inconsistency in their lives and so progress toward spiritual maturity."The... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:1-26

Warnings Against Respect of Persons. Belief and Practice1. Another instance of inconsistency. Jesus Christ the Lord of glory] better, ’Jesus Christ the glory,’ or ’the glorious one,’ One of the rare passages in which St. James breaks through his habitual reserve in speaking of the Master, and shows us something of his devotion to Christ. Such reserve was natural to a Jew. 2. In the Jewish-Christian Church the place for worship is still the synagogue (Hebrews 10:25). At first strangers would be... read more

Group of Brands