The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:1-13
WARNING AGAINST RESPECT OF PERSONS . read more
James 2:8-10 Niv
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:1-13
Respect of persons is inconsistent with the first principles of Christianity. 1. One great function of Christianity was to create a sphere in which there should be neither Jew nor Gentile, Greek nor barbarian, bond nor free. "All equal are within the Church's gate" is true, not only of the material building, but equally of the spiritual fabric of the Catholic Church, which, like her Divine Head, is no respecter of persons. Bengel well remarks that the equality of Christians, indicated... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:1-13
Respect of persons. Amongst the other evils of which these Christian Jews were guilty, was the gross evil of respect of persons. James presents the scene graphically, according to his wont. There is the synagogue, with the worshippers gathering for worship, some taking the good places, as it were the chancel-seats, near to the ark with the roll of the Law, and to the table of the Lord; some the lower seats, away from the speaker anti the Word. When, lo, a rich man enters, some stranger to... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:5-9
Proof of the sinfulness of respect of persons. read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:8
What is the connection with the foregoing? ΄έντοι is ignored altogether by the A.V. Translate, with R.V., howbeit if ye fulfill , etc.; Vulgate, tamen. According to Huther, St. James here meets the attempt which his readers might, perhaps, make to justify their conduct towards the rich with the law of love; whilst he grants to them that the fulfillment of that law is something excellent, he designates προσωποληπτεῖν directly as a transgression of the law. Alford thinks that the... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:8-11
Stumbling in one point. In these verses James takes the high ground that "respect of persons" is a transgression of the law by which we are to be judged; anal one which, like every other, involves the guilt of breaking the whole law. I. TO RESPECT PERSONS IS TO COMMIT SIN . (Verses 8, 9) It involves disobedience to " the royal law. " This is a noticeable expression. Any Divine commandment may be described as "royal," seeing that it emanates from the supreme... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:9
And are convinced, etc.; better, with R.V., being convicted by the law ( ἐλεγχόμενοι ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου ). The Law of Moses directly forbade all respect of persons; see Le 19:15 (three verses above the passage just quoted by St. James), οὐ λήψῃ πρόσωπον πτωχοῦ οὐδὲ μὴ θαυμάσῃς πρόσωπον δυνάστον . read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:10
In this verse the subjunctives τηρήσῃ πταίσῃ , are rightly read by the Revisors, with א , B, C. The Law was express on the need of keeping all the commandments; see Le 19:37 (the same chapter to which St. James has already referred), καὶ φυλάξωσθε πάντα τὸν νόμον μου καὶ πάντα τὰ προστάγματά μου καὶ ποιήσετε αὐτά ) . He is guilty of all. The very same thought is found in rabbinical writers (Talmud, 'Schabbath,' fol. 70); a saying of R. Johanan: "Quodsi racist... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - James 2:10
The obedience which God requires is absolute. "Whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." Why, since the breach of but one command is certainly not as sinful as the breach of all? Because "Compound for sins they are inclined to, By damning those they have no mind to." As Christians, we are not entitled to bow down in the house of Rimmon, nor does the strictest obedience to one command give us a dispensation to break another; e.g. spotless... read more
Subscribe
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Most Searched
Group of Brands
© 2024 Bibleportal.com All rights reserved.
John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - James 2:10
Verse 10 10For whosoever shall keep the whole law. What alone he means is, that God will not be honored with exceptions, nor will he allow us to cut off from his law what is less pleasing to us. At the first view, this sentence seems hard to some, as though the apostle countenanced the paradox of the Stoics, which makes all sins equal, and as though he asserted that he who offends in one thing ought to be punished equally with him whose whole life has been sinful and wicked. But it is evident... read more