THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. JAMES, I. 1. AMES, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. James, a servant of God even7 of the Lord Jesus Christ, &c. 2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers trials;8 4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. But let patience have her entire work, that ye may be entire and perfect, wanting nothing.9 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Blessed is the man that endureth trials,10 for, being approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, &c. 11 Pure worship and undefiled before God even the Father is this, &c. II. 7. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name which hath been called upon you?1 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith &c. A man will perhaps ask me, (as if this were the only test required) Hast thou faith? (To which I answer) Yes, and I have works as well: shew me thy faith &c. 19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well the demons also believe, and tremble. III. 1. My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. My brethren, be not many teachers,3 knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2. For in many things we offend all. For in many things we all offend.4 nifies the ceremonial service of religion, the external form or body merely. "Religion" had such a meaning when our translation was made, and the rendering was not likely to be misunderstood. But "religion" in such a sense is now obsolete, and the word having gained since then a deeper, diviner meaning, the passage is liable to most serious misunderstanding, even to supposing St. James as summing up all Christ's religion as nothing more than visiting the distressed and avoiding the defilement of the world.-See Trench's New Testament Synonyms, § xlviii. 1 Τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ' ὑμᾶς. This name is none other than V. 3. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Your gold and silver are cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat up your flesh; you have as it were treasured up fire for the last days. 6. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Ye have condemned-ye have killed, the just; he doth not resist you.5 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. PETER, I. 1. TER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, &c. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the sojourners of the Dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, &c. 11. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit 5 "And" is not in the original in either clause: in the first the omission is elegant and striking, expressing the haste of the Jews to put Jesus to death after His condemnation. 6 Παρεπιδήμοις διασπορᾶς. These were devout Gentiles who dwelt among, and worshipped with, the Jews dispersed in the various heathen countries here mentioned.Whately's Lectures on Apostles, p. 177, 2nd edit. the of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings relating to1 Christ, and the glories that should follow them. 15. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation ; But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all your manner of living. 20. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who verily was foreknown3 before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for you, II. 5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, &c. Ye also, as lively stones, be ye built up a spiritual house, &c. 12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: &c. behaviour 5 Having your they may admire:6 &c. among the Gentiles such as 13. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: &c. Submit yourselves therefore to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: &c. III. 1. Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they without the word be won by the conversation also may of the wives; Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without speech be won by the behaviour of their wives ; 17. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For it is better, if it be the will of God that ye suffer, do so for well doing, than for evil.9 that ye 18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit ; For Christ also hath once for all 10 suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the spirit ; î1 20. while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved through 12 water. translation of this word throws away the connection between this verse and the preceding one. 8" 6 *Ανευ λόγου. The apostle recommends lovely behaviour before arguments to the wives of unbelieving husbands for their conversion.-See Macknight and Bloomfield in loco. 9 This verse, according to the Authorized Version, is liable to be misunderstood as saying that God wills man to " Πνεύματι does not mean the Holy Spirit here, but, as opposed to σapri Christ's divine and spiritual nature. Verse 19 should begin "In which." 12 Δι' ὕδατος. Not by means of, but against the power of, and through the continuance of, water. |