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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comJamieson Fausset Brown Commentary - James 2:1 - 2:1
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Jam 2:1-26. The sin of respect of persons: Dead, unworking faith saves no man.
James illustrates “the perfect law of liberty” (Jam 1:25) in one particular instance of a sin against it, concluding with a reference again to that law (Jam 2:12, Jam 2:13).
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 1Co 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 of “the Lord,” explains “glory” as in apposition with Christ who is THE GLORY (Luk 2:32); the true Shekinah glory of the temple (Rom 9:4). English Version is simpler. The glory of Christ resting on the poor believer should make him be regarded as highly by “brethren” as his richer brother; nay, more so, if the poor believer has more of Christ’s spirit than the rich brother.
with respect of persons - literally, “in respectings of persons”; “in” the practice of partial preferences of persons in various ways and on various occasions.