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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - James 1:18 - 1:18
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Of his own will (boulētheis). First aorist passive participle of boulomai. Repeating the metaphor of birth in Jam 1:15, but in good sense. God as Father acted deliberately of set purpose.
He brought us forth (apekuēsen). First aorist active indicative of apokueō (Jam 1:15), only here of the father (4 Macc. 15:17), not of the mother. Regeneration, not birth of all men, though God is the Father in the sense of creation of all men (Act 17:28.).
By the word of truth (logōi alētheias). Instrumental case logōi. The reference is thus to the gospel message of salvation even without the article (2Co 6:7) as here, and certainly with the article (Col 1:5; Eph 1:13; 2Ti 2:15). The message marked by truth (genitive case alētheias).
That we should be (eis to einai hēmās). Purpose clause eis to and the infinitive einai with the accusative of general reference hēmās (as to us).
A kind of first-fruits (aparchēn tina). “Some first-fruits” (old word from aparchomai), of Christians of that age. See Rom 16:5.