Robertson Word Pictures - James 2:2 - 2:2

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com

Robertson Word Pictures - James 2:2 - 2:2


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

For (gar). An illustration of the prohibition.

If there come in (ean eiselthēi). Condition of third class (supposable case) with ean and second (ingressive) aorist active subjunctive of eiserchomai.

Into your synagogue (eis sunagōgēn humōn). The common word for the gathering of Jews for worship (Luk 12:11) and particularly for the building where they met (Luk 4:15, Luk 4:20, Luk 4:28, etc.). Here the first is the probable meaning as it clearly is in Heb 10:25 (tēn episunagōgēn heautōn), where the longer compound occurs. It may seem a bit odd for a Christian church (ekklēsia) to be termed sunagōgē, but James is writing to Jewish Christians and this is another incidental argument for the early date. Epiphanius (Haer. XXX. 18) states that the Ebionites call their church sunagōgē, not ekklēsia. In the fourth century an inscription has sunagōgē for the meeting-house of certain Christians.

A man with a gold ring (anēr chrusodaktulios). “A gold-fingered man,” “wearing a gold ring.” The word occurs nowhere else, but Lucian has chrusocheir (gold-handed) and Epictetus has chrusous daktulious (golden seal-rings). “Hannibal, after the battle of Cannae, sent as a great trophy to Carthage, three bushels of gold-rings from the fingers of Roman knights slain in battle” (Vincent).

In fine clothing (en esthēti lamprāi). “In bright (brilliant) clothing” as in Mat 11:8; Luk 23:11; Act 10:30. In contrast with “vile clothing” (en ruparāi esthēti), “new glossy clothes and old shabby clothes” (Hort). Ruparos (late word from rupos, filth, 1Pe 3:21) means filthy, dirty. In N.T. only here and Rev 22:11 (filthy).

Poor man (ptōchos). Beggarly mendicant (Mat 19:21), the opposite of plousios (rich).