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Jam_2:6. ὑμεῖς δέ ] contrast to Θεός .
ἠτιμάσατε ] contrast to ἐξελέξατο . The aorist is used with reference to the case stated in Jam_2:2-3, which is certainly of a general character (Wiesinger).[117]
ΤῸΝ ΠΤΩΧΌΝ , not = pauperem illum, but, to be understood generally, the poor man as such. That we are here specially to think on the Christian poor, is an incorrect supposition.
With οὐχ οἱ πλούσιοι ] James turns to the rich as the class opposed to the poor, in order to point out from another side than he had already done the reprehensibleness of the conduct denounced. Already from this opposition it is intimated that not the Christian rich, but the rich generally—not exactly only “the rich Gentiles or the Romans” (Hengstenberg)—are meant. This is also evident from what is said of them, and by which their conduct is designated as hostile to Christians ( ὙΜῶΝ ) who belong to the poor.[118] ΚΑΤΑΔΥΝΑΣΤΕΎΕΙΝ ] only here and in Act_10:38, frequently in the LXX. and Apocrypha (see particularly Wis_2:20), means “to use power against any to his hurt.” Related ideas are κατακυριεύειν and ΚΑΤΕΞΟΥΣΙΆΖΕΙΝ , Mat_20:25. This exercise of power against the Christians might take place in various ways; what follows: ΚΑῚ ΑὐΤΟῚ ἝΛΚΟΥΣΙΝ ὙΜᾶς ΕἸς ΚΡΙΤΉΡΙΑ , mentions one chief mode.
ΚΑῚ ΑὐΤΟΊ ] emphatically put first—even they (Theile).
ἕλκειν ] indicates the violence of the conduct (so in the classics). The courts of judgment ( ΚΡΙΤΉΡΙΑ , as in 1Co_6:2; 1Co_6:4) may be both Gentile and Jewish; certainly not Christian. It is arbitrary, and not corresponding to the expression ἝΛΚΕΙΝ , to think here on a process quibus pauperes propter debita in judiciis vexabant (Hornejus; also de Wette and others).
Since James so strongly contrasts αὐτοί and ὙΜᾶς , the former cannot possibly be regarded as a part of the latter.
[117] According to Lange, the aorist is used to point to “the historical fact in which Judaizing Jewish Christians have already taken part with the Jews, namely, the dishonouring of the Gentile Christians.”
[118] If James had the Christian rich in view, he certainly would not have omitted to point to the contrast between their conduct to the poor and their Christian calling.