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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - James 1:14 - 1:14
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14. A parable of sin and death. ὑπό implies direct personal agency. Man is regarded as tempted by his own lust or desire, here personified. The offspring of this union is sin; sin when mature becomes the mother of death. Comp. for the thought generally: τὰ γὰρ ὀψώνια τῆς ἁμαρτίας θάνατος, τὸ δὲ χάρισμα τοῦ θεοῦ ζωὴ αἰώνιος ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, Rom 6:23; τὸ γὰρ φρόνημα τῆς σαρκὸς θάνατος, Rom 8:6.
ἐξελκόμενος καὶ δελεαζόμενες. Either (1) with Bede, cited by Mayor: abstractus a recto itinere et illectus in malum; two processes in temptation are indicated: persuasion through some strong motive to leave the right path, allurement to sin: comp. ἐγκράτειαν οὕτω μάλιστʼ ἂν ᾤετο ἀσκεῖσθαι, εἰ αὐτὸς ἐπιδεικνύοι ἑαυτὸν μὴ ὑπὸ τῶν παραυτίκα ἡδονῶν ἑλκόμενον ἀπὸ τῶν ἀγαθῶν, Xen. Cyr. VIII. 1. 32; or (2) the figure is drawn from the capture of fishes. The words are here in the order of thought; in act δελεαζ. would precede. Comp. Moriamur et in media arma ruamus, Verg. Aen. II. 353; Castigatque auditque dolos, ib., VI. 567; ἐξελκ. here only in N.T. δελεαζ., comp. δελεάζοντες ψυχάς, 2Pe 2:14; δελεάζουσιν ἐν ἐπιθυμίαις, 2Pe 2:18; γαστρὶ δελεαζόμενα, Xen. Mem. II. 1. 4; ἡδονὴ κακοῦ δέλεαρ, Plat. Tim. 69 D.