《Bullinger’s Companion Bible Notes – James》(E.W. Bullinger)
Commentator
Ethelbert William Bullinger AKC (December 15, 1837 - June 6, 1913) was an Anglican clergyman, Biblical scholar, and ultradispensationalist theologian.
He was born in Canterbury, Kent, England, the youngest of five children of William and Mary (Bent) Bullinger. His family traced their ancestry back to Heinrich Bullinger, the Swiss Reformer.
His formal theological training was at King's College London from 1860-1861, earning an Associate's degree. After graduation, on October 15, 1861, he married Emma Dobson, thirteen years his senior. He later received a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1881 from Archibald Campbell Tait, Archbishop of Canterbury who cited Bullinger's "eminent service in the Church in the department of Biblical criticism."
Bullinger's career in the Church of England spanned 1861 until 1888. He began as associate curate in the parish of St. Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey in 1861, and was ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1862. He served as parish curate in Tittleshall from 1863-1866; Notting Hill from 1866-1869; Leytonstone, 1869-1870; then Walthamstow until he became vicar of the newly established parish of St. Stephen's in 1874. He resigned his vicarage in 1888.
In the spring of 1867, Bullinger became clerical secretary of the Trinitarian Bible Society, a position he would hold till his death in 1913. Bullinger was editor of a monthly journal Things to Come subtitled A Journal of Biblical Literature, with Special Reference to Prophetic Truth. The Official Organ of Prophetic Conferences for over 20 years (1894-1915) and contributed many articles.
Introduction
Jam
>
THE STRUCTURE AS A WHOLE.
, James 1:1-4. PATIENCE.
James 1:5-8. PRAYER.
James 1:9-10. THE LOW EXALTED. THE RICH MADE LOW.
James 1:10-11. LIFE LIKENED TO GRASS.
James 1:11. END OF THE RICH.
James 1:12-16. LUST.
James 1:17. GOOD GIFTS FROM ABOVE.
James 1:18-27. GOD""S WORD AND ITS EFFECTS.
James 2:1-7. THE FAITH. WITHOUT PARTIALITY.
James 2:8. THE ROYAL LAW.
James 2:9-10. MOSES"" LAW. ONE OFFENCE BREAKS IT.
James 2:11. MOSES"" LAW. ONE OFFENCE BREAKS IT.
James 2:12-13. THE LAW OF LIBERTY.
James 2:14-26. FAITH. WITHOUT WORKS.
James 3:1-14. MANS"" WORD AND ITS EFFECT.
James 3:15-18. THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE.
James 4:1-5. LUSTS.
James 4:6-10. THE PROUD RESISTED. THE HUMBLE EXALTED.
James 4:11-17. LIFE LIKENED TO A VAPOUR.
James 5:1-6. END OF THE RICH.
James 5:7-12. PATIENCE.
James 5:13-20. PRAYER.
NOTES ON THE EPISTLE OF JAMES.
1 . The Epistle of James has been the subject of controversy both as regards the identity of the writer, and as to the time of writing. There is little doubt, however, that the writer was James, "the Lord""s brother" (Galatians 1:19), he who was one of the "pillars" (Galatians 2:9), he who gave the "judgment" of the apostles and elders of the church at Jerusalem (Acts 15:13, Acts 15:19).
2 . The distinctly Jewish character of the teaching marks off the epistle as having been written at an early period of the Acts history, and it is noticeable that the doctrinal tone closely follows the precepts of "the Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5:7). The Jews still assembled in synagogues (James 2:2); the "poor" (John 12:8) were heirs of the kingdom (James 2:5); they were reproved according to the law (James 2:8, &c.); they had Abraham to their father (James 2:21), and were, in harmony with Acts 3:19 Acts 3:21, looking for the coming ( parousia ) of the Lord which was
"at hand" (James 5:7, James 5:8). If we distinguish the dispensations, James affords instruction for all believers, but is plainly addressed "to the twelve tribes "which are scattered abroad", lit. "in the dispersion". The dispersion, Gr. diaspora , which is referred to in 1 Peter 1:1 also, and is before our eyes even now. In days not far off the epistle will appeal to Israel when to them the gospel of the Kingdom (see Appdx-140) is once more announced. To the preachers will again be committed the "powers" of Pentecostal days, to be exercised as exemplified in
James 5:14-15.
3 . Some commentators rightly place the time of writing before the Jerusalem Council of about A.D. 45. (According to tradition, James was martyred in 62 or 68.) One well qualified to value fairly the evidence says, "And a careful study of the chronological question has convinced me that they are right who hold the Epistle of James to be perhaps the earliest of the New Testament writings. It belongs to that period of the Pentecostal dispensation when the whole Church was Jewish, and when their meeting-places still bore the Jewish designation of synagogues"" (ch James 2:2)." See Appdx-180.
James 1:18-27. GOD""S WORD AND ITS EFFECTS.
James 1:18. Statement.
James 1:19. Exhortation.
James 1:20. Reason.
James 1:22. Exhortation.
James 1:23-25. Reason.
James 1:26-27. Statement.
James 3:1-14. MAN""S WORD AND ITS EFFECTS.
James 3:1-2. Deprecation. The tongue.
James 3:3-4. Comparisons.
James 3:5-6. The tongue.
James 3:7. Comparisons.
James 3:8-10. The tongue.
James 3:11-12. Comparisons.
James 3:13-14. Exhortation. Behavior.
01 Chapter 1
Verse 1
servant. App-190.
God. App-98.
Lord. App-98.
Jesus Christ. App-98. Only here and James 2:1 in this epistle.
twelve. No suggestion of the separate houses of Judah and Israel. Note the complete number.
scattered abroad = in the dispersion (Greek. diaspora. See John 7:35).
greeting. Greek. chairo. Used in this sense in Acts 15:23; Acts 23:26. Genitive "rejoice".
Verse 2
fall. Greek. peripipto. See Acts 27:41.
temptations = trials. Compare Luke 22:28. Acts 20:19. 1 Peter 1:6; 1 Peter 4:12.
Verse 3
Knowing. App-132.
trying = testing. Gr dokimion. Only here and 1 Peter 1:7.
faith. App-150. Read, "your tested faith".
patience. Compare Romans 5:3.
Verse 4
perfect. App-125.
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
entire. Greek. holokleros. Only here and 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
wanting = lacking. Greek. leipo. See James 2:15.
nothing = in (Greek. en) nothing (Greek. medeis).
Verse 5
If = But if. App-118.
any. App-123.
lack. Greek. leipo, as James 1:4.
ask. App-134.
of = from. App-104.
liberally. Greek. haplos. Only here. The noun in 2 Corinthians 9:11, 2 Corinthians 9:13.
Verse 6
nothing. Greek. medeis, as James 1:4.
wavering. App-122. Compare Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:8.
is like. Greek. eoika. Only here and James 1:23. The root (obs.) is eiko; compare eikon, image.
wave. See Luke 8:24.
driven. Greek. anemizomai. Only here.
tossed. Greek. rhipizomai. Only here.
Verse 7
man. App-123.
think. Only here and Philippians 1:1, Philippians 1:16. See John 21:25.
any thing. Neut. of tis. App-123.
Lord. App-98.
Verse 8
double minded. Greek. dipsuchos. Only here and James 4:8. There is no verb, but "double minded" and "unstable" qualify "that man". Compare Psalms 119:113.
man. App-123.
unstable. Greek. akatastatos. Only here and James 3:8. The noun, Luke 21:9.
Verse 9
the brother, &c. = the lowly (Greek. tapeinos. See Romans 12:16) brother.
rejoice. See Romans 2:17.
that he is exalted = his exaltation. Greek. hupsos. See Luke 1:78.
Verse 10
that he is made low = his humbling (Greek. tapeinosis. See Acts 8:33).
flower. Greek. anthos. Only here; James 1:11. 1 Peter 1:24.
Verse 11
is no sooner risen. Literally rose.
a = the.
burning heat. Greek. kauson. Only here; Matthew 20:12. Luke 12:55.
but, &c. = and withered.
falleth = fell. Same word in Romans 9:6.
grace. App-184.
fashion. Literally presence or face (James 1:23).
perisheth = perished. Greek. apollumi. See Romans 14:15.
also shall, &c. = shall the rich man also.
fade away. Greek. maraino. Only here.
ways. Greek. poreia. Only here and Luke 13:22. Not the same word as in James 1:8.
Verse 12
Blessed. Greek. makarios, as in Matthew 5:3, &c.
is = hath become.
tried = tested. Greek. dokimos. Elsewhere translated "approved". See Romans 14:18.
life. App-170.
love. App-135. Compare Hebrews 12:5, Hebrews 12:6.
Verse 13
no man = no one. Greek. medeis.
of = from. App-104.
cannot be, &c. = is incapable of being tempted. Greek. apeirastos. Only here.
evil. App-128.
neither tempteth he any man = and He Himself tempteth no one (Greek. oudeis).
Verse 14
every man = each one.
when, &c. = being drawn away. Greek. exelkomai. Only here.
of. App-104.
lust. See John 8:44, and compare Romans 7:7.
enticed. Greek. deleazo. Only here and 2 Peter 2:14, 2 Peter 2:18.
Verse 15
when lust, &c. = lust, having conceived.
sin. App-128.
finished = completely finished. Greek. apoteleo. Only here.
bringeth forth. Greek. apokueo. Only here and James 1:18.
death. See Romans 6:21.
Verse 16
Do not err = Be not deceived.
beloved. App-135.
Verse 17
gift. Greek. dosis. Only here and Philippians 1:4, Philippians 1:15.
gift. Greek. dorema. Only here and Romans 5:16.
from above. Greek. anothen. See John 3:3.
and cometh = coming.
Father. App-98.
lights. App-130.
with. App-104.
is no. Literally there is not (App-105) present (Greek. eneimi).
variableness. Greek. parallage. Only here.
neither = or.
shadow. Greek. aposkiasma. Only here.
of. i.e. cast by, or due to.
turning. Greek. trope. Only here.
Verse 18
Of His own will = Having willed. App-102.
begat. Greek. apokueo. See James 1:15.
word. App-121. Compare 1 Peter 1:23.
that = to the end that. Greek. eis. App-104.
a kind of firstfruits = a certain (Greek. tis) firstfruit (Greek. aparche). See Romans 8:23. Compare Romans 11:16.
creatures. See 1 Timothy 4:4.
Verse 19
swift. Greek. tachus. Only here, but the adverb occurs frequently.
speak. App-121.
Verse 20
righteousness. App-191.
Verse 21
filthiness. Greek. rhuparia. Only here. Compare James 2:2. 1 Peter 3:21.
superfluity = abundance. Greek. perisseia. See Romans 5:17.
naughtiness. App-128. "Naughty" and "naughtiness" had a much more forcible meaning in King James"s day than now. Compare Proverbs 6:12; Proverbs 11:6; Proverbs 17:4. Jeremiah 24:2.
meekness. Greek. prautes. Only here; James 3:13. 1 Peter 3:15. Compare App-127.
engrafted = implanted. Greek. emphutos. Only here. Not the word in Romans 11:17-24.
souls. App-110.
Verse 22
be = become.
hearers. Greek. akroates. Only here, verses: James 1:23, James 1:25. Romans 2:13.
deceiving. Greek. paralogizomai, to deceive by false reasoning. Only here and Colossians 2:4.
Verse 23
unto = to.
beholding. Greek. katanoeo. Genitive rendered "consider. "App-133.
his natural face. Literally the face (James 1:11) of his birth (Greek. genesis. Only here, James 3:6, and Matthew 1:1).
glass = mirror. Greek. esoptron. Only here and 1 Corinthians 13:12
Verse 24
beholdeth = beheld. See James 1:23.
goeth, &c. = departed.
forgetteth = forgot.
Verse 25
Whoso = he that.
looketh. Literally stooped down (to look). Greek. parakupto. App-133. See John 20:5.
the perfect, &c. = the perfect law, that of liberty.
perfect. App-125.
continueth = continued. Greek. parameno. See 1 Corinthians 16:6.
he. The texts omit.
forgetful hearer = hearer of forgetfulness. App-17.
forgetful. Greek. epilesmone. Only here.
the. Omit.
this man = this one.
deed = doing. Greek. poiesis. Only here.
Verse 26
man = one.
among you. The texts omit.
seem = thinks himself. Compare James 4:5.
religious. Greek. threskos. Only here in N.T., and nowhere found in Classical Greek. It means a careful follower of the observances connected with his belief.
bridleth. Greek. chalinagogeo. Only here and James 3:2.
deceiveth. Greek. apatao. See Ephesians 5:6.
religion. Greek. threskeia. See Acts 26:5.
vain. Greek. mataios. See Acts 14:15.
Verse 27
undefiled. Greek. amiantos. See Hebrews 7:26.
before. App-104.
visit. App-133. Compare Matthew 26:36, Matthew 26:43. Personal interest and sympathy are enjoined. Compare Micah 6:8.
fatherless. Greek. orphanos. Only here and John 14:18.
affliction. See Acts 7:10.
unspotted. Greek. aspilos. See 1 Timothy 6:14.
world. App-129.
02 Chapter 2
Verse 1
have = hold.
faith. App-150.
Lord. App-98.
Jesus Christ. App-98. XI
glory. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:8. Seep. 1511.
with. App-104.
respect of persons. Greek. prosopolepsia. See Romans 2:11.
Verse 2
assembly = synagogue. Greek. sunagoge. App-120.
man. App-123.
with a gold ring. Literally gold-ringed. Greek. chrusodaktulios, Only here.
goodly = bright, or shining. Greek. lampros. Here, James 2:3 (gay). Luke 23:11. Acts 10:30. Revelation 15:6; Revelation 18:14; Revelation 19:8; Revelation 22:1, Revelation 22:16.
apparel. Greek. esthes. In this and in the next verse translated by three different words, "apparel", "raiment", "clothing". Compare Luke 23:11. Acts 1:10; Acts 10:30; Acts 12:21.
also, &c. = a poor man also.
poor. App-127.
vile. Greek. rhuparos. Only here. Compare James 1:21.
Verse 3
have respect. App-133.
unto = to.
in a good place. Literally well. Greek. kalos.
under. App-104.
Verse 4
Are . . . partial. App-122.
of. Genitive of quality or character. App-17.
evil. App-128.
thoughts = reasonings. See Matthew 15:19.
Verse 5
beloved. App-135.
Hath . . . chosen = Did . . . choose.
God. App-98.
this = the.
world. App-129.
kingdom. See App-112, App-113, App-114.
hath. Omit.
love. App-135.
Verse 6
have. Omit.
despised = shamed. Greek. atimazo. See Acts 5:41.
poor. Singular, as James 2:2.
oppress. See Acts 10:38.
draw = themselves drag. Greek. helko. See Acts 21:30.
before = to. App-104.
judgment seats. App-177.
Verse 7
that = the.
worthy = honourable. Greek. kalos. See Romans 12:17.
name. See Acts 2:38; Acts 15:26.
by the which, &c. = which is called upon (App-104.) you. called. See Acts 2:21.
Verse 8
royal. Greek. basilikos. See John 4:46.
according to. App-104.
Scripture. Greek. graphe. The quotation is from Leviticus 19:18.
Verse 9
have respect, &c. Greek. prosopolepteo. Only here. Compare James 2:1 and Acts 10:34. See Leviticus 19:15.
sin. App-128.
and are, &c. = being convicted. Greek. elencho. See 1 Corinthians 14:24 (convince).
transgressors. App-128.
Verse 10
offend = stumble. Greek. ptaio. See Romans 11:11.
is = has been.
guilty. See Deuteronomy 27:26. Matthew 26:66. Galatians 1:3, Galatians 1:10.
Verse 11
said also, &c. See Exodus 20:14, Exodus 20:13.
no = not, James 2:4.
Verse 12
speak. App-121.
shall = are about to.
judged. App-122.
by. App-104. James 2:1.