James 5

Chap. V. Ver. 1. Go to now.—Doddridge, “come now;” as in the chapter preceding it, ver. 13. The difficulty with these rich men was, that they hoarded their wealth,—did not use it for the honour of God—did not regard themselves as stewards. The moth-eaten garments—the rust upon their wealth—are the witnesses that their treasures were kept idle, or not properly used. Well may the rich man howl, who has lived to himself in such a world as this. Ver. 3. For the last days.—See note on (1 Timothy 4:1). Ver. 4. Lord of sabaoth—i. e. of hosts. Ver. 5. A day of slaughter—Was also a day of feasting; for the Jewish festivals were generally preceded by sacrifices, on many of which the offerers themselves feasted.

See (Isaiah 34:6). Ver. 6. The just.—Macknight, “The Just ONE, who did not resist you.” See (Acts 7:52). Bishop Jebb, “He is not arrayed against you.” Bishop Middleton explains it thus; “The Saviour opposes not your perverseness, but leaves you a prey to its delusion,”—Jebb’s Sac. Lit. Ver. 8. Be ye also patient—The same word as is twice used in the verse preceding.—For the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.—This is supposed Ver. 15. If he have committed sins—Whereby he may have brought this affliction on himself. See (1 Corinthians 11:30).

Notes on the verses

Is any merry?—Doddridge, “cheerful”—Let him sing psalms. See (Ephesians 5:19). (Colossians 3:16). Ver. 14. Anointing him with oil.—There are two ways in which this may be understood; either, first, as a medical application, still practised in the East during the hot seasons, and even said to be of sovereign efficacy against the plague. (See Taylor’s Expos. Index in loc.; and Burder’s Orient. Cust. No. 574.) But, 2dly, Others consider this as a symbolical action, expressive of the morals, or, rather, gracious influences of the Holy Spirit. The application of this passage in defence of the Roman Catholic sacrament of Extreme Unction, is certainly ridiculous, since the ends proposed are diametrically opposite.

This anointing being for the express purpose of recovery; the other seldom administered while such a hope remains, and avowedly destined to introduce them into another world. (THAT Simon PETER, or Cephas, the son of Jonas, and the Apostle of our Lord, was the author of this Epistle, has never been disputed; and its genuineness and canonical authority are amply confirmed by its being quoted or referred to by Polycarp, Clement of Rome, the martyrs of Lyons, Theophilus bishop of Antioch, Papias, Irenæus, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian. We have already seen the history of this Apostle as detailed in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles; in addition to which, we learn from ecclesiastical history that he went to Rome, in the reign of Nero, where he suffered martyrdom, being crucified with his head downwards, at or near the same time when St.

Ver. 16. Confess your faults one to another.—This has no reference to Auricular confession, which is made merely in the ears of a priest; nor is this confession made with a view to absolution, but to entreat the prayers of our fellow Christians. Ver. 17. Subject to like passions.—Doddridge and Macknight, “To like infirmities.” —Prayed earnestly.—Margin, “Prayed in his prayer,” which is a Hebraism for earnest prayer. Three years and six months.—But this was the whole time of the drought. (Luke 4:25). Ver. 18. He prayed again—That is, after Baal’s priests had been destroyed and idolatry suppressed. See (1 Kings 18:36), &c.; Ver. 20. Shall hide.—Macknight, “cover”—a multitude of sins.—Of whose sins?

Doubtless, in our view, of the converted sinner. So Macknight. Compare 1 Peter iv. 8. To cover sin, under the Old Testament, implied its pardon. He that is instrumental in the conversion of a sinner, is instrumental also in procuring his pardon. Paul, as a Roman citizen, was beheaded. St. Jerome adds, that “he was buried at Rome, in the Vatican, near the triumphal way; and is in veneration over all the world.” He wrote this Epistle, as is generally allowed, some little time before his death, probably about A. D. 64, to the Christians, doubtless both Jewish and Gentile converts, in the different provinces of Asia Minor; and most probably from Rome, mystically called Babylon, (ch v. 13,) as (Ecumenius, Bede, and other fathers, Grotius, Whitby, Macknight, Lardner, Hales, Horne, Townsend, and all the learned of the Romish church, suppose; and which is strongly corroborated by the general use of antiquity.)—B,