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Selected Verse: James 2:5 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Jas 2:5 |
King James |
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Hearken--James brings to trial the self-constituted "judges" (Jam 2:4).
poor of this world--The best manuscripts read, "those poor in respect to the world." In contrast to "the rich in this world" (Ti1 6:17). Not of course all the poor; but the poor, as a class, furnish more believers than the rich as a class. The rich, if a believer, renounces riches as his portion; the poor, if an unbeliever, neglects that which is the peculiar advantage of poverty (Mat 5:3; Co1 1:26-28).
rich in faith--Their riches consist in faith. Luk 12:21, "rich toward God." Ti1 6:18, "rich in good works" (Rev 2:9; compare Co2 8:9). Christ's poverty is the source of the believer's riches.
kingdom . . . promised-- (Luk 12:32; Co1 2:9; Ti2 4:8). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Hearken, my beloved brethren - The apostle now proceeds to show that the rich, as such, had no special claim on their favor, and that the poor in fact might be made more entitled to esteem than they were. For a view of the arguments by which he does this, compare the analysis of the chapter.
Hath not God chosen the poor of this world? - Those who are poor so far as this world is concerned, or those who have not wealth. This is the first argument which the apostle suggests why the poor should not be treated with neglect. It is, that God has had special reference to them in choosing those who should be his children. The meaning is not that he is not as willing to save the rich as the poor, for he has no partiality; but that there are circumstances in the condition of the poor which make it more likely that they will embrace the offers of the gospel than the rich; and that in fact the great mass of believers is taken from those who are in comparatively humble life. Compare the notes at Co1 1:26-28. The fact that God has chosen one to be an "heir of the kingdom" is as good a reason now why he should not be treated with neglect, as it was in the times of the apostles.
Rich in faith - Though poor in this world's goods, they are rich in a higher and more important sense. They have faith in God their Saviour; and in this world of trial and of sin, that is a more valuable possession than piles of hoarded silver or gold. A man who has that is sure that he will have all that is truly needful for him in this world and the next; a man who has it not, though he may have the wealth of Croesus, will be utterly without resources in respect to the great wants of his existence.
"Give what thou wilt, without thee we are poor;
And with thee rich, take what thou wilt away."
Faith in God the Saviour will answer more purposes, and accomplish more valuable ends for man, than the wealth of the Indies could: and this the poor may have as well as the rich. Compare Rev 2:9.
And heirs of the kingdom ... - Margin, "that." Compare the notes at Mat 5:3. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
world
Greek, "kosmos", means "mankind".
(See Scofield) - (Mat 4:8). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Hearken, my beloved brethren
Alford cites this phrase as one of the very few links which connect this epistle with the speech of James in Act 15:13.
The poor of this world (τοὺς πτωχοὺς τοῦ κόσμου)
But the correct reading is τῷ κόσμῳ, to the world; and the expression is to be explained in the same way as ἀστεῖος τῷ Θεῷ, fair unto God, Act 7:20, and δυνατὰ τῷ Θεῷ, mighty through (Rev., before) God, Co2 10:4. So Rev., poor as to the world, in the world's esteem. Poor, see on Mat 5:3.
Rich in faith
The Rev., properly, inserts to be, since the words are not in apposition with poor, but express the object for which God has chosen them. Faith is not the quality in which they are to be rich, but the sphere or element; rich in their position as believers. "Not the measure of faith, in virtue of which one man is richer than another, is before the writer's mind, but the substance of the faith, by virtue of which every believer is rich" (Wiesinger, cited by Alford). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Hearken - As if he had said, Stay, consider, ye that judge thus. Does not the presumption lie rather in favour of the poor man? Hath not God chosen the poor - That is, are not they whom God hath chosen, generally speaking, poor in this world? who yet are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom - Consequently, the most honourable of men: and those whom God so highly honours, ought not ye to honour likewise? |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Hath not God chosen the poor of this world - This seems to refer to Mat 11:5 : And the poor have the Gospel preached to them. These believed on the Lord Jesus, and found his salvation; while the rich despised, neglected, and persecuted him. These had that faith in Christ which put them in possession of the choicest spiritual blessings, and gave them a right to the kingdom of heaven. While, therefore, they were despised of men, they were highly prized of God. |
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.