Teks -- James 1:9 (NET)

1:9 Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high position.

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Robertson: Jam 1:9 - But

But ( de ).

Return to the point of view in Jam 1:2.

Robertson: Jam 1:9 - Of low degree

Of low degree ( ho tapeinos ).

"The lowly"brother, in outward condition (Luk 1:52), humble and poor as in Psa 9:12; Pro 30:14, not the spiritually humble as in Mat 11:29; Jam 4:6. In the lxx tapeinos was used for either the poor in goods or the poor in spirit. Christianity has glorified this word in both senses. Already the rich and the poor in the churches had their occasion for jealousies.

Robertson: Jam 1:9 - Glory in his high estate

Glory in his high estate ( kauchasthō en tōi hupsei autou ).

Paradox, but true. In his low estate he is "in his height"(hupsos , old word, in N.T., also in Luk 1:78; Eph 3:1; etc.).

Vincent: Jam 1:9 - But

But

Omitted in A. V. Introducing a contrast with the double-minded.

Vincent: Jam 1:9 - The brother of low degree

The brother of low degree ( ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὁ ταπεινὸς )

Lit., the brother, the lowly one. Not in the higher Christian sense of ταπεινὸς (see on Mat 11:29), but, rather, poor and afflicted , as contrasted with rich.

Vincent: Jam 1:9 - Rejoice

Rejoice ( καυχάσθω )

Not strong enough. It is, rather, boast. So Rev., glory. Compare Rom 5:3; Phi 3:3.

Vincent: Jam 1:9 - In that he is exalted

In that he is exalted ( ἐν τῷ ὕψει αὐτοῦ )

Lit., in his exaltation. Rev., in his high estate.

Wesley: Jam 1:9 - Let the brother

St James does not give this appellation to the rich.

Wesley: Jam 1:9 - Of low degree

Poor and tempted.

Wesley: Jam 1:9 - Rejoice

The most effectual remedy against doublemindedness.

Wesley: Jam 1:9 - In that he is exalted

To be a child of God, and an heir of glory.

JFB: Jam 1:9-10

Translate, "But let the brother," &c. that is, the best remedy against double-mindedness is that Christian simplicity of spirit whereby the "brother," low in outward circumstances, may "rejoice" (answering to Jam 1:2) "in that he is exalted," namely, by being accounted a son and heir of God, his very sufferings being a pledge of his coming glory and crown (Jam 1:12), and the rich may rejoice "in that he is made low," by being stripped of his goods for Christ's sake [MENOCHIUS]; or in that he is made, by sanctified trials, lowly in spirit, which is true matter for rejoicing [GOMARUS]. The design of the Epistle is to reduce all things to an equable footing (Jam 2:1; Jam 5:13). The "low," rather than the "rich," is here called "the brother" [BENGEL].

Clarke: Jam 1:9 - Let the brother of low degree

Let the brother of low degree - The poor, destitute Christian may glory in the cross of Christ, and the blessed hope laid up for him in heaven; for, being a child of God, he is an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ.

Calvin: Jam 1:9 - Let the brother of low degree

9.Let the brother of low degree. As Paul, exhorting servants submissively to bear their lot, sets before them this consolation, that they were the free-men of God, having been set free by his grace from the most miserable bondage of Satan, and reminds them, though free, yet to remember that they were the servants of God; so here James in the same manner bids the lowly to glory in this, that they had been adopted by the Lord as his children; and the rich, because they had been brought down into the same condition, the world’s vanity having been made evident to them. Thus the first thing he would have to do is to be content with their humble and low state; and he forbids the rich to be proud. Since it is incomparably the greatest dignity to be introduced into the company of angels, nay, to be made the associates of Christ, he who estimates this favor of God aright, will regard all other things as worthless. Then neither poverty, nor contempt, nor nakedness, nor famine nor thirst, will make his mind so anxious, but that he will sustain himself with this consolation. “Since the Lord has conferred on me the principal thing, it behooves me patiently to bear the loss of other things, which are inferior.”

Behold, how a lowly brother ought to glory in his elevation or exaltation; for if he be accepted of God, he has sufficient consolation in his adoption alone, so as not to grieve unduly for a less prosperous state of life.

TSK: Jam 1:9 - the brother // rejoice // in

the brother : Jam 2:5, Jam 2:6; Deu 15:7, Deu 15:9, Deu 15:11; Psa 62:9; Pro 17:5, Pro 19:1; Luk 1:52

rejoice : or, glory, Jer 9:23, Jer 9:24; Rom 5:2, Rom 5:3; Phi 3:3 *Gr.

in : Jam 2:5; 1Sa 2:8; Psa 113:7, Psa 113:8; Luk 9:48, Luk 10:20; Rom 8:17; 2Co 6:10; Phi 3:14; 1Pe 2:9; 1Jo 3:1-3; Rev 2:9, Rev 5:9, Rev 5:10, Rev 7:9, Rev 7:10

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Poole: Jam 1:9 - Let the brother // Of low degree // Rojoice in that he is exalted

Let the brother i.e. the believer, (for to such he writes), all believers, or saints, being brethren in Christ, 1Co 16:20 1Th 5:26 1Ti 6:2 .

Of low degree the Greek word signifies both lowliness of mind and lowness of condition, (as the Hebrew word doth, to which it answers), but here is to be understood of the latter, as Luk 1:48but especially of such a low estate as a man is brought into for Christ’ s sake and the gospel’ s.

Rojoice in that he is exalted either exalted to be a brother, a member of Christ, a child of God, and heir of glory, which is the greatest preferment; or exalted to the honour of suffering for Christ: see Act 5:41 Rom 5:3 .

Haydock: Jam 1:9-12 - The brother of low condition // The beauty of the shape thereof

The brother of low condition. Literally, humble. [3] See Luke i. 48. The sense is, that a Christian, of never so low and poor a condition, may glory, and rejoice even in his poverty, that he is not only the servant, but even the adoptive son of God. But the rich, in his being low. Some word must be here understood to make the sense complete. If we understand, let the rich man glory, it must be expounded by irony, by what follows, of his passing away like a flower. But others rather understand some other word of a different signification; as, let the rich man lament the low condition that he must come to; for he must quickly fade away like grass. ---

The beauty of the shape thereof [4] perished. So the Hebrews say, the face of the heavens, the face of the earth, &c. (Witham)

Haydock: Jam 1:9

[BIBLIOGRAPHY]

Humilis, and in humilitate, Greek: tapeinos, tapeinosei. See Luke i. 48.

Gill: Jam 1:9 - Let the brother of low degree // rejoice in that he is exalted

Let the brother of low degree,.... By "the brother" is meant, not one in a natural, but in a spiritual relation; one of Christ's brethren, and who is of that family that is named of him; of the household of faith, and is in church communion: and whereas he is said to be of "low degree", or "humble", this regards not the affection of his mind, or his conduct and deportment, he being meek and lowly, and clothed with humility, as every brother is, or ought to be; but his outward state and condition, being, as to the things of this world, poor, and mean in his outward circumstances, and so humbled and afflicted. This appears from the rich man, who, in the next verse, is opposed unto him, and distinguished from him; see Psa 62:9 such an one is advised to

rejoice in that he is exalted; or to "glory in his exaltation"; in that high estate, to which he is advanced; for a person may be very low and mean, as to his worldly circumstances, and yet be very high, and greatly exalted in a spiritual sense: and this height of honour and grandeur, of which he may boast and glory, amidst his outward poverty, lies in his high birth and descent, being born from above, and of God, and belonging to his family; in being an adopted Son of God, and so an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ, and of the heavenly inheritance and kingdom; in the present riches of grace he is possessed of, as justifying, pardoning, and sanctifying grace; and in the high titles he bears, as besides the new name, the name better than that of sons and daughters of the greatest potentate, even that of a Son of the Lord God Almighty, his being a King, and a priest unto God, and for whom a kingdom, crown, and throne are prepared; and also in the company he daily keeps, and is admitted to, as of God, and Christ, and the holy angels: and this height of honour have all the saints, be they ever so poor in this world, who can vie with the greatest of princes for sublimity and grandeur.