James 5:16

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 5:14-16

2. The prescription for help 5:14-16It is not surprising to find that James dealt with sickness (Gr. asthenai, weakness) in this epistle. He referred to the fact that departure from the will of God sets the Christian on a course that, unless corrected, may result in his or her premature physical death (James 1:15; James 1:21; James 5:20). Spiritual weakness, and sometimes physical sickness, result from sinful living. James gave instructions about how to deal with these maladies in James 5:14-20. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 5:16

In view of the possibility of spiritual and physical sickness following sin, believers should confess their sins (against one another) to one another (normally privately). Furthermore they should pray for one another so God may heal them (spiritually and physically)."Much is assumed here that is not expressed." [Note: Robertson, 6:65.] James assumed these facts, I believe, that are consistent with other revelation concerning prayer that the writers of Scripture give elsewhere. [Note: See Thomas... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - James 5:16

5:16 your (c-3) Lit. 'the.' fervent (d-19) Or, 'operative,' 'working effectually,' if the word be taken as a participle, as elsewhere in the New Testament. The A.V. combines the two ideas, 'the effectual fervent prayer,' but it is hardly both. I do not think it is inwrought by spiritual power. It is the person who is 'fervent.' read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:1-20

Rebuke and Encouragement2. Are corrupted, etc.] prophetic tense, in which the future is spoken of as though it were already come to pass. 3. For the last days] RV ’in the last days.’ The warning was fulfilled during the siege of Jerusalem, when many rich Jews were slain by Zealots (Jos. ’Wars,’5. 10). 4. Lord of Sabaoth] an OT. phrase = ’Lord of Hosts.’ It is not found elsewhere in the NT., except once in a quotation (Romans 9:29). 5. As in a day of slaughter] omit ’as,’ and cp. Jeremiah 12:3;... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - James 5:16

(16) Confess your faults one to another.—The meaning attributed to the words of this verse by many devout Catholics cannot be established either from the opinion of antiquity, or a critical examination of the Greek text according to modern schools. “We have,” observes Alford, “a general injunction arising out of a circumstance necessarily to be inferred in the preceding example (James 5:14-15). There, the sin would of necessity have been confessed to the elders, before the prayer of faith could... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - James 5:1-20

James 5:1 'I had an hour's baiting from Mrs. yesterday. She got upon political preaching abused it very heartily acknowledged that religion had to do with man's political life, but said a clergyman's duty is to preach obedience to the powers that be was rather puzzled when I asked her whether it were legitimate to preach from James 5:1 , "Go to, now, ye rich men, weep and howl," etc. asked whether it was possible for old women and orphans to understand such subjects; to which I replied, "No;... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - James 5:16-18

Chapter 28THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONFESSION OF SINS-LAWFULNESS OF PRAYERS FOR RAIN.James 5:16-18THE connection Of this passage with the preceding one is very close. This is evident even in the Authorized Version; but it is made still more. manifest by the Revisers, who have restored the connecting "therefore" to the text upon overwhelming authority. St. James is passing from the particular case of the sick person to something more general, viz., mutual confession of sins. If we draw out his... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - James 5:1-20

V. THE COMING OF THE LORD AND THE LIFE OF FAITH CHAPTER 5 1. The oppression by the rich and their coming doom (James 5:1-6 ) 2. Be patient unto the coming of the Lord (James 5:7-12 ) 3. The prayers of faith and the life of faith (James 5:13-20 ) James 5:1-6 The two classes whom James addresses stand out very prominently in this final chapter of his Epistle. The rich oppressors certainly are not believers but the unbelieving rich; they are not addressed as “brethren”; but others are in... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - James 5:16

5:16 {10} Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. {11} The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.(10) Because God pardons the sins of those who confess and acknowledge them, and not those who justify themselves. Therefore the apostle adds, we ought to freely confer with one another concerning those inward diseases, that we may help one another with our prayers.(11) He commends prayers by the effects that come of them, that all... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:1-20

Verses 1 Timothy 6:0 are addressed to rich men, and no doubt specially to those who make some claim of having the knowledge of God. They are bidden to weep and howl for the miseries that will take them, in contrast to their present living in luxury. How transient and empty are earthly richest God sees them as corrupted, decaying, and quickly at an end; and the garments of wealth as moth-eaten, not won from use, but from hanging, disused, in a closet. The language here is sharp and scathing.... read more

Group of Brands