Tiago 1
Hilary of Arles · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Tiago 1:1
Christ deigned to reveal himself to James after his passion, and eventually it became proverbial to say: "He appeared also to James." James refers to himself as a servant, but we must remember that there are two kinds of servitude, voluntary and involuntary. The involuntary servant is a slave who fears punishment, and therefore his service does not spring from love. But the voluntary servant is really no different from a son. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:2
Just as the world has to pass through winter before the spring comes and the flowers bloom, so a man must go through many temptations before he can inherit the prize of eternal life. For as Paul said: "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." Temptations come in three ways, by persuasion, by attraction and by consent. Satan persuades, the flesh is attracted, and the mind consents. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:3
Temptations can be endured by spiritual knowledge and faith in the Trinity. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:4
Perfection is the love of God, which is that very same "perfect love which casts out fear," that is, the fear of being tempted. Perfection is also patience, which is the guardian of the soul as Scripture says: "By your patience you will gain your souls." — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:5
Why does James tell them to seek wisdom? It is so that they might have God's assurance. Only God should be asked for wisdom, not philosophers or astrologers. God gives wisdom like a fountain which never runs out of water, and he fills everyone whom he enters, but the wisdom of philosophers and other human agents is not given in abundance, and it is soon spewed out. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:6
James shows that the basis of human wisdom is faith. Here he may be contending against Simon Magus, who asked the apostles to give him the Holy Spirit but did not ask in faith. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:9
This verse applies to Hebrew slaves who were great and proud and high in their own eyes but in their slavery had become the lowest of the low. It is as if he were saying that life was harder for the rich people with whom they were living than it was for them as their servants. The boasting referred to here is not vain glory but joy in times of temptation. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:10
Scripture says that "whoever exalts himself will be humbled." Wealth is a rich man's flower, but the elements of the universe are out to snatch it away from him. James says very little about the humble man, but it is enough, for he will receive his glory from God. But the rich are condemned at great length, so that no one will be tempted to follow their example. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:16
This refers to the deception of the heretics who think that because God rules the physical world in darkness and in light, in drought and in rain, in cold and in heat, so he also rules over human wills with the same determinateness—in good and in bad, in sadness and in joy, in death and in life. Because of this error, James goes on to add that it is "every good endowment and every perfect gift" which comes from the Father of lights. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:18
Just as the heavenly powers rule over the angelic creatures, so we human beings rule over the lower creation. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:21
Filthiness and wickedness arise out of anger. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:23
There are two kinds of mirrors—large and small. In a small mirror you see small things—this is the Old Testament, which leads no one to perfection. But in a big mirror you see great things—this is the New Testament, because in it the fullness of perfection is seen. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES
Tiago 1:27
James calls God the Father because as far as he is concerned there is no other god who made the world (as the Marcionites and other heretics claim). What he says about widows has to be understood in the light of the fact that there were many who tried to rob them of their possessions, as it says in the Gospel. — INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES