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Verse Takeaways
1
Salvation Starts with God
Multiple commentators emphasize that our spiritual rebirth is not a response to our own efforts or merits, but originates entirely from God's deliberate and gracious choice. John Calvin notes this means God was 'prompted by no other reason' than His own goodwill. This stands in stark contrast to sin, which James previously traced to our own desires.
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Book Overview
James
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Commentaries
11
Albert Barnes
On James 1:18
18th Century
Theologian
Of his own will. Greek: willing, boulētheis. The idea is that the fact that we are "begotten" to be His children is to b…
AT Robertson
On James 1:18
Of his own will (βουληθεις). First aorist passive participle of βουλομα. Repeating the metaphor of birth in verse 15, but in good …
Charles Ellicott
On James 1:18
19th Century
Bishop
Of His own will He begot us with the word of truth.—There is a greater witness to God’s goodness than that which is writt…
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Charles Spurgeon
On James 1:18
19th Century
Preacher
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
It is a very delightf…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On James 1:18
James advances his final reason for denying that God is the author of temptation. Rather than acting destructively, God acts constructively. “He ch…
John Calvin
On James 1:18
16th Century
Theologian
Of his own will. He now brings forward a special proof of the goodness of God which he had mentioned: namely, that He has regenerated us t…
John Gill
On James 1:18
17th Century
Pastor
Of his own will begat he us The apostle instances in one of those good and perfect gifts, regeneration; and he pitches up…
Matthew Henry
On James 1:12–18
17th Century
Minister
It is not everyone who suffers who is blessed, but the one who with patience and constancy goes through all difficulties in the way of duty. Afflic…