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But you have dishonored the poor man. Don`t the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?
Verse Takeaways
1
The Folly of Honoring Oppressors
James points out the absurdity of showing favoritism to the rich. Commentators explain that he uses rhetorical questions to highlight a stark reality: the wealthy class was actively oppressing believers, exploiting them, and violently dragging them into court. Honoring the very group that persecutes you is not only illogical but also a sign of misplaced, worldly values.
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James
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7
18th Century
Presbyterian
But you have despised the poor. Koppe reads this as a question: "Do you despise the poor?" Perhaps it might be understood somewhat ironica…
But ye have dishonoured the poor man (υμεις δε ητιμασατε τον πτωχον). First aorist active indicative of ατιμαζω, old verb from ατι…
19th Century
Anglican
But you have despised the poor.—Better, you dishonored the poor man—that is, when, as already mentioned ([Refere…
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In sharp contrast to God’s choice of the poor (v.5) is the way James’s readers had treated them. God had chosen them, but they had “insulted” them!…
16th Century
Protestant
Do not the rich. He seems to instigate them to vengeance by highlighting the unjust rule of the rich, so that those who were unjustly trea…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
But you have despised the poor Or dishonoured, and reproached them, by showing respect of persons, in preferring the…
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Those who profess faith in Christ as the Lord of glory must not show favoritism based on mere outward circumstances and appearances, in a manner in…