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I.
V. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from
above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is
no variation or shifting shadow.
a.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift - pas {pas} agathos
{ag-ath-os'}, dosis {dos'-is}, kai {kahee} teleios {tel'-i-os},
dorema {do'-ray-mah} - All excellent, distinguished gift wanting
nothing necessary to completeness gift, bounty, benefaction
i.
The first "gift" = the act of giving,
or the gift in its initiatory
stage; the second "gift", is the thing given,
the bounty, when perfected. As the "good gift" stands in contrast to
"sin" in its initiatory stage (James 1:15),
so the "perfect bounty" is in contrast to "sin when
it is finished," bringing forth death
ii.
Literally - "every good act of giving and every perfect gift
is from above." (BKC)
b.
Is from above - anothen {an'-o-then} - things which come from heaven
or God
i.
Whether of nature, providence, or grace, and especially the latter;
spiritual gifts given along with Christ, or spiritual blessings
in him; every such gift is; the "best" gift; better than
those which only relate to the present life: and is "perfect"
such as the gifts of righteousness, remission of sins, adoption,
regeneration, and eternal life. The Jews say, that the good things
of this world are not truly good, in comparison of the good things
of the world to come, and are not "a perfect good." And
every such an one is from above; is not from a man's self, from
the creature, or from below, but from heaven, and from God who dwells
there:
c.
Coming down - katabaino {kat-ab-ah'-ee-no} - to be sent down
d.
Father of lights - pater {pat-ayr'} phos {foce} - God is light because
light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality
i.
In stark contrast with the morbid scene of death that descends,
from unbridled lust is the bright scene of the new life that emanates
from the Word of truth. The
father of darkness Ð Satan (Acts 26:18) generates the offspring
of sin and death. The father of heavenly lights (the God
who created the starry universe) gives salvation and life and is
unchanging. (BKC)
ii.
He knows what is in darkness but the light dwells with Him (Daniel
2:22)
iii.
The visible light of the sun and the heavenly bodies is from him.
He said, Let there be light, and there was light.
Thus God is at once represented as the Creator of the sun and in
some respects compared to it. (Matthew Henry)
e.
No variation or shifting shadow - parallage {par-al-lag-ay'} trope
{trop-ay'} - variation, change or A turning of the heavenly bodies
i.
As the sun is the same in its nature and influences, though the
earth and clouds, oft interposing, make it seem to us as varying,
by its rising and setting, and by its different appearances, or
entire withdrawment, when the change is not in it; so God is unchangeable,
and our changes and shadows are not from any mutability or shadowy
alterations in him, but from ourselves. (Baxter)
ii.
What the sun is in nature, God is in grace, providence, and glory;
aye, and infinitely more. (Matthew Henry)
iii.
None of the alternations of light and shadow which the physical
"lights" undergo, and which even the spiritual lights
are liable to, as compared with God. "Shadow of turning,"
literally, the dark "shadow-mark" cast from
one of the heavenly bodies, arising from its "turning"
or revolution, for example, when the moon is eclipsed by the shadow
of the earth, and the sun by the body of the moon. (Commentary Critical)
II.
V18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the
word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among
His creatures.
a.
Exercise of His will - boulomai {boo'-lom-ahee} - of willing as
an affection, to desire
i.
Of his own good pleasure (which shows that it is God's essential
nature to do good, not evil), not induced by any external cause
(Commentary Critical)
ii.
The original of this good work is here declared: it is of God's
own will; not by our skill or power; not from any good foreseen
in us, or done by us, but purely from the good-will and grace of
God (Matthew Henry)
b.
He brought us forth - apokueo {ap-ok-oo-eh'-o} - to bring forth,
to give birth to
i.
The apostle instances in one of those good and perfect gifts, regeneration;
and he pitches upon a very proper and pertinent one, since this
is the first gift of grace God bestows upon his people openly, and
in their own persons. (John Gill)
ii.
By the word of truth He has begotten us to be the first and most
excellent witnesses of that power of good which will shine forth
hereafter in the new creation (Darby)
iii.
Our birth itself was the expression of His good will. He brought the Word of truth to bear upon our consciences,
leading us to confess our sins and trust the Savior He provided.
(Ironside)
iv.
Spiritually: a once-for-all accomplished act (1 Peter
1:3,23). In contrast to "lust when it hath conceived,
bringeth forth sin, and sin
. . . death" (James 1:15).
Life follows naturally
in connection with light
(James 1:17).
(Commentary Critical)
c.
Word of truth - logos {lo-gos} aletheia {al-ay'-thi-a} - true sayings
appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth
i.
the Gospel, which is the word of truth, and truth itself, and contains
nothing but truth; and by this souls are begotten and born again
(John Gill)
ii.
The word of truth is the good seed of life; self-will is the cradle
of our lusts-its energy can never produce the fruits of divine nature;
nor the wrath of man the righteousness of God. (Darby)
iii.
The means whereby this is affected are pointed out: the word
of truth, that is, the gospel, as Paul expresses it more plainly,
1 Co. 4:15, I have begotten you in Jesus Christ through
the gospel. This gospel in indeed
a word of truth, or else it could never produce such real, such
lasting, such great and noble effects. (Matthew Henry)
d.
That we would be a kind of first fruits - einai {i'-nahee} tis {tis}
aparche {ap-ar-khay'} - to be a certain person(s) superior in excellence
to others of the same class
i.
A pledge of the great harvest to be reaped in due time (Ironside)
ii.
such as are begotten again, or regenerated, are separated and distinguished
from others, as the first fruits be; and that they are preferred
unto, and are more excellent than the rest of mankind, being made
so by the grace of God (John Gill)
iii.
believers, are, as it were,
first-fruits (image from the consecration of the first-born of man,
cattle, and fruits to God; familiar to the Jews addressed), that
is, they are the first of God's regenerated creatures (Commentary
Critical)
iv.
Those in God's portion and treasure, and a more peculiar property
to him, as the first-fruits were (Matthew Henry)
e.
Among His creatures - ktisma {ktis'-mah} - a thing founded, or created
i.
There is no reason why one of God's chosen, first fruits, or regenerated
believers, has to yield to temptation.
He must learn to resist its deadly force, or he can never
grow into the spiritual maturity God desires of His children of
light. (BKC)
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