Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Of his own will (boulhqeiv). First aorist passive participle of boulomai. Repeating the metaphor of birth in verse James 1:15, but in good sense. God as Father acted deliberately of set purpose.
He brought us forth (apekuhsen). First aorist active indicative of apokuew (verse James 1:15), only here of the father (4 Macc. 15:17), not of the mother. Regeneration, not birth of all men, though God is the Father in the sense of creation of all men (Acts 17:28 f.).
By the word of truth (logw alhqeiav). Instrumental case logw. The reference is thus to the gospel message of salvation even without the article (II Corinthians 6:7) as here, and certainly with the article (Colossians 1:5; Ephesians 1:13; II Timothy 2:15). The message marked by truth (genitive case alhqeiav).
That we should be (eiv to einai hmav). Purpose clause eiv to and the infinitive einai with the accusative of general reference hmav (as to us).
A kind of first-fruits (aparxhn tina). "Some first-fruits" (old word from aparxomai), of Christians of that age. See Romans 16:5.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing James 1:18:
James 1:13
James 1:19
James 1:21
James 1:25
James 5:19
1 Peter 1:23
Revelation 5:13
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