Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
gift . . . gift—not the same words in Greek: the first, the act of giving, or the gift in its initiatory stage; the second, the thing given, the boon, when perfected. As the "good gift" stands in contrast to "sin" in its initiatory stage (James 1:15), so the "perfect boon" is in contrast to "sin when it is finished," bringing forth death (II Peter 1:3).
from above—(Compare James 3:15).
Father of lights—Creator of the lights in heaven (compare Job 38:28 [ALFORD]; Genesis 4:20-21; Hebrews 12:9). This accords with the reference to the changes in the light of the heavenly bodies alluded to in the end of the verse. Also, Father of the spiritual lights in the kingdom of grace and glory [BENGEL]. These were typified by the supernatural lights on the breastplate of the high priest, the Urim. As "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" (I John 1:5), He cannot in any way be the Author of sin (James 1:13), which is darkness (John 3:19).
no variableness . . . shadow of turning— (Malachi 3:6). 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. BENGEL makes a climax, "no variation—not even the shadow of a turning"; the former denoting a change in the understanding; the latter, in the will.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing James 1:17:
Genesis 6:5-6
Deuteronomy 32:4
Job 25:3
Job 42:2
Ecclesiastes 3:14
Song of Solomon 2:3
Daniel 1:17
Daniel 2:22
Hosea 14:8
Amos 7:3
Jonah 3:10
Matthew 4:1
2 Corinthians 1:3
Ephesians 4:6
Philippians 1:6
James 1:13
James 1:18
James 3:15
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