Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
lay apart—"once for all" (so the Greek): as a filthy garment. Compare Joshua's filthy garments, Zechariah 3:3, Zechariah 3:5; Revelation 7:14. "Filthiness" is cleansed away by hearing the word (John 15:3).
superfluity of naughtiness—excess (for instance, the intemperate spirit implied in "wrath," James 1:19-20), which arises from malice (our natural, evil disposition towards one another). I Peter 2:1 has the very same words in the Greek. So "malice" is the translation, Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8. "Faulty excess" [BENGEL] is not strong enough. Superfluous excess in speaking is also reprobated as "coming of evil" (the Greek is akin to the word for "naughtiness" here) in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:37), with which James' Epistle is so connected.
with meekness—in mildness towards one another [ALFORD], the opposite to "wrath" (James 1:20): answering to "as new-born babes" (I Peter 2:2). Meekness, I think, includes also a childlike, docile, humble, as well as an uncontentious, spirit (Psalms 25:9; Psalms 45:4; Isaiah 66:2; Matthew 5:5; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 18:3-4; contrast Romans 2:8). On "receive," applied to ground receiving seed, compare Mark 4:20. Contrast Acts 17:11; I Thessalonians 1:6 with II Thessalonians 2:10.
engrafted word—the Gospel word, whose proper attribute is to be engrafted by the Holy Spirit, so as to be livingly incorporated with the believer, as the fruitful shoot is with the wild natural stock on which it is engrafted. The law came to man only from without, and admonished him of his duty. The Gospel is engrafted inwardly, and so fulfils the ultimate design of the law (Deuteronomy 6:6; Deuteronomy 11:18; Psalms 119:11). ALFORD translates, "The implanted word," referring to the parable of the sower (Mat. 13:1-23). I prefer English Version.
able to save—a strong incentive to correct our dulness in hearing the word: that word which we hear so carelessly, is able (instrumentally) to save us [CALVIN].
souls—your true selves, for the "body" is now liable to sickness and death: but the soul being now saved, both soul and body at last shall be so (James 5:15, James 5:20).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing James 1:21:
James 1:19
James 1:19
1 Peter 2:2
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