James 1:25

He that looketh into (o parakuyav). First aorist active articular participle of parakuptw, old verb, to stoop and look into (John 20:5, John 20:11), to gaze carefully by the side of, to peer into or to peep into (I Peter 1:12). Here the notion of beside (para) or of stooping (kuptw) is not strong. Sometimes, as Hort shows, the word means only a cursory glance, but the contrast with verse James 1:24 seems to preclude that here.

The perfect law (nomon teleion). For teleion see James 1:17. See Romans 7:12 for Paul's idea of the law of God. James here refers to the word of truth (James 1:18), the gospel of grace (Galatians 6:2; Romans 12:2).

The law of liberty (ton thv eleuqeriav). "That of liberty," explaining why it is "perfect" (James 2:12 also), rests on the work of Christ, whose truth sets us free (John 8:32; II Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:2).

And so continueth (kai parameinav). First aorist active articular participle again of paramenw, parallel with parakuyav. Paramenw is to stay beside, and see Philippians 1:25 for contrast with the simplex menw.

Being (genomenov). Rather, "having become" (second aorist middle participle of ginomai to become).

Not a hearer that forgetteth (ouk akroathv epilhsmonhv). "Not a hearer of forgetfulness" (descriptive genitive, marked by forgetfulness). Epilhsmonh is a late and rare word (from epilhsmwn, forgetful, from epilanqomai, to forget, as in verse James 1:24), here only in N.T.

But a doer that worketh (alla poihthv ergou). "But a doer of work," a doer marked by work (descriptive genitive ergou), not by mere listening or mere talk.

In his doing (en th poihsei autou). Another beatitude with makariov as in James 1:12, like the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. Poihsiv is an old word (from poiew for the act of doing), only here in N.T.