3:7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature 1 is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. 2
1:2 My brothers and sisters, 4 consider it nothing but joy 5 when you fall into all sorts of trials,
2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, 7 if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith 8 save him? 9
1 tn Grk (plurals), “every kind of animals and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures.”
2 tn Grk “the human species.”
3 tn Grk “Having willed, he gave us birth.”
5 tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). Where the plural term is used in direct address, as here, “brothers and sisters” is used; where the term is singular and not direct address (as in v. 9), “believer” is preferred.
6 tn Grk “all joy,” “full joy,” or “greatest joy.”
7 tn Grk “and he has gone out and immediately has forgotten.”
9 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.
10 tn Grk “the faith,” referring to the kind of faith just described: faith without works. The article here is anaphoric, referring to the previous mention of the noun πίστις (pisti") in the verse. See ExSyn 219.
11 sn The form of the question in Greek expects a negative answer.
11 tn Grk “This.”
12 tn Grk “come down”; “descend.”
13 tn Grk “soulish,” which describes life apart from God, characteristic of earthly human life as opposed to what is spiritual. Cf. 1 Cor 2:14; 15:44-46; Jude 19.