James 1:17 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Every good gift, &c.— The first part of this verse is in the Greek an hexameter, and possibly was quoted by St. James from some of the Greek poets. See Acts 17:28. 1 Corinthians 15:33.Titus 1:12. Father in this verse signifies author, or cause. Com. Genesis 4:20. Hebrews 12:9. The Father of Lights is here used agreeably to the astronomical metaphor which follows;—with whom there is no deviation, or tropical shadow—Light invariable, without any interposing shade, which is lengthened or shortened by the different distance of the sun, according to the common mode of expression. There is in these worlds, says Amory, an allusion to the heavenly bodies, and the benefits which we derive from them. The sun, moon, and stars, are greatly beneficial by their light, warmth, and influences, but not always beneficial: they rise and set to us; are sometimes nearer, at other times more distant; sometimes eclipsed, and often clouded. But the divine benignity is not subject to any such variations; it is always equally near, and equally communicative of its influences to proper objects; nor can any thing interpose between it and them: it is not the flush of good humour, which may be spent: it is not a great but limited treasury, which may be exhausted bylarge and continued communications. As God is ever unerringly wise, and unchangeably happy; as his power is infinite, and he is raised above the possibility of want or suffering; he will certainly always choose to do, what his wisdom determines best to be done; and as he ever deems the happiness of his creatures, who will accept of his mercy, to be the worthiest end, he will certainly be always disposed and delighted to promote that best end. The infinite communications of good, which he hath made already, instead of causing us to fear that his goodness may be exhausted, serve to prove it infinite, and therefore inexhaustible: they give, and they will give his faithful saints, to eternity, the most substantial reasons to expect from their Creator and Redeemer, all that can be expected from a Being infinitely wise, powerful, and benevolent.

James 1:17

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.