Doing the Word of God in this context means persevering in God"s will when we experience temptation to depart from it. Hearing God"s will is good as far as it goes, and it is indispensable, but obedience should follow. Some Christian disciples delude themselves by thinking that knowing God"s will is enough, but it is only foundational to doing God"s will. [source][source][source]
"The blessing does not come in studying the Word, but in doing the Word." [1][source]
"The call to "do what it says" lies at the center of all that James teaches. It sums up the message of the whole book: Put into practice what you profess to believe. Indeed, James 1:22 may well be the key verse of James"s epistle." [2][source]
Context Summary
James 1:19-27 - Doers, Not Hearers Only
Keep your mouth closed when you are angry; the inner fire will die out of itself, if you keep the doors and windows shut. In James 1:18 we are taught that God's truth is the agent of regeneration; in James 1:21 it is the means of deepening our consecration. It is a blessed thing, when not only the words, but the Word of God is engrafted on the wild stock of our nature.
The one and only way of making holy impressions permanent is by translating them into Christian living. It is not enough to see ourselves reflected in the mirror of God's Word; we must so continue, not as hearers who forget, but as doers that perform. Many appear to think that blessedness results from hearing, and are always on foot to attend new conventions. No; the true blessedness accrues from doing. The heart of our Christian faith is purity, the stainless garb of the soul, and thoughtful ministration to the widow and orphan-but these are possible only through the indwelling of Christ by the Holy Spirit. [source]
Chapter Summary: James 1
1James greets the twelve tribes among the nations; 2exhorts to rejoice in trials and temptations; 5to ask patience of God; 13and in our trials not to impute our weakness, or sins, to him, 19but rather to hearken to the word, to meditate on it, and to do thereafter 26Otherwise men may seem, but never be, truly religious
Greek Commentary for James 1:22
But be ye [γινεστε δε] Rather, “But keep on becoming” (present middle imperative of γινομαι ginomai). [source]
Doers of the word [ποιηται λογου] Old word for agent Old word for agent again from ακροαμαι akroamai (to be a hearer), in N.T. only here and Romans 2:13.Deluding yourselves Present middle (direct) participle of παραλογιζομαι paralogizomai to reckon aside (παρα para) and so wrong, to cheat, to deceive. Redundant reflexive εαυτους heautous with the middle. In N.T. only here and Colossians 2:4. Such a man does not delude anyone but himself. [source]
Hearers [ακροαται] Old word for agent again from ακροαμαι akroamai (to be a hearer), in N.T. only here and Romans 2:13. [source]
Deluding yourselves [παραλογιζομενοι εαυτους] Present middle (direct) participle of παραλογιζομαι paralogizomai to reckon aside (παρα para) and so wrong, to cheat, to deceive. Redundant reflexive εαυτους heautous with the middle. In N.T. only here and Colossians 2:4. Such a man does not delude anyone but himself. [source]
Deceiving [παραλογιζόμενοι] From παρά , beside, contrary to, and λογίζομαι , to reckon, and hence to conclude by reasoning. The deception referred to is, therefore, that into which one betrays himself by false reasoning - reasoning beside the truth. [source]
Luke 24:38Thoughts [διαλογισμοὶ] See on James 2:4, and deceiving, James 1:22. Rev., reasonings. As if he had said, “Why do you reason about a matter which your spiritual perception ought to discern at once.” Compare note on fools, Luke 24:25. [source]
Romans 2:13Not the hearers - but the doers [ου γαρ οι ακροαταιαλλ οι ποιηται] The law was read in the synagogue, but there was no actual virtue in listening. The virtue is in doing. See a like contrast by James between “hearers” and “doers” of the gospel (James 1:22-25). [source]
Romans 2:13Before God [παρα τωι τεωι] By God‘s side, as God looks at it. Shall be justified (δικαιωτησονται dikaiōthēsontai). Future passive indicative of δικαιοω dikaioō to declare righteous, to set right. “Shall be declared righteous.” Like James 1:22-25. [source]
Romans 2:13Shall be justified [δικαιωτησονται] Future passive indicative of δικαιοω dikaioō to declare righteous, to set right. “Shall be declared righteous.” Like James 1:22-25. [source]
Colossians 2:4Beguile [παραλογίζηται] Only here and James 1:22. See note. Rev., delude. So Ignatius, speaking of the duty of obedience to the bishop, says: “He that fails in this, does not deceive the visible bishop, but attempts to cheat ( παραλογίζεται ) the Invisible” (Epistle to Magnesians, 3). The word is found in the Septuagint, Joshua 9:22; 1 Samuel 19:17; 2 Samuel 21:5. [source]
James 2:4Judges of evil thoughts [κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν] Better, as Rev., “judgeswith evil thoughts.” The form of expression is the same as in Luke 18:6, κριτὴς τῆς ἀδικίας , the judge of injustice, i.e., the unjust judge. So James 1:25, a hearer of forgetfulness. The word thoughts is, rather, reasonings. See on deceiving yourselves (James 1:22). Compare Luke 5:21. Their evil processes of thought lead to these unjust discriminations. [source]
Greek Commentary for James 1:22
Rather, “But keep on becoming” (present middle imperative of γινομαι ginomai). [source]
Old word for agent Old word for agent again from ακροαμαι akroamai (to be a hearer), in N.T. only here and Romans 2:13.Deluding yourselves Present middle (direct) participle of παραλογιζομαι paralogizomai to reckon aside (παρα para) and so wrong, to cheat, to deceive. Redundant reflexive εαυτους heautous with the middle. In N.T. only here and Colossians 2:4. Such a man does not delude anyone but himself. [source]
Old word for agent again from ακροαμαι akroamai (to be a hearer), in N.T. only here and Romans 2:13. [source]
Present middle (direct) participle of παραλογιζομαι paralogizomai to reckon aside (παρα para) and so wrong, to cheat, to deceive. Redundant reflexive εαυτους heautous with the middle. In N.T. only here and Colossians 2:4. Such a man does not delude anyone but himself. [source]
Used by James only. [source]
From παρά , beside, contrary to, and λογίζομαι , to reckon, and hence to conclude by reasoning. The deception referred to is, therefore, that into which one betrays himself by false reasoning - reasoning beside the truth. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 1:22
A debate or discussion. See on Luke 24:38, and James 1:22; James 2:4. [source]
See on James 2:4, and deceiving, James 1:22. Rev., reasonings. As if he had said, “Why do you reason about a matter which your spiritual perception ought to discern at once.” Compare note on fools, Luke 24:25. [source]
The law was read in the synagogue, but there was no actual virtue in listening. The virtue is in doing. See a like contrast by James between “hearers” and “doers” of the gospel (James 1:22-25). [source]
By God‘s side, as God looks at it. Shall be justified (δικαιωτησονται dikaiōthēsontai). Future passive indicative of δικαιοω dikaioō to declare righteous, to set right. “Shall be declared righteous.” Like James 1:22-25. [source]
Future passive indicative of δικαιοω dikaioō to declare righteous, to set right. “Shall be declared righteous.” Like James 1:22-25. [source]
Only here and James 1:22. See note. Rev., delude. So Ignatius, speaking of the duty of obedience to the bishop, says: “He that fails in this, does not deceive the visible bishop, but attempts to cheat ( παραλογίζεται ) the Invisible” (Epistle to Magnesians, 3). The word is found in the Septuagint, Joshua 9:22; 1 Samuel 19:17; 2 Samuel 21:5. [source]
Better, as Rev., “judgeswith evil thoughts.” The form of expression is the same as in Luke 18:6, κριτὴς τῆς ἀδικίας , the judge of injustice, i.e., the unjust judge. So James 1:25, a hearer of forgetfulness. The word thoughts is, rather, reasonings. See on deceiving yourselves (James 1:22). Compare Luke 5:21. Their evil processes of thought lead to these unjust discriminations. [source]
Present active imperatives as a habit. For the combination see James 1:19-21 contrasted with James 1:22-25, and James 1:26 with James 1:27. [source]