A Short Study in James 2:1⤒🔗

James 2:1 is a remarkable verse in various ways. It is remarkable in the sense that it is remarkably difficult to translate from the original. The AV, the NKJV and the ESV all refer to Christ as “the Lord of glory” whilst the NIV and NASB opt for something slightly different: “our glorious Lord Jesus Christ”. Moffatt, to whom we rarely refer these days, has the helpful rendering: “our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Glory”.

It is difficult to be dogmatic here, but the rendering ‘our Lord Jesus Christ, the Glory’ seems to be faithful to the original and also to place the stress where James wanted it to be. You see, this is a remarkable verse not just because of the remarkable difficulties involved in its translation but also, more importantly, because it is telling us something remarkable about Christ.

What does it mean?←⤒🔗

What exactly is James saying to us here? He is telling us that Jesus Christ is the glory of God. He is reminding us of the glorious truth that Christ perfectly reveals the Father to us, and that when we look at Christ we see something of the greatness and majesty of God. It seems likely that there is in these words a reference to the cloud, the Shekinah, which represented the visible glory of God’s presence. (1 Kings 8:10) We agree wholeheartedly with B B Warfield who said, “Jesus was, in a word, the Glory of God, the Shekinah.”

Often when we think of Christ revealing the glory of God to us we turn in our minds instinctively to the Transfiguration. Sure, it is true to say that there on the mount we see in Christ something of his divine splendour and glory but here in James 2:1 we are being reminded that throughout the whole of his earthly life and ministry he was showing forth the glory of God.

Who said it?←⤒🔗

Now here is the amazing thing. It was James, the brother of the Lord, who wrote these words. Yes, he was the leader of the church in Jerusalem and the one who presided at the Council of Jerusalem. (Acts 15) But he was also simply the brother of Christ. He sat at the table with Jesus (or reclined on the same couch.) He played in the street with him and shared in the little tasks and duties of the home. Perhaps, especially after the premature death of Joseph, he stood with Christ at the carpenter’s bench as they made some tables and chairs. The writer here is none other than the Lord’s brother. He knew him inside out. It is true, is it not, that no one knows us better than those who live with us? How utterly amazing that James can testify not just to the sinlessness and perfection of Jesus but to this remarkable truth that he is the Glory.

What about us?←⤒🔗

How should we respond to this remarkable truth? Well sometimes we take Jesus Christ for granted. Yes, he is our elder Brother and our Friend. He is the One that indwells us by his Spirit and to whom we can speak in prayer at any moment. Yes, he is close to his people but let’s be careful that we don’t become overly familiar with the Saviour. We must never lose sight of the fact that he is the Glory. He is utterly unique and glorious. He is our Friend and Saviour but he is also the One who both makes known to us and is, in himself, the very glory of God. Our response then must be one of adoration and worship. How awesome and majestic is our Saviour. He is the Glory.