ACC ~ James 1 v6

THE DOUBTER. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The doubter is really full of pride. For if you have not believed that God will hear your request, you have not acted in such a way as to avoid being condemned already by the one who tests everything. The doubter has become double-minded even without wanting to be. It is therefore necessary to condemn a plague as dreadful as this. CATENA.

WISDOM GROUNDED IN FAITH. HILARY OF ARLES: James shows that the basis of human wisdom is faith. Here he may be contending against Simon Magus, who asked the apostles to give him the Holy Spirit but did not ask in faith. INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES.

WORTHINESS TO BE HEARD. BEDE: The believer must present himself to God, by his exemplary life, in such a way as to appear to be worthy of being heard by him. For whoever knows that he has not kept the Lord’s commandments will quite rightly have no hope of being heard by him. As Scripture says: “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” CONCERNING THE EPISTLE OF ST. JAMES.

PRIDE TURNS TO DESPAIR. OECUMENIUS: If a person is confident, let him ask. But if he doubts he should not ask, because he will not receive what he is not sure about. Such a person soon retreats from the faith which he does have and then backslides. This happens to him because of his pride, because he quickly despairs of ever getting something which he asks for if it does not turn up immediately. In any case, it is no bad thing if someone who thinks too highly of himself has his prayer requests turned down. COMMENTARY ON JAMES.

Jas