By his own will, he caused us to be born by the word of truth, so that we might be as the first fruits of his creatures.
1:18 — This verse concludes the line of thought begun in verse 12. Spiritual rebirth is an example of good things coming from God, rather than bad things like temptation. — “Of his will” (Greek — “having willed (it)”). One’s becoming a son of God is “according to his good pleasure” (of God), Eph 1:9. This is how God wanted it. see Eph 1:5; Eph 1:7; 1 John 1:3. God does not give temptations, but he does give salvation (rebirth). He does it because “he wanted it that way” (Popular Version, and others). Truly, salvation is of the grace of God (Eph 2:8), as sin is from another source; that is, of disordered desire. — “made us be born”. The past tense used here (“made”) indicates that James is referring to the time of the conversion of the Christians to whom he writes. Here a contrast is made: sin gives birth to death (verse 15), but God causes us (that is, Christians) to be born again, to be his children. see Joh 3:3-5; 1Co 4:15; Tit 3:5; 1Pe 1:3; 1Pe 1:23; 1Jn 2:29; 1Jn 3:9; 1Jn 4:7; 1 John 5:1. (Romans 6:4 makes it clear that the water Joh 3:5; Ephesians 5:26; Y Tit 3:5in rebirth, is that of baptism — Ac 22:16). — “by the word of truth.” On this phrase and the proposed idea, see Joh 17:17; Joh 6:63; Ac 13:26; 2Co 6:7; Eph 1:13; Colossians 1:5; 2Ti 2:15. The word of truth is the same as the gospel (1Co 4:15 with 1Pe 1:23; 1Pe 1:25). The Word was inspired by the Holy Spirit, and therefore “born of the Spirit” (Joh 3:5) is the same as being born “by the word of truth.” Any theory regarding “being born of the Spirit” that does not take into account the gospel message revealed in the Word of God is false. The Holy Spirit does not operate in the heart of the unsaved apart from the Word of God! God honors and uses his Word in the regeneration of the sinner. That is why that Word has to be preached (2Ti 4:2; 1Co 1:21; Mar 16:15-16; Romans 1:15). That Word, once implanted, can save souls (verse 21). — “so that… his creatures”. The phrase “so that” here introduces God’s purpose in causing us to be born by the Word of truth. The first fruits of the Jews were not the whole harvest, but the first part (and at the same time, the best part — Num 18:12, Modern Version). The Jews consecrated their firstfruits (first fruits) to God, as a special sacrifice, being the best; as required by law (Exo 13:11-16; Num 18:12-13 Deuteronomy 18:4) (see also Lev 23:10 — ; Num 15:18; Deu 26:2; Neh 10:37; Eze 44:30). So the meaning of this phrase seems to be that Christians must be consecrated people! Compare Revelation 14:4. The first converts of some region are also called “the first fruits” (Romans 16:5; 1Co 16:15; compare Romans 11:16). It may be that James indicates that the Christians of the first century were a pledge or promise to many other Christians who would later be among mankind (“his creatures”) in centuries to come. As the firstfruits indicated a larger harvest to come, so those readers of James were forerunners of many Christians to come in centuries to come. In this sense Paul refers to Christ in 1Co 15:20; there will be a “harvest” of resurrected later. Some see in this phrase of verse 18 a reference to the Jewish brothers in particular, since it was to them that this letter was addressed (see INTRODUCTION IV). In Old Testament times Israel was referred to as God’s “firstfruits” (Jer 2:3). The first converts to Christ were Jews (Romans 1:16; Acts 2:1-47; Ac 13:46). His conversion was a pledge of a harvest that would follow in the conversion of many others (Gentiles).
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
of his will. Joh 1:13; Joh 3:3-5; Romans 4:17; Romans 8:29-31; Romans 9:15-18; Eph 2:4, Eph 2:5; Col 1:20, Col 1:21; 2Thess 2:13, 2Thess 2:14; 1Pe 1:3, 1Pe 1:23.
for the word of truth. Jas 1:21; 1Co 4:15; Eph 1:12; 1Pe 1:23; 1Jn 3:9.
let us be the firstfruits of his creatures. Lev 23:10; Jer 2:3; loved 6:1; Hebrews 12:23; Rev 14:4.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
of his will. This phrase translates a Greek word that serves to imply that regeneration is not a simple desire, but an active expression of God’s will, which He always has the power to fulfill perfectly. This phrase occurs at the beginning of the Greek sentence, which means that James set out to emphasize that the sovereign will of God is the source of this new life. made us be born. The divine act of regeneration or new birth (see notes on Joh 3:3-8; 1Pe 1:23; zip Eze 36:25-27; Joh 1:12-13; Eph 2:5-6; Eph 5:26). word of truth cop. Joh 17:17. The Scriptures or the Word of God. He regenerates sinners through the power of that Word (cf. 2Co 6:7; Col 1:5; 1Thess 2:13; Tit 3:5; 1Pe 1:23-25). first fruits. An original OT expression referring to the first and best harvests that God expected to receive as a thank offering (cf. Exo 23:19; Lev 23:9-14; Deu 26:1-19). Giving God that early harvest was an act of faith that He would keep His promise of a full and satisfying harvest at the end of the season (Pro 3:9-10). In the same way, Christians are the first evidence of God’s new creation that is to come at the end of time (cf. 2Pe 3:10-13) and enjoy their new life in the present as a foretaste of their future glory (see notes on Romans 8:19-23).
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
1:18 — This verse concludes the line of thought begun in verse 12. Spiritual rebirth is an example of good things coming from God, rather than bad things like temptation.
–“of his will” (Greek–“having willed it”). One’s becoming a son of God is “according to his good pleasure” (of God), Eph 1:9. This is how God wanted it. See Eph 1:5; Eph 1:7; 1Jn 1:3. God does not give temptations, but he does give salvation (rebirth). He does it because “he wanted it that way” (Popular Version, and others). Truly salvation is from the grace of God (Eph 2:8), as sin is from another source; that is, of disordered desire.
– “He gave birth to us”. The past tense used here (“made”) indicates that James is referring to the time of the conversion of the Christians to whom he writes.
Here a contrast is made: sin gives birth to death (verse 15), but God causes us (that is, Christians) to be born again, to be his children. See Joh 3:3-5; 1Co 4:15; Tit 3:5; 1Pe 1:3; 1Pe 1:23; 1Jn 2:29; 1Jn 3:9; 1Jn 4:7; 1Jn 5:1. (Rom 6:4 makes it evident that the water of Jua 3:5; Ephesians 5:26; and Tit 3:5, in rebirth, is that of baptism – Acts 22:16).
– “by the word of truth”. On this phrase and the proposed idea, see Joh 17:17; Joh 6:63; Acts 13:26; 2Co 6:7; Eph 1:13; Colossians 1:5; 2Ti 2:15.
The word of truth is the same as the gospel (1Co 4:15 with 1Pe 1:23; 1Pe 1:25). The Word was inspired by the Holy Spirit, and therefore “born of the Spirit” (Joh 3:5) is the same as born “by the word of truth.” Any theory regarding “being born of the Spirit” that does not take into account the gospel message revealed in the Word of God is false. The Holy Spirit does not operate in the heart of the unsaved apart from the Word of God! God honors and uses his Word in the regeneration of the sinner. That is why that Word has to be preached (2Ti 4:2; 1Co 1:21; Mar 16:15-16; Rom 1:15). That Word, once implanted, can save souls (verse 21).
–“so that… his creatures”. The phrase “so that” here introduces God’s purpose in causing us to be born by the Word of truth.
The first fruits of the Jews were not the whole harvest, but the first part (and at the same time, the best part — Num 18:12, Modern Version). The Jews consecrated their firstfruits (first fruits) to God, as a special sacrifice, being the best; so the Law required (Ex 13:11-16; Num 18:12-13 Deuteronomy 18:4) (see also Lev 23:10 –; Num 15:18; Deu 26:2; Neh 10:37; Eze 44 :30). So the meaning of this phrase seems to be that Christians must be consecrated people! Compare Revelation 14:4.
The first converts of some region are also called “the first fruits” (Rom 16:5; 1Co 16:15; compare Rom 11:16). It may be that James indicates that the Christians of the first century were a pledge or promise to many other Christians who would later be among mankind (“his creatures”) in centuries to come. As the firstfruits indicated a larger harvest to come, so those readers of James were forerunners of many Christians to come in centuries to come. In this sense Paul refers to Christ in 1Co 15:20; there will be a “harvest” of resurrected later. Some see in this phrase of verse 18 a reference to the Jewish brothers in particular, since it was to them that this letter was addressed (see INTRODUCTION IV). In Old Testament times Israel was referred to as God’s “firstfruits” (Jer 2:3). The first converts to Christ were Jews (Rom 1:16; Acts 2:1-47; Acts 13:46). His conversion was a pledge of a harvest that would follow in the conversion of many more (Gentiles).
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
Joh 1:13; 1Pe 1:23; (watch Eph 1:13; Col 1:5; 2Ti 2:15).
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
CROSS-REFERENCES
h 34 Joh 1:13; Romans 8:28; 2Thess 2:13
i 35 Heb 4:12; 1Pe 1:23
j 36 Exo 34:22; Lev 23:17; Rev 14:4
Source: New World Translation
He caused us to be born…firstfruits. By God’s will, believers have been born again by the word of truth (ie, the gospel; Eph 1:13; Col 1:5). Those who have been born again have become the firstfruits (ie, the first fruits) which, like the firstfruits of the crops in the OT (Ex 23:19; 34:26; Neh 10:35), belong to God.
Source: The Bible of the Americas
18 (1) Of His own will, by His intention, with a view to fulfilling His purpose, begetting us to be the first fruits of His creatures.
18 (two) Sin, the source of darkness, breeds death (v.15). Instead, the Father of lights begot us to be the first of his creatures, filled with the vigorous life that matures first. This refers to the divine birth, our regeneration ( Jua_3:5 , Jua_3:6), which takes place according to God’s eternal purpose.
18 (3) The word of divine reality, the word of what the Triune God is ( Jua_1:14 , Jua_1:17). This word is the seed of life, by which we have been regenerated (1Pe_1:23).
18 (4) God will renew all His creation to obtain a new heaven and a new earth, where the New Jerusalem will be the center (Rev_21:1-2). He first regenerated us to be the first fruits of his new creation, which he did by imparting his divine life into our being through the word of life that has been implanted, so that we lead a life of perfection. This must be the seed of practical Christian perfection. This life will have its consummation in the New Jerusalem, the living center of the new…