James 1:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Since the Apostle recognizes humility as the guardian of every good, and since nothing is accomplished without it among the zealous, he adds: “Let the humble man boast in his exaltation.”

He likens the doubter to a wave of the sea. It is lifted by a breath of wind and falls sooner than it rises.

The doubter experiences the same when, through arrogance, he does not establish his petitions on anything unchanging.

Therefore the Apostle adds: “Let the humble brother boast.” He speaks as though saying: whoever wishes to ask for something must first ask for what is necessary.

In asking for this he cannot be deceived, namely, the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mt 6:33).

Then let him ask for this constantly. Let him not pray a little and immediately withdraw, for this belongs to the proud. Rather, let him ask without ceasing, patiently awaiting the gift with humility of soul.

The reading is addressed to enslaved Jews, who had been great, proud, and exalted in their own eyes, but were humbled in slavery. It is as though he openly said: it was harder for the rich among whom you live, though they never served you. "Let him glory" refers not to vain glory, but to joy in trial.

Therefore, says the Apostle, you should count it all joy when you fall into various temptations. For everyone who humbly endures afflictions for the Lord's sake will receive from Him a great reward in the Kingdom.

The Apostle knows that humility of mind is the midwife of all good things, and that no virtue is attained without it. Therefore he writes, "Let the lowly brother glory," and so forth.

Since the divine James knows that humility of mind is the treasury and guardian of all virtues, and that without it no good is attained, he fittingly says here that the humble Christian should boast in the height of his virtue.

According to Oecumenius, “To humble oneself according to God is a work from which all good things flow.”

The Lord also said, “He who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 14:11). The Publican showed this when he was exalted because of humility.

Therefore Gregory the Theologian called humility height-producing. Gregory of Thessalonica also said, “The Lord, by humbling Himself and becoming man, showed us the most excellent path, humility.”

Verses 9-11. “Let the humble brother boast in his exaltation.” In connection with the preceding thought, the Apostle teaches that humiliation and suffering exalt the Christian, according to the Lord’s promise to give the kingdom of God to the poor in spirit and the persecuted.

Therefore the Christian, always and amid all changes of earthly fortune, must preserve true greatness of spirit. He must boast not in outward riches, which are corruptible and fleeting, but in his inner worth.

The humble, that is, the poor, must boast in those sufferings and calamities which he has endured. They have exalted his spirit and made him worthy of the kingdom of God.

The rich man must humbly acknowledge his nothingness before God, and his equality with the lowest and poorest people. He must boast in his humility, that is, show it in all things and always.

“Let the brother boast,” and so forth: the wisdom necessary for right judgment concerning the meaning of temptations in moral perfection must be asked of God by the man who lacks it.

This wisdom teaches man to judge things not as ordinary human wisdom teaches, but otherwise, rightly and truly.

For example, regarding the external means of life, wrong judgment about these things can lead a man into temptation. Ordinary human wisdom says that the poor man has nothing in which to boast, but the rich man does, namely in his wealth.

But the wisdom from God does not say this. It says the very opposite: let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich man in his humiliation, for wealth is vanity.

The Apostle uses the word "let him glory" in the sense, "let him recognize his height," or, "let the humble brother in misfortunes console himself with the awareness of his height." The height meant here is moral height before the eyes of God. Patience raises the humble Christian to it amid afflictions.

Returning to his main thought, the Apostle again exhorts us to endure temptations. He counsels the humiliated poor not to despond because of the temptations that befall them.

Behind their visible humiliation there follows their invisible moral height and the crown of heavenly glory.

The same counsel is also given to the rich, because they can be even more often subjected to humiliation through the swift corruption and destruction of wealth (cf. Mt 6:19).

The Apostle James counsels us to give praise to the height of humility and the wealth of poverty. The Apostle Paul gives a vow to boast in his infirmities, because he sees in this the pledge of God’s power, made perfect in weaknesses (see 2 Cor 12:9).

“Let the humble brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he passes away. For the sun rose with scorching heat and dried up the grass. Its flower fell, and the beauty of its appearance perished. So also the rich man withers in his ways.”

Christian wisdom, which must be asked of God with faith in His power and goodness, is needed by every Christian, every brother. It is needed both by one humbled in outward position, such as one living in poverty, and by one who has attained high position through wealth.

To the first, Christian wisdom suggests that he should not regard his lowly position as a misfortune. On the contrary, he should boast in it as a high position.