"Judges _with_ evil thoughts" is an improvement on the more literal but misleading "judges _of_ evil thoughts" (κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν ποωηρὼν). The meaning of the genitive case is that the evil thoughts _characterize_ the judges, as in such common phrases as "men _of_ evil habits," "judges _of_ remarkable severity" (see above on "hearers of forgetfulness," p. 108). The word for "thoughts" is one which in itself suggests evil, even without any epithet. It is the word used of the reasonings of the Pharisees, when they taxed our Lord with blasphemy for forgiving sins (Luke v. 22. Comp. xxiv. 38). St. Paul uses it of those who are "vain in their reasonings" (Rom. i. 21; 1 Cor. iii. 20), and couples with it "murmurings" (Phil. ii. 14) as congenial company. Those men who, even while engaged in the public worship of God, set themselves up as judges to honour the rich and condemn the poor, were not holding the faith of Jesus Christ, but were full of evil doubts, questionings, and distrust. [53] Davidson, _Introduction to the Study of the N.T._ vol. i. pp. 327, 328, 2nd ed. (Longmans, 1882). [54] There is, however, a good deal to be said for Bengel's suggestion, that τῆς δόξης is in apposition with τοῦ κυρίου ἡμ. Ἰ. Χριστοῦ, _i.e._ "the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, (who is) the Glory." Comp. Luke ii. 32; Eph. i. 7; 1 Peter iv. 14; 2 Peter i. 17; Col. i. 27; John i. 14. See J. B. Mayor's note in the _Expositor_, Sept., 1889, pp. 225-28. [55] _Bampton Lectures_, Lect. VI, p. 433 (Rivingtons, 1867). [56] Among these should be included the phrases which St. James uses to indicate the Gospel revelation: "the Word of truth" (i. 18); "the implanted Word" (i. 21); "the perfect law, the law of liberty" (i. 25); "the royal law" (ii. 8). [57] From the _Exact Reprint Page for Page of the A.V. published in the Year MDCXI._ (Oxford, 1833). See also Trench _On the A.V. of the N.T._, pp. 83-101, and Lightfoot _On a Fresh Revision of the N.T._, pp. 33-59, for some excellent remarks on the harm done by making differences in the English where there is no difference in the Greek. In the present passage, besides the threefold translation of ἐσθής, there is a double translation of λαμπρός ("_goodly_ apparel" and "gay clothing"), and also of εἰσέλθῃ ("come" and "come in"). In 1 John ii. 24 we have the same word (μένειν) translated in three different ways ("abide," "remain," "continue") in the same verse, entirely destroying the effect of St. John's impressive repetition. CHAPTER XI. _THE INIQUITY OF RESPECTING THE RICH AND DESPISING THE POOR. THE SOLIDARITY OF THE DIVINE LAW._