james-1:2-4

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:4

And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.That ye may be perfect ... It is a gross error to read "perfect" as used in the New Testament as if it meant "maturity." This is exactly the word that Jesus Christ our Lord used of the heavenly Father himself (Matthew 5:48), where Christ commanded, "Be ye therefore perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." Nothing short of absolute perfection shall ever inherit eternal life; and, while it is freely... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:2

James 1:2. Count it all joy— Under the law, great temporal blessings were promised to the people of God as long as they continued obedient, and terrible afflictions threatened if they were disobedient: but the Jews expected even far better temporal things under the Messiah; there was great occasion therefore to set the Jewish Christians right in this particular; for they were in general deeply tinctured with the national prejudices, and could not easily be reconciled to suffer for... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:3

James 1:3. The trying of your faith worketh patience— Produceth patience. Heylin. The word Δοκιμιον signifies proof or evidence, in most other authors: but still, as it denotes a proof given by trial, the meaning will be, "That proof or evidence which you give, (by undergoing trials or afflictions,) of your sincere adherence to the Christian faith, worketh patience." read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:4

James 1:4. But let patience have her perfect work— "that it may rise to its highest improvements during this little space of time, in which alone you will have the opportunity of preparing for glory and promoting the interests of the church of Christ, that so you may be made perfect and complete, deficient in nothing; for the other graces of Christianity will generally shine brightest where patience is most conspicuous." read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:2

2. My brethren—a phrase often found in James, marking community of nation and of faith. all joy—cause for the highest joy [GROTIUS]. Nothing but joy [PISCATOR]. Count all "divers temptations" to be each matter of joy [BENGEL]. fall into—unexpectedly, so as to be encompassed by them (so the original Greek). temptations—not in the limited sense of allurements to sin, but trials or distresses of any kind which test and purify the Christian character. Compare "tempt," that is, try, :-. Some of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:3

3. the trying—the testing or proving of your faith, namely, by "divers temptations." Compare Romans 5:3, tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience (in the original dokime, akin to dokimion, "trying," here; there it is experience: here the "trying" or testing, whence experience flows). patience—The original implies more; persevering endurance and continuance (compare Luke 8:15). read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:4

4. Let endurance have a perfect work (taken out of the previous "worketh patience" or endurance), that is, have its full effect, by showing the most perfect degree of endurance, namely, "joy in bearing the cross" [MENOCHIUS], and enduring to the end (Matthew 10:22) [CALVIN]. ye may be perfect—fully developed in all the attributes of a Christian character. For this there is required "joy" [BENGEL], as part of the "perfect work" of probation. The work of God in a man is the man. If God's... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2

1. The proper attitude toward trials 1:2What kinds of trials was James talking about? Did he mean troubles such as running out of money, or failing a test in school, or having to stay up all night with a sick child: everyday troubles? Yes. The Greek word translated "trials" (peirasmois) means a "proving," specifically, "the trial of a man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy . . . also an enticement to sin, temptation." [Note: A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, s.v. "peirasmos."]... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2-11

A. The Value of Trials 1:2-11The writer pointed out the value of trials to encourage his readers to adopt a positive attitude toward these experiences, to endure them, and to view them as God’s tools. God uses trials to shape believers into people that will glorify Himself. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2-27

II. TRIALS AND TRUE RELIGION 1:2-27James began his letter, which is in many ways a lecture, by dealing with the problem of trials that all believers encounter. Jews who became Christians in the early history of the church experienced much antagonism and persecution from their unbelieving fellow Jews, as is clear in the Book of Acts. All Christians who take a stand for the Lord continue to have to deal with such trials. Thus James’ inspired advice is perennially relevant. read more

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:4

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:2

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:3

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:4

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:2

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:3

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:4

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2-11

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2-27

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