James 1:2-4

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - James 1:1-11

1-11 Christianity teaches men to be joyful under troubles: such exercises are sent from God's love; and trials in the way of duty will brighten our graces now, and our crown at last. Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience, and not passion, is set to work in us: whatever is said or done, let patience have the saying and doing of it. When the work of patience is complete, it will furnish all that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare. We should not pray so much for the... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - James 1:1-99

James 1 THE EPISTLE is not written to any particular assembly of believers, nor even to the whole church of God. It is addressed rather to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad,” and it is this which accounts for its unusual character. Let us attempt to seize the view-point from ‘which James speaks before we consider any of its details. Although the Gospel began at Jerusalem and there won its earliest triumphs, the Christians of that city were slower than others in entering into the... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - James 1:2-7

Temptation and prayer: v. 2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations, v. 3. knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. v. 4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. v. 5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. v. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - James 1:1-11

THE EPISTLE GENERAL OF JAMES 1___________I. INTRODUCTIONTHE SALUTATION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TO THE TWELVE TRIBES IN THE DISPERSION. REFERENCE TO THE VARIEGATED TEMPTATIONS TO WHICH THEY ARE EXPOSED, AND TO THE JOYFUL DESIGN OF THE SAME: THEIR CONSUMMATIONJames 1:1-111James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad,2 greeting.3 2My brethren, count4 it all joy when ye fall into 3divers temptations.5 Knowing this,... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - James 1:1-11

Steadfast Faith James 1:1-11 This Epistle is marked by the austere features of the Jerusalem church, which refused to be affected by that wider contact with the Gentile world, by which the life and teachings of St. Paul were so powerfully influenced. “Brother to Jesus” was the designation that James might have used, but he preferred the more modest title of bond-servant . The slaves of such a king are nobles! The times were full of severe testing. Each believer had to face ignominy, loss... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - James 1:1-27

James wrote to Christians in the midst of temptation and trial. He showed first that the issue of testing is that they "may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing." It is therefore to be looked upon as a means of blessing and received with joy. He clearly pointed out that God is never the Author of temptation as enticement toward evil, and in a passage full of remarkable force revealed the process of such temptation. It is an appeal through desire to some perfectly legitimate need of life,... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:2

‘Count it all joy, my brothers, whenever you find yourself involved with many kinds of temptations,’ James begins by calling on all Christians (‘my brothers’) to rejoice in trials and temptations whenever they are faced up with them, seeing all testing as a means for exercising faith and confidence in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and in His promises, whether those trials be in terms of persecution, problems of life, or inward temptations. They should thus rejoice in them, as they rise above them... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:2-4

Christians Are To Rejoice When They Are Tested Because They Know That It will Teach Them How To Endure And Will Result In Their Becoming Spiritually Mature (James 1:2-4 ). We should note that there is no suggestion here that Christians should seek to experience trials and tests. Indeed Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Do not lead me into testing’. What James is rather dealing with is the fact that in the course of life the Christian can expect to be tested in various ways, for it is by such testing... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:2-12

Those Who Face Trial for The Sake Of Their Faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ Will Be Blessed (James 1:2-12 ). The letter commences by outlining the basic themes that will be dealt with later (see Analysis above), for as we have seen the whole letter is in the form of a chiasmus based on those themes. But it is also interesting that the opening verses of the letter after the greeting may also be seen as a chiasmus, coming between the two inclusios of James 1:2; James 1:12. James 1:2;... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - James 1:3

‘Knowing that the proving of your faith works patient endurance,’ For this ‘testing’ will prove the genuineness of their faith and confidence in Christ and make it strong and sure, and once they are confident that they can truly trust Christ in all circumstances, it will result in continuing patient endurance in the face of all that the future will hold. We learn to trust Him as we go along, and the more we trust Him the more He is able to ‘try’ us so that we may grow more and more. The child... read more

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