James 1:1-17 NIV

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 1:12

1:12 Happy is the man who meets trial with steadfast constancy because, when he has shown himself of sterling worth, he will receive the crown of life which he has promised to those who love him. To the man who meets trials in the right way there is joy here and hereafter. (i) In this life he becomes a man of sterling worth. He is dokimos ( Greek #1384 ); he is like metal which is cleansed of all alloy. The weaknesses of his character are eradicated; and he emerges strong and pure. ... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 1:13-15

1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, "My temptation comes from God." For God himself is untemptable by evil and tempts no man. But temptation comes to every man, because he is lured on and seduced by his own desire; then desire conceives and begets sin; and, when sin has reached its full development, it spawns death. At the back of this passage lies a Jewish way of belief to which all of us are to some extent prone. James is here rebuking the man who puts the blame for temptation on... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 1:13-15

From the beginning of time it has been man's first instinct to blame others for his own sin. The ancient writer who wrote the story of the first sin in the Garden of Eden was a first-rate psychologist with a deep knowledge of the human heart. When God challenged Adam with his sin, Adam's reply was, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." And when God challenged Eve with her action, her answer was, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate." Adam said, "Don't... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 1:16-18

1:16-18 My dear brothers, do not he deceived. Every good gift and every perfect boon comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is none of that changeableness which comes from changing shadows. Of his own purpose he has begotten us by the word of truth so that we might be, as it were, the first-fruits of his created things. Once again James stresses the great truth that every gift that God sends is good. James 1:17 might well be translated: "All giving is good." That is to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:1

James, a servant of God ,.... That is, of God the Father; not by creation only, as every man is; nor merely by calling grace, as is every regenerate person; but by office, as a preacher of the Gospel, being one that served God in the Gospel of his Son, and was an apostle of Christ; nor is this any sufficient objection to his being one, since others of the apostles so style themselves: and of the Lord Jesus Christ ; the Ethiopic version reads this in connection with the former clause,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:2

My brethren ,.... Not only according to the flesh, he being a Jew as they were; but in a spiritual sense, they being born again of the same grace, belonging to the same family and household of faith, and having the same Father, and being all the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus: count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations ; not the temptations of Satan, or temptations to sin; for these cannot be matter of joy, but grief; these are fiery darts, and give a great deal of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:3

Knowing this ,.... By experience; as everyone that is trained up in the school of affliction does: the apostle appeals to the saints, to whom he writes, for the truth of what he was about to say; and which he gives as a reason why they should rejoice in afflictions, because it is a known fact, that the trying of your faith worketh patience : two things afflictions do when sanctified; one is, they try faith, the truth of it, and make it appear to be true, genuine, and precious, like gold... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:4

But let patience have her perfect work ,.... Or effect; or be brought unto perfection; which may denote both the sincerity and continuance of it unto the end, with constancy: patience may be said to be perfect, when it appears to be real and sincere, and not dissembled; for as there may be a feigned faith, a dissembled love, and an hypocritical hope, so likewise a mere show of patience: and certain it is, that as there is a patience which is commendable, there is one that is not, 1 Peter... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:5

If any of you lack wisdom ,.... This shows that the perfection before spoken of is not to be understood as in this life, since the apostle immediately supposes lack of wisdom in them; for this is not said in a form of doubting, whether they wanted it or not, but rather as supposing, and taking it for granted that they did; and in the first, and primary sense of the words, it intends wisdom to behave aright under temptations or afflictions. Saints often want wisdom to consider God as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:6

But let him ask in faith ,.... Not only in the faith of the divine Being that God is; but in the faith of the promises he has made; and in the faith of his power and faithfulness to perform them; and in the faith of this, that whatever is asked, according to the will of God, and is for his glory, and his people's good, shall be given. Nothing wavering ; about the thing asked for, whether it is right or no to ask for it; for that should be settled before it is asked for; nor about the... read more

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 1:12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 1:13-15

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 1:13-15

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 1:16-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 1:6

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