James 1:2

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:2-4

The strange paradox. He has given them "greeting" ( James 1:1 ), or, literally, wished them "joy." Was this a hitter irony? For in what condition were they? Persecuted, as Jews and especially as Christian Jews; oppressed, the poorer by the richer; and all, in the common heritage of human woe, afflicted in a hundred ways. And does he wish "joy" to these? Yes, even so. And, as though surmising the question, he goes on to insist yet more emphatically on the "greeting" which he has given.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:2-18

THE SUBJECT OF TEMPTATION . This section may be subdivided as follows:— read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:2

My brethren - Not brethren as Jews, but as Christians. Compare James 2:1.Count it all joy - Regard it as a thing to rejoice in; a matter which should afford you happiness. You are not to consider it as a punishment, a curse, or a calamity, but as a fit subject of felicitation. Compare the notes at Matthew 5:12.When ye fall into divers temptations - Oh the meaning of the word “temptations,” see the notes at Matthew 4:1. It is now commonly used in the sense of placing allurements before others to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 1:2-4

James 1:2-4. Count it all joy That is, matter of the greatest joy; when ye fall into divers temptations Πειρασμοις , trials; for though rendered temptations, it does not signify here what is commonly meant by temptations, for these we are directed to pray against, but it denotes trials by affliction and persecution. To these God, by whose providence they come, exposes men, not to lead them into sin, but to afford them an opportunity of exercising and improving their graces and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 1:1-18

1:1-18 LIFE’S TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIESJames’ readers are scattered over the area of the early church’s expansion (1:1), but no matter where they live, they share the same responsibilities as Christians everywhere. One of these responsibilities requires them to do something that by nature is very difficult, namely, face the trials of life with joy. This joy comes through the knowledge that trials help believers to develop endurance and so strengthen their Christian character (2-4).When faced with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 1:2

fall . Greek. peripipto. See Acts 27:41 . temptations = trials. Compare Luke 22:28 . Acts 20:19 . 1Pe 1:6 ; 1 Peter 4:12 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:2

Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations;Count it all joy ... Did not Christ say, "Blessed are ye when men shall persecute you ... rejoice and be exceeding glad"? (Matthew 5:11,12). This is exactly the thought of James here.Manifold temptations ... Although the same word is used in James 1:12, below, it is the inner propensity toward evil that is meant there, outward trials and hardships being the thing in focus here. Wessel stated that "The word [@pietrasmos]... 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

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

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

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