James 1:4 KJV

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:2-18

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

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:4

Patience alone is not sufficient. It must have scope given it for its exercise that it may have its "perfect work." That ye may be perfect ( ἵνα ἧτε τέλειοι ); cf. Matthew 5:48 , "Be ye therefore perfect." Both τέλειος and ὁλόκληρος were applied to the initiated , the fully instructed, as opposed to novices in the ancient mysteries; and as early as 1 Corinthians 2:6 , 1 Corinthians 2:7 we find τέλειος used for the Christian who is no longer in need of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:4

But let patience have her perfect work - Let it be fairly developed; let it produce its appropriate effects without being hindered. Let it not be obstructed in its fair influence on the soul by murmurings, complaining, or rebellion. Patience under trials is fitted to produce important effects on the soul, and we are not to hinder them in any manner by a perverse spirit, or by opposition to the will of God. Every one who is afflicted should desire that the fair effects of affliction should be... 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 1:4

perfect . App-125 . that = in order that. Greek. hina. entire . Greek. holokleros. Only here and 1 Thessalonians 5:23 . wanting = lacking. Greek. leipo. See James 2:15 . nothing = in (Greek. en) nothing (Greek. medeis) . read more

James Burton Coffman

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 1:4

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 1:4

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 1:2-11

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