James 1:12

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation ... We noted under James 1:2, that "temptation" has a double meaning, that of external trials, and inward tendency to evil; but Lenski did not accept such a distinction. He said, "Both linguistically, and in thought, James 1:12 is to be associated with James 1:2-4."[29] If, as Lenski thought, external trials are meant here also, then this verse is parallel to Matthew 5:10,11. As Barnes said, "The word `temptation' is in itself a word of so general a character as to cover the whole usage."[30]

When he hath been approved ... "When he has been tested" is included in the meaning here, and with the additional thought of "when he has stood the test."[31]

The crown of life ... Barclay viewed the crown of life promised here as "a new kind of living which is life indeed,"[32] but such a view falls far short of that which is promised. Regardless of all the spiritual emoluments of Christian living, despite the glory and dignity of faith in the present life, and after taking full account of all the joys of Christian service, all the victories of the abundant life in Christ, "If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable" (1 Corinthians 15:19). What is promised here, of course, is eternal life. "The crown of life" mentioned by James here cannot be anything other than the "crown of righteousness" mentioned by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:8, and which in no sense is awarded in the present existence, but which will be bestowed "at that day" by the Lord Jesus Christ upon all them that have loved his appearing. The clauses which tie the two passages together are: "the Lord promised to them that love him," and "to them that have loved his appearing."

The Lord ... These words were supplied by the translators; but that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who promised eternal life is a truth already known to every Christian, hence there was no need to spell it out here. "James does not need to name the Lord as being the one who promised the crown to those who love him; his readers know that it is the Lord."[33] Paul mentioned the "incorruptible crown" (1 Corinthians 9:25) and the "crown of righteousness" (1 Timothy 4:8); Peter spoke of "the crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:4); and John wrote, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10). In each of these references, it is clear enough that the one giving the crown is the Lord Jesus Christ, that it is a crown to be awarded at the final day, and that it is not awarded in the present earthly life. Moreover, it is only one crown which will be awarded, hence all of these various references to it are applicable to that one crown.

[29] R. C. H. Lenski, op. cit., p. 536.

[30] Albert Barnes, op. cit., p. 23.

[31] T. Carson, op. cit., p. 572.

[32] William Barclay, op. cit., p. 49.

[33] R. C. H. Lenski, op. cit., p. 538.