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When Critics Ask (1960)

James 1:2

Is it desirable to avoid trials and temptation?

PROBLEM: Jesus instructed His disciples to pray, “do not lead us into temptation” (Matthew 6:13). But James says here, “count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”

SOLUTION: The two situations are different, as indicated by several factors. First, James is speaking of trials we “fall into,” and Jesus is referring to things we should not want to be “led into.” Second, James is speaking of trials, and Jesus is speaking about temptations. It is not a sin to fall into trials, but sin does result from being led into temptations. Finally, while the believer should not masochistically seek trials, neither should he try to avoid them at all cost. God can work in and through them to perfect our lives (cf. Job 23:10; Hebrews 12:11; James 1:3-4). (See comments on Matthew 6:13)

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See also James 1:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse James 1:2. _COUNT IT ALL JOY_] The word πειρασμος, which we translate _temptation_, signifies affliction, persecution, or _trial_ of any kind; and in this sense it is used here, not intending di...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. TRIALS AND THE EXERCISE OF FAITH CHAPTER 1 _ 1. Trials and the power of faith (James 1:1)_ 2. The resources of faith (James 1:5) 3. The realization of faith (James 1:9...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    The paragraph, like its successors, has no special link with its context: it is the writer's habit to throw out a series of aphoristic comments on topics, with as much connexion as there is between th...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    GREETINGS (James 1:1) _ 1:1 James, the slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greetings to the twelve tribes who are scattered throughout the world._ At the very beginning of his letter Ja...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    My brothers, reckon it all joy whenever you become involved in all kinds of testings, for you are well aware that the testing of your faith produces unswerving constancy. And let constancy go on to wo...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    FALL. Greek. _peripipto._ See Acts 27:41. TEMPTATIONS. trials. Compare Luke 22:28; Acts 20:19. 1Pe 1:6. 1 Peter 4:12....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Trials and their Purpose 1. _a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ_ The description which the writer gives of himself throws no light on his identity. The term "servant," better SLAVE, as one...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _count it all joy_ We lose, in the English, the link which connects the wish for "joy" merged in our "greeting," with the thought which indicates how the wish may be realised even under conditions tha...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΠΑ͂ΣΑΝ ΧΑΡΆΝ, ALL JOY, nothing but joy, all that constitutes joy—_merum gaudium_. Comp. ἐν πάσῃ ὑπομουνῇ, 2 Corinthians 12:12. μετὰ πάσης προθυμίας, Acts 17:11. πᾶν κέρδος ἡγοῦ ζημιουμένη φυγῇ, Eur. _...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    2–18. (_a_) TEMPTATION FROM WITHOUT, 2–4; (1) WISDOM, PRAYER, STEDFASTNESS, THE DIVINE HELPS IN TEMPTATION, 5–8; (2) A SPECIAL FORM OF TEMPTATION—OPPRESSION BY THE RICH—THE OLD TESTAMENT PROBLEM OF T...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _SCRIPTURAL VIEW OF TRIALS -- JAMES 1:2-17:_ Christians must be "positive" when trials come their way. The man who properly reacts to trials must not react as a pessimist. "My brethren, count it all j...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΧΑΡΆ (G5479) радость. Это не беззаботпая отрешенность греческих философов, а эсхатологическая радость тех, кто ждет вмешательства Бога в конце времени (Davids; TLNT; GELTS, 513; Adamson, 88-89). ΉΓΉΣ...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2352 THE DUTY OF PATIENCE James 1:2. _My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience hav...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    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 J...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _SERMON OUTLINES_ IS TEMPTATION A JOY? James 1:2-4 Proposition: When should a Christian not have joy in temptation, and how could a Christian find joy in temptation? I. Temptation is no joy. A....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    CHAPTER II _THE WAGES OF THE WISE_ James 1:2-15 TRIALS PRODUCE STEADFASTNESS _Text 1:2-4_ 2. Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations: 3. Knowing that the proving...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; MY BRETHREN - often in James, marking community of nation and of faith. ALL JOY - cause for the highest joy (Grotius). Nothing...

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 2. WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS. This, I take it, at least in this place, means trials which assail in this life, and which at that time had visited those addressed. The believer must me...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 James is never called an apostle and does not write this epistle in that character. Rather, he puts himself in the place of a slave. Hence the epistle is not concerned with authoritative teaching so...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    TEMPTATIONS] better, 'trials' (from without). Trials, rightly borne, bring joy. The Christian is bidden to pray 'lead us not into temptation' (= trial); but for him, trial, when it comes, may be made...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE POWER OF FAITH UNDER TEMPTATION 1. Servant] better, 'slave.' The word does not suggest any degradation, but only absolute surrender to the Master. St. James's humility prevents the mention of the...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    WHAT *FAITH SHOULD DO JAMES _IAN MACKERVOY_ The word list at the end explains words with a *star by them. INTRODUCTION 1 THE WRITER James is the writer of the letter. But he does not tell us...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (2-27) Immediately after the salutation, and with more or less a play upon the word which we translate “greeting” (“rejoice,” James 1:1; “count it all joy,” James 1:2) there follow appeals on behalf o...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS. — Better, _Account it all joy whenever ye fall into divers temptations_ — _i.e., trials;_ but even with this more exact rendering of the text, ho...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 4 THE PERSONS ADDRESSED IN THE EPISTLE: THE JEWS OF THE DISPERSION. "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting." - Jame...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 5 THE RELATION OF THIS EPISTLE TO THE WRITINGS OF ST. PAUL AND OF ST. PETER - THE DATE OF THE EPISTLE - THE DOCTRINE OF JOY IN TEMPTATION. James 1:2 THIS passage at once raises the question...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Πᾶσαν χαράν : _Cf._ Philippians 2:29, μετὰ πάσης χαρᾶς : the rendering in Syr lec, which is rather a paraphrase than a translation, catches the meaning admirably: בכל חדוא הוו חאדין אח̈י, “With all jo...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    STEADFAST FAITH James 1:1 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 teac...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    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 upo...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    REASONS FOR HAVING JOY IN TRIALS James uses the word for "greetings" which means "joy to you." He then goes on to tell his readers they ought to be happy even in the presence of many and various kinds...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (1) My brethren, (c) count it all joy (2) when ye fall into divers temptations; (1) The first place or part concerning comfort in afflictions, in which we should not be cast down and be faint hearted...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Into divers temptations. The word temptations, in this epistle, is sometimes taken for trials by afflictions or persecutions, as in this place; sometimes for a tempting, enticing, or drawing others i...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    To the reader who enters on the consideration of the epistle of James from the epistles of Paul, the change is great and sudden, and by no means least of all from the epistle to the Hebrews, which, in...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    2_All joy_. The first exhortation is, to bear trials with a cheerful mind. And it was especially necessary at that time to comfort the Jews, almost overwhelmed as they were with troubles. For the very...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The Epistle of James is not addressed to the assembly, and does not take the ground of apostolic authority over the persons to whom it is sent. It is a practical exhortation which still recognises the...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    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, a...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Ver. 2. _Count it all joy_] The world wondereth (saith Mr Philpot the martyr) how we can be so merry in such extreme misery. But ou...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _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...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    TEMPTATIONS; trials suited to develop their character, and if rightly borne, to make them better. God does not afflict or expose his children to temptation because he takes pleasure in their distresse...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMPTATIONS,...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Temptation and prayer:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    This chapter has a very close relationship to the Old Testament, for all is seen in connection with God; and Christ is not yet spoken of as the center and essence of all blessing and of all direction...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    What is the meaning of the word “temptation”? Is “temptation” used in more than one way in the NT? Could temptation be a trial or a testing in this passage? What does 1 Corinthians 10:13 teach about t...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    The Christian's Attitude Toward Trials James 1:2 'Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,' 'Consider it' -to consider, deem, account, think (Thayer p. 276); 'regard, "dee...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    MY BRETHREN; both as being of the same nation and the same religion; so he calls them, that the kindness of his compellation might sweeten his exhortations. COUNT IT; esteem it so by a spiritual judgm...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    James 1:2 My G3450 brethren G80 it G2233 (G5662) all G3956 joy G5479 when G3752 fall G4045 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THOSE WHO FACE TRIAL FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR FAITH IN GOD AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL BE BLESSED (JAMES 1:2). The letter commences by outlining the basic themes that will be dealt with later (see Ana...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    TESTING PRODUCES PATIENT ENDURANCE WHICH FINALLY RESULTS IN BEING MADE PERFECT (JAMES 1:2). In these words that follow James sums up the essence of the Christian life. He speaks of the joy of a vibran...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘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 when...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    James 1:2. MY BRETHREN: the constant form of address in this Epistle; his readers were his brethren, both on account of their nationality and of their Christian faith; both in the flesh and in the Lor...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    COUNT IT (ηγησασθε). First aorist middle imperative of ηγεομα, old verb to consider. Do it now and once for all.ALL JOY (πασαν χαραν). "Whole joy," " unmixed joy," as in Philippians 2:29. Not jus...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    James 1:1. _James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting._ According to the teaching of some in the present day, the apostle should...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    James 1:1. _James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting._ The apostle James evidently believed in no lost ten tribes, as some nowad...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    James 1:1. _James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting._ «Where are the lost ten tribes?» asks somebody. They never were lost. Tha...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    James 1:1. _James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting._ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was an apostle,...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Testing of faith. Solicitation to evil not of God. Obedience as a test of true faith. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, James. CONCLUSION: Such as have a true title in Jesus Christ through faith may...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    James 1:1. _James, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ._ He does not style himself an _apostle,_ because he would not assume any superiority; yet the majesty of his address is the language...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    MY BROTHERS! This phrase appears again and again, to emphasize the ONE faith and life which Christians share in Christ, both Jew and Gentile. CONSIDER YOURSELF FORTUNATE. _Trials_ do not make you glad...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Count it all Joy when ye fall Into divers temptations_ THE CHRISTIAN’S DUTY IN TIMES OF TRIAL This positive injunction of the Christian ethics may seem too difficult, if not impossible to be obeyed...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JAMES 1:2 The Testing of Faith. Trials are part of God’s “good gifts” (v. James 1:17) to his people, to strengthen them in their faith....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ James 1:2. TEMPTATIONS.—As so often in the New Testament, trials which take the form of suffering, and serve the purposes of Divine discipline. James 1:3. TRYING.—Test...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JAMES 1:1 SALUTATION. JAMES, A SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. (On the person who thus describes himself, see the Introduction) It is noteworthy that he keeps entirely out of...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn to James chapter one. James introduces himself as the bondslave of God and of Jesus Christ. It's a title that most of the apostles delighted to take. Renouncing any claim for any rights, tu...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Peter 1:6; 1 Peter 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    All joy [π α σ α ν χ α ρ α ν]. Joy follows up the rejoice of the greeting. The all has the sense of wholly. Count it a thing wholly joyful, without admixture of sorrow. Perhaps, as Bengel suggests, th...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    My brethren, count it all joy — Which is the highest degree of patience, and contains all the rest. When ye fall into divers temptations — That is, trials....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Our apostle's design in this epistle being to support the believing Jews under their great sufferings for the cause of Christianity, he first acquaints them with the nature of those sufferings which t...

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