Live Bible Study Notes
I. James 1:2-4
A. Note on James 1:2 – “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations.”
James is clearly stating that we should rejoice in temptations. One translation says,
“Throw yourself a party.” But this is often misinterpreted to say that God is the
author of these temptations. That is not so. The very context shows that isn’t so
(James 1:13-14). God doesn’t lead us into temptation. He is always with us, though,
so we can rejoice, even in the midst of trials, knowing that the Lord will bring us out
on the other side.
B. Note on James 1:3 – “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
This is essentially the same thing being said in Romans 5:3. Yet Romans 15:4 says
patience comes from the Scriptures. Which is it? Patience (which I believe is faith
over a prolonged time) comes from the Scriptures (Rom. 10:17 and 15:4), but it has
to be developed or matured. It’s like someone who goes to school to learn a trade.
They may be completely trained upon graduation, but they still develop their skills
as they put that training into practice. Likewise, we get our faith and patience from
the Scriptures, but they develop as we encounter trials in life.
Soldiers train in basic, but they don’t have the same level of proficiency as the
soldiers who have been in actual combat. Combat makes better soldiers than just
training. But if a soldier were to try to embrace his enemy because he thought his
commander sent them to make him a better soldier, he would be killed. They are
the enemy, and a soldier only becomes a better soldier if he fights the enemy.
Embracing the enemy leads to death.
Some Christians have interpreted these passages to say that our Commander-in-
Chief (Jesus) sends these problems on us to perfect us. Therefore, they actually
embrace the problems instead of fighting against them. And many have died doing
just that. God doesn’t send trails and temptations into our lives (Mark 4:17). That’s
the work of the devil. But we do develop our patience as we resist life’s temptations.
But it is imperative that we keep it clear who is the author of problems and who is
the Author of blessings. God doesn’t tempt us (James 1:13). We have to submit to
God and resist the devil (James 4:7).
, C. Note on James 1:4 – “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect
and entire, wanting nothing.”
In other words, we don’t run from the battle just because we are in a tight spot. If
we persevere, we will be better off in the long run. Our faith will develop into
patience, and the end results of that will be that we become perfect and complete,
wanting nothing.
II. James 1:12-14
A. Note on James 1:12 – “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is
tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that
love him.”
The word endure means different things to different people. Some people define
this as just putting up with a situation. But the Greek word hupomeno that was
translated “endureth” here means “to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figuratively,
to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere” (Strong’s Concordance). This
is not a passive word, as some people use the word endure; it is an active word
stressing perseverance. So, this verse is placing a blessing on those who go through
hard times in faith, not those who just put up with problems because there is
nothing else to do.
Revelation 2:10 promised this same crown of life to those who endured prison and
even death for the sake of the Lord. In that passage, the Lord’s promise was to those
who were faithful, even unto death. It’s easy to see this isn’t speaking about those
who were just thrown in prison and rotted there. This is speaking of those who
maintained their faith while they were in prison. It’s speaking again of perseverance.
The way we endure hardship is to keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of
our faith.
The Greek word peirasmos, which was translated “temptation” in this verse, means
“a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation,
discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity” (Strong’s Concordance). It
comes from the root word peirazo, and this word means “to test (objectively), i.e.
endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline” (Strong’s Concordance).
B. Note on James 1:13 – “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for
God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”
The preceding verses have talked about temptation and the benefits of persevering
through them. This is often interpreted that God places these trials on us for
I. James 1:2-4
A. Note on James 1:2 – “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations.”
James is clearly stating that we should rejoice in temptations. One translation says,
“Throw yourself a party.” But this is often misinterpreted to say that God is the
author of these temptations. That is not so. The very context shows that isn’t so
(James 1:13-14). God doesn’t lead us into temptation. He is always with us, though,
so we can rejoice, even in the midst of trials, knowing that the Lord will bring us out
on the other side.
B. Note on James 1:3 – “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
This is essentially the same thing being said in Romans 5:3. Yet Romans 15:4 says
patience comes from the Scriptures. Which is it? Patience (which I believe is faith
over a prolonged time) comes from the Scriptures (Rom. 10:17 and 15:4), but it has
to be developed or matured. It’s like someone who goes to school to learn a trade.
They may be completely trained upon graduation, but they still develop their skills
as they put that training into practice. Likewise, we get our faith and patience from
the Scriptures, but they develop as we encounter trials in life.
Soldiers train in basic, but they don’t have the same level of proficiency as the
soldiers who have been in actual combat. Combat makes better soldiers than just
training. But if a soldier were to try to embrace his enemy because he thought his
commander sent them to make him a better soldier, he would be killed. They are
the enemy, and a soldier only becomes a better soldier if he fights the enemy.
Embracing the enemy leads to death.
Some Christians have interpreted these passages to say that our Commander-in-
Chief (Jesus) sends these problems on us to perfect us. Therefore, they actually
embrace the problems instead of fighting against them. And many have died doing
just that. God doesn’t send trails and temptations into our lives (Mark 4:17). That’s
the work of the devil. But we do develop our patience as we resist life’s temptations.
But it is imperative that we keep it clear who is the author of problems and who is
the Author of blessings. God doesn’t tempt us (James 1:13). We have to submit to
God and resist the devil (James 4:7).
, C. Note on James 1:4 – “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect
and entire, wanting nothing.”
In other words, we don’t run from the battle just because we are in a tight spot. If
we persevere, we will be better off in the long run. Our faith will develop into
patience, and the end results of that will be that we become perfect and complete,
wanting nothing.
II. James 1:12-14
A. Note on James 1:12 – “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is
tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that
love him.”
The word endure means different things to different people. Some people define
this as just putting up with a situation. But the Greek word hupomeno that was
translated “endureth” here means “to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figuratively,
to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere” (Strong’s Concordance). This
is not a passive word, as some people use the word endure; it is an active word
stressing perseverance. So, this verse is placing a blessing on those who go through
hard times in faith, not those who just put up with problems because there is
nothing else to do.
Revelation 2:10 promised this same crown of life to those who endured prison and
even death for the sake of the Lord. In that passage, the Lord’s promise was to those
who were faithful, even unto death. It’s easy to see this isn’t speaking about those
who were just thrown in prison and rotted there. This is speaking of those who
maintained their faith while they were in prison. It’s speaking again of perseverance.
The way we endure hardship is to keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of
our faith.
The Greek word peirasmos, which was translated “temptation” in this verse, means
“a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation,
discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity” (Strong’s Concordance). It
comes from the root word peirazo, and this word means “to test (objectively), i.e.
endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline” (Strong’s Concordance).
B. Note on James 1:13 – “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for
God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”
The preceding verses have talked about temptation and the benefits of persevering
through them. This is often interpreted that God places these trials on us for
