The book of James opens immediately introducing the writer’s name, whose name was James (verse 1).

Now there are five guys named James in the N.T.:

1.) James, the son of Alphaeus, one of the twelve (Matt. 10:3, 27, 58; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13).

2.) James, the father of Judas, the Apostle (not Iscariot). (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13)

3.) James the less (the younger). His mother at crucifixion of Christ. (Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:40; Luke 24:10).

4.) James, the son of Zebedee, brother of John, who was one of the twelve disciples, who was executed by Herod in AD 44 (Acts 12:2). This James is the one named the most in the Bible (Matt. 4:21; 10:2; 17:1; Mark 10:35; 13:3; Luke 9:54; Acts 1:13; 12:2).

5.) James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ. He was the second oldest of Mary’s five sons: Jesus, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; Acts 15). Many believed this, James the half-brother of the Lord, is the writer of this book.

James 1:1 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”

Santiago 1:1 “Si Santiago, na alipin ng Diyos at ng Panginoong Jesu-Cristo, ay bumabati sa labindalawang lipi na nasa Pangangalat.”

James introduces himself as the man who wrote the book of James.

James an apostle of the circumcision with Peter and John.

Notice the James call himself “a servant of God” not that he was not an apostle, for Paul an apostle also call himself “servant of God” in (Titus 1:1) or “servant of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:1-2). The phrase "a servant of God of the Lord Jesus Christ" indicates James humility. James addressing the Israelites generally, including indirectly the unbelieving, James in humility omits “apostle.” Similarly, Jude, an apostle in his general letter, introduces himself “servant of Jesus Christ” (Jude 1).

Notice the name “Jesus Christ” not mentioned again by James except in James 2:1; and also, the name “Jesus Christ” not mentioned at all in the speeches James (Acts 15:14-21 and Acts 21:20-25), lest his introducing the name oftener should seem to arise from vanity, James being the “the Lord’s brother.” James’s teaching being practical rather than doctrinal required less express mention of Jesus Christ.

The words “scattered abroad” [tais (G3588) en (G1722) tee (G3588) diaspora (G1290)], in English “which are in the dispersion.” The dispersion of the Israelites and their connection with Jerusalem as a center of religion was a divinely ordered means of propagating Christianity. James is writing to Jewish believers who are dispersed. These are the Jewish believers been chased out of their homes and are being hunted, jailed and even killed by their persecutors.

The word “greeting” is in no other Christian letter but in James and the Jerusalem Synod’s letter to the Gentile churches, an unintended coincidence and mark of genuineness. The word “greeting” in Greek Chairein (G5463) is akin to the word “joy” in Greek charan (G5479), to which these persecuted Jewish believers are exhorted amidst distresses from poverty and consequent oppression (Romans 15:26).

James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”

Santiago 1:2 “Mga kapatid ko, ituring ninyong buong kagalakan kapag kayo'y nahaharap sa sari-saring pagsubok,”

Notice in verse 2, the message of James addressed to “My brethren” used repeatedly by James in this book. It is means a marking community of nation and of faith. This message of James is for brothers and sisters in Christ who have experienced God’s grace in the midst of severe trials and persecution. This letter is not for the non-believer because the unbeliever has no possible way can have joy in trials and troubles because they are lost in them. In fact, their trials and troubles will often crush them. James is telling here the believers that they have joy in the midst of trials knowing that God has a sovereign plan and purpose for all those trials coming their way.

There are several options we have when trials hit us: Weariness, complain and murmuring, anger, bitterness, attack, revenge, self-pity, talk to everyone about your problems, and others view trial with joy, knowing God’s has a purpose for our good and use it so for His glory.

Again, in verse 2, we see the phrase “count it all joy”. means the cause for the highest joy. Nothing but joy. James says “count all divers temptation” to be each matter of joy. The word “all” functions as an adjective, modifying joy. It means you can find joy in all kinds of things when you realize that God has a purpose for all trials in your life. The word “all” does not mean every specific thing. This does not mean be happy about everything. This cannot possibly mean that these Jewish believers were to be happy about everything happening to them. This message of James cannot possibly mean find happy pleasure in everything negative happening to you, including trials, and suffering. Who in their right mind is happy about that? Certainly, when people lost their homes are not happy, when people ripped apart by hurricane are not happy. This does not mean be happy about everything, this is not what James is saying.

In fact, the word “joy” is not the word “happy.” The joy that James is talking here is not just happy emotional feeling, it is a joy that only God can give when you are experiencing heavy moments of trials. Nothing in this world can take away the joy neither any circumstances in your life. James means when you are facing quality of all various trials of your life you can have a deep inner joy, realizing that God has a great purpose behind everything connected to His believers. This is not some admonition for you to smile about everything that occurs in your life.

The word “count” in KJV, ESV, NKJV or “consider” in NASB, NIV, NLT is aorist middle imperative, which means we are to make pointed mental decisions in and of ourselves to count or consider or calculate everything in our life to be joyful since we know that God will never leave us nor forsake us. Therefore, “count it all joy” or “consider it all joy” is not so much about how we feel but about how we think. The word “count” or “consider” means to lead, to guide, to be ruler or commander. It is like when the commander is taking charge as a commander. James is reminding us believers to take charge of ourselves and our minds when various trials hit us. James commands that we take charge of ourselves and count everything to be joy, in and of ourselves when we divers trials hit us. In other words, we need to use our minds to develop a deep trust and confidence in God, being aware that God has a perfect purpose and plan for our good.

Do not count things as a hard punishment or devastating calamity, but count or consider everything that occurs can lead you to a closer and sweeter relationship with God. We have a great opportunity to see God’s hand at work when innumerable and unstoppable trials and troubles happened. The Pharisees taught that troubles and calamity in life signifies that a person was out of favor with God, and so they said that they were blessed of God and those scattered believers were not blessed. That is why James tells them not to think like that.

Notice James says “when” not “if” you fall into temptations. It means it is sure it would come to our lives. It is unavoidable, it is certain. We do not know when trials come but it would happen to all.

Now in verse 2, the word “fall into” in Greek peripeseete (G4045)] means unexpectedly as to be encompassed by various trials and troubles.

The word “divers” or “various” indicates many colored things, that means not just one time trial or not just one type of trial, and they just come our way since we do not anticipate them. It means manifold trials beset on every side.

The word “temptation” in verse 2, is not allurements to sin, but it means trials which test and purify the Christian character. Some to whom James writes were “sick”, or otherwise “afflicted” (James 5:13). Do not forget that every possible trial to the child of God is a masterpiece of strategy of the Captain of his salvation for his good. The word “trial” or “temptation” also refers to different kinds of afflictions and troubles and trials that attack or hurt us. If we brought trials and troubles on ourselves, we know how we got in it therefore we should know also how to get out of it and that can strengthen our inner being.

---Continuation ---Part 2

Three reasons how can we have joy in the midst of trials (according to the challenge of James)

First reason...

I – AWARENESS THAT YOUR FAITH IS BEING TESTED – v.3a

James 1:3a "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."

Santiago 1:3a "yamang inyong nalalaman na ang pagsubok sa inyong pananampalataya ay nagbubunga ng pagtitiis"

The key to joy (verse 2 “count it all joy”) is not the trial but the “knowing” what God will do with us and for us in the trials. That is what we need to think when we fall into various trials. There is no joy in the trials. Obviously, there is no joy in saying praise the Lord, when you or your love ones have cancer, when you or your spouse loss the job, when one of the members in your family died, when you attend the funeral service, when you experience flat tire at the middle of the highway, when your houses was burned or was ruined by strong calamity. Although no one wants to look for trials, but we are to calculate this as joyful once we find ourselves facing the various trials and situations in our lives. We need to know that the joy is not in the trouble or in the trial. The joy can be found in knowing that our faith is not shaken but strengthened because you know God is working wonderful things for your good and for the glory of God.

The words “the trying” in Greek [“to” (G3588) “dokimion” (G1383), in English “the trying”], that is the testing or proving of your faith, namely by “divers temptations” (verse 2). We can compare Romans 5:3-4 which says “tribulation worketh patience; ⁴And patience, experience”, Here is the word “experience” in KJV, YLT or “character” in NASB, ESV, NIV, NLT, NKJV. In Greek [dokimee (G1382) in English "experience", akin to dokimion (G1383) in English trying], Therefore, the experience; here the “trying” or testing whence experience flows. In other words our faith must be a faith that must experience many trials or tested by many trials. The word “trying of your faith” are times when God allows various trials to hit us so that our faith may be tested, then God uses testing or trying to analyze our faith with the aim if our faith is a worthy. Actually, by testing or trying our faith, God shows us that our faith is solid and provable.

Again, how can we have joy in the midst of trials (according to the challenge of James)

Second reason…

II – AWARENESS THAT YOUR TESTED FAITH PRODUCES PATIENT ENDURANCE – v.3b

James 1:3b “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

Santiago 1:3b “yamang inyong nalalaman na ang pagsubok sa inyong pananampalataya ay nagbubunga ng pagtitiis.”

Notice the word here “patience” in KJV, NKJV; “endurance” in NASB, NLT; “steadfastness” in ESV, is in Greek [hupomonee (G5281)] - which mean persetering endurance. Example of this is the good ground in the parable of the Sower in Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

God’s purpose is to develop our faith and makes more dependable as believers when we face pressures and when we experience trouble in life, because faith testing and faith building produces patient endurance. There are various ways we can react and respond at tests to handle them: Depression, Joy, complaining, whining, praying, trusting. When the believers have been tested, and there is a tendency to be discouraged and depressed but when you stay faithful and thinking God is at work and then when it is over and you passed the test, there is a relief and honor and your faith is strengthened.

Having patience and endurance is a virtue in the mind of God. Steadfastness is not easy task when it comes to our relationship to God. As for the world, people viewed that being patient is letting others to walk all over you, but in God’s view patience is a spiritual virtue.

The actual verb from which the noun “patience” or “endurance” comes is a word that means to stay behind, remain behind or leave behind. Anytime, anywhere whenever we experience negative things, the thing produced out from behind those things is a development of our patient endurance.

In describing the Christian life, the Apostle Paul often used the metaphor of an athlete. All the winners in sport competitions, there is one thing we noticed that these athletes have the enduring patience. They do not get their medal awards all at once, they passed the tests, patience in tough training, patience in hardship, patience in loneliness, patience as they sacrifice, it takes time to become a winner. Athlete keep on training when it is tough, keep on competing even it appears they are losing. They undergo testing of their faith that eventually produces patience and endurance of a classic winner. The same in our Christian life, our tested faith produces patient endurance.

The conclusion of verse 2 and verse 3 is that if you are a genuine believer, God will test you. No brethren in Christ will be exempt. And once we find ourselves experiencing and facing various troubles and pressures, count it all joy, knowing God has a plan, and He is working for that wonderful plan with purpose to produce strong faith. David personally experienced and faced fiery pressures and horrible troubles, when lot of people wants to kill him, he wrote these wonderful words “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1).

Again, how can we have joy in the midst of trials: (according to the challenge of James)

Third reason…

III – AWARENESS THAT PATIENT ENDURANCE IN YOUR TESTED FAITH PRODUCES AMAZING RESULTS – v.4

James 1:4 “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Santiago 1:4 "At inyong hayaan na malubos ng pagtitiis ang gawa nito, upang kayo'y maging sakdal at ganap, na walang anumang kakulangan."

The tested faith produces patient endurance (verse 3) that will have a positive and wonderful result on us. It is important for us to see that the progress of endurance as it continues on forward. God does not give us test of faith just to know if we have faith but the test of faith is given to us to strengthen and develop the faith we already have.

Two results produced by a faith developed by trials:

A. Perfect work of Patience – v.4a

James 1:4a “But let patience have her perfect work,”

Santiago 1:4a “At inyong hayaan na malubos ng pagtitiis ang gawa nito,.”

Look at the phrase “But let patience have her perfect work” (that is taken out of “worketh patience” or endurance) means to have its full effect, by showing perfect endurance namely, joy in the cross (Hebrews 12:2 like Jesus “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross”) and enduring to the end (Matthew 10:22 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved”). Where is the manifestation of patience in our lives? Where is the full effect or the perfect work of patience in our lives? First, your faith will be tested, than that tested faith produced patient endurance that would shows many wonderful results in our lives. Amen!

B. Perfect Product of Patience – v.4b

James 1:4b “that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing”

Santiago 1:4b “upang kayo'y maging sakdal at ganap, na walang anumang kakulangan.”

Notice that the word “perfect” is used twice in verse 4. The word “perfect” means to come to the finished end or the full maturity level has been reached. God uses trials and pressures in order for us to grow up to full spiritual maturity. This is not teaching and promoting the false doctrine of sinless perfection. The point is the patient enduring faith molds us into a mature and solid faith that will take us all the way to the end. We become strong develop Christian as we grow in patience until there is no longer rebellion or disobedience against the will of God. Then the words “ye may be perfect”. That is being fully developed in all the attributes of a Christian. Now, “Joy” is an essential of the “perfect work” of probation. Now listen, if God’s teaching by patience have had a perfect work in you, therefore you are perfect. If you spend and valued reading, listening, meditating, and applying everything sincerely what God has said in His Holy Word then continue in His Word whatsoever the cost, therefore patience perfectly work in your life to make you perfect or spiritual grown as a developed, tested, solid Christian.

James adds, “and entire, wanting nothing.”

Notice the word “entire”, that is in Greek [holokleeroi (G3648)] indicating with all its parts complete, wanting no integral part (I Thessalonians 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It says “your whole (literally entire) spirit and soul and body,” as “perfect” implies wither a blemish in its parts. That is what Jesus wants us to be when He return.

When our faith has been tested and is proved that it can be trusted, we lack nothing in our relationship with God in this grace age. God bless!