James 1:2–4
James says the testing of faith produces perseverance
Study it word by word2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various trials,
3knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4And let perseverance have its complete work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.
In its context
1James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, to the twelve tribes that are in the dispersion: greetings.
…
5And if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproaching, and it will be given to him.
6But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed about.
Its words in the original
- χαρὰνcharan· joy
Joy, gladness.
- ἡγήσασθεhēgēsasthe· lead, consider
Lead, go in front, rule; "leader", "ruler". Also think, consider, regard.
- ἀδελφοίadelphoi· brother
Brother. Also a close relative, a fellow countryman and, among believers, a brother in the faith.
- ὅτανhotan· when, whenever
When, whenever.
- πειρασμοῖςpeirasmois· testing, temptation
Test, trial; also temptation, the test that pushes one to fall.
- περιπέσητεperipesēte· fall among
Fall among, fall into the hands of; run into, encounter; of a ship, strike a reef.
- ποικίλοιςpoikilois· various
Various, of many kinds.
- γινώσκοντεςginōskontes· know
Know, come to know, realize. Said of a man and a woman, have sexual relations.
- δοκίμιονdokimion· testing, genuineness
Testing that shows whether something is genuine; what is proven genuine.
- πίστεωςpisteōs· faith
Faith: firm trust in God; also faithfulness.
- κατεργάζεταιkatergazetai· accomplish, produce, do
Bring about, accomplish, produce; also carry out or commit a deed.
- ὑπομονήνhypomonēn· endurance, perseverance
Endurance, perseverance: holding out patiently under trial.
- ἔργονergon· work
Work, deed, what someone does.
- τέλειονteleion· complete, mature
Complete, mature, whole; often rendered “perfect.”
- ἐχέτωechetō· have
Have, possess, hold.
- ἦτεēte· be
Be, exist.
- ὁλόκληροιholoklēroi· whole, complete
Whole, complete in every part, sound.
- μηδενὶmēdeni· no one, nothing
No one, nothing.
- λειπόμενοιleipomenoi· lack
Lack, be lacking; in the passive, be in need, fall short.