Teks -- James 1:3 (NET)

1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Jam 1:3 - Knowing

Knowing ( ginōskontes ).

Present active participle of ginōskō (experimental knowledge, the only way of getting this view of "trials"as "all joy").

Robertson: Jam 1:3 - The proof

The proof ( to dokimion ).

Now known (Deissmann, Bible Studies , pp. 259ff.) from the papyri examples of dokimios as an adjective in the same sense (good gold, standard gold) as dokimos proved or tested (Jam 1:12). The use of to dokimion (neuter article with neuter single adjective) here and in 1Pe 1:7, clearly means "the genuine element in your faith,"not "crucible"nor "proving."Your faith like gold stands the test of fire and is approved as standard. James here, as in Jam 1:6; Jam 2:1; Jam 5:15, regards faith (pistis ) like Paul "as the very foundation of religion"(Mayor).

Robertson: Jam 1:3 - Worketh

Worketh ( katergazetai ).

Present (durative) middle indicative of the compound verb with the perfective sense of kata as in Phi 2:12, which see.

Robertson: Jam 1:3 - Patience

Patience ( hupomonēn ).

Old and common word for remaining under (hupomenō ), "staying power"(Ropes), as in Col 1:11.

Vincent: Jam 1:3 - Trying

Trying ( δοκίμιον )

Rev., proof; but the American Revisers insist on proving, and rightly. See on 1Pe 1:7.

Vincent: Jam 1:3 - Worketh

Worketh ( κατεργάζεται )

The compound verb with κατά , down through, indicates accomplishment. The proving will work successfully and thoroughly. This harmonizes with a perfect work, Jam 1:4.

Vincent: Jam 1:3 - Patience

Patience ( ὑπομονήν )

See on 2Pe 1:6, and Jam 5:7.

JFB: Jam 1:3 - the trying

The testing or proving of your faith, namely, by "divers temptations." Compare Rom 5:3, tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience (in the original dokime, akin to dokimion, "trying," here; there it is experience: here the "trying" or testing, whence experience flows).

JFB: Jam 1:3 - patience

The original implies more; persevering endurance and continuance (compare Luk 8:15).

Clarke: Jam 1:3 - The trying of your faith

The trying of your faith - Trials put religion, and all the graces of which it is composed to proof; the man that stands in such trials gives proof that his religion is sound, and the evidence afforded to his own mind induces him to take courage, bear patiently, and persevere.

Calvin: Jam 1:3 - Knowing this, that the trying

3.Knowing this, that the trying. We now see why he called adversities trials or temptations, even because they serve to try our faith. And there is here a reason given to confirm the last sentence. For it might, on the other hand, be objected, “How comes it, that we judge that sweet which to the sense is bitter?” He then shews by the effect that we ought to rejoice in afflictions, because they produce fruit that ought to be highly valued, even patience. If God then provides for our salvation, he affords us an occasion of rejoicing. Peter uses a similar argument at the beginning of his first Epistle, “That the trial of your faith, more precious than gold, may be,” etc. [1Pe 1:7.] We certainly dread diseases, and want, and exile, and prison, and reproach, and death, because we regard them as evils; but when we understand that they are turned through God’s kindness unto helps and aids to our salvation, it is ingratitude to murmur, and not willingly to submit to be thus paternally dealt with.

Paul says, in Rom 5:3, that we are to glory in tribulations; and James says here, that we are to rejoice. “We glory,” says Paul, “in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience.” What immediately follows seems contrary to the words of James; for he mentions probation in the third place, as the effect of patience, which is here put first as though it were the cause. But the solution is obvious; the word there has an active, but here a passive meaning. Probation or trial is said by James to produce patience; for were not God to try us, but leave us free from trouble, there would be no patience, which is no other thing than fortitude of mind in bearing evils. But Paul means, that while by enduring we conquer evils, we experience how much God’s help avails in necessities; for then the truth of God is as it were in reality manifested to us. Hence it comes that we dare to entertain more hope as to futurity; for the truth of God, known by experience, is more fully believed by us. Hence Paul teaches that by such a probation, that is, by such an experience of divine grace, hope is produced, not that hope then only begins, but that it increases and is confirmed. But both mean, that tribulation is the means by which patience is produced.

Moreover, the minds of men are not so formed by nature, that affliction of itself produces patience in them. But Paul and Peter regard not so much the nature of men as the providence of God through which it comes, that the faithful learn patience from troubles; for the ungodly are thereby more and more provoked to madness, as the example of Pharaoh proves. ⁹⁹

TSK: Jam 1:3 - that // patience

that : Rom 5:3, Rom 5:4, Rom 8:28; 2Co 4:17

patience : Rom 2:7, Rom 8:25, Rom 15:4; Col 1:11; 2Th 1:4, 2Th 3:5; Heb 10:36, Heb 12:1; 2Pe 1:6

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Jam 1:3 - Knowing this // That the trying of your faith // Of your faith // Worketh patience // Objection // Answer

Knowing this considering.

That the trying of your faith the reason why he called afflictions temptations, as well as why believers should count it all joy to fall into them, viz. because they are trials of their faith, and such trials as tend to approbation, as the word (different from that in the former verse) imports.

Of your faith both of the truth of the grace itself, and of your constancy in the profession of it.

Worketh patience not of itself, but as a means in the hand of God, made effectual to that end.

Objection. Rom 5:3 , it is said, Tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience, or trial; whereas here it is said, that trial works patience.

Answer. The words used here and Rom 5:3 are different; here it is dokimion , which signifies actively, the trying itself, and this works patience; there it is dokimh , which is taken passively, for the experiment following upon the trial; or, as we read it, the experience, viz. of our sincerity, as well as of God’ s consolation, which may well be the effect of patience wrought by and under trials. And so both are true, that tribulation, as Paul speaks, and trial, as James, work patience; and patience, not a further trial, but rather discovery, or experiment, or approbation of what we are, which appears by nothing more than by patience under sufferings.

Haydock: Jam 1:3-4 - The trying of your faith worketh patience

The trying of your faith worketh patience. St. Paul seems to assert the reverse: (Romans v. 3.) when he says, patience worketh a trial. They are easily reconciled. Here St. James teacheth us, that patience is occasionally obtained, and strengthened by sufferings, the meaning of St. Paul is, that patience worketh, sheweth itself, and is found perfect in the sight of God by trials. (Witham)

Gill: Jam 1:3 - Knowing this // that the trying of your faith worketh patience

Knowing this,.... By experience; as everyone that is trained up in the school of affliction does: the apostle appeals to the saints, to whom he writes, for the truth of what he was about to say; and which he gives as a reason why they should rejoice in afflictions, because it is a known fact,

that the trying of your faith worketh patience: two things afflictions do when sanctified; one is, they try faith, the truth of it, and make it appear to be true, genuine, and precious, like gold tried in the fire; see 1Pe 1:6 and the other is, that they produce patience: saints being inured to afflictions, become by degrees more patient under them; whence it is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth: this phrase may be understood, both of faith, which being tried by afflictions, produces patience; for where the one is in exercise, the other is also, and both are necessary under afflictive providences; and also of afflictions, which try faith, and being sanctified by the Spirit of God, work patience, which is a fruit of the Spirit; for otherwise the effect of them is impatience; and this agrees with the Apostle Paul in Rom 5:3.