Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; because, when he has been tested, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
1:12 — “Blessed is the man who endures temptation.” Happy is the Christian, whether poor or rich, who perseveres in faith through the trials of life, because thus becoming a person approved by the Lord, from him he will receive the reward of his constancy of faith, which is eternal life. . Compare Matthew 5:10-12. Does James speak in this verse of temptations or trials? I am convinced that he speaks of evidence. He speaks of the blessing of trials endured and overcome by faith. In verse 2 he speaks of joy in trials; in the 4 of the man thus perfected; and now on the 12th of the ultimate effect of the tests endured through a faithful life, which is eternal life. — “supports”. This word in the Greek is the verb form of the noun found in verse 3. See there the notes on “patience,” “remain low.” The Version of the Bible of the Americas says well, “that perseveres under the test”, and in the margin, “remains constant”. — “Because when he has stood the test.” Rather, as the Popular Version expresses it “because when it was approved”, and the New American Version “because having been approved”. The Greek text literally says, “when he has been approved.” The idea of approval stands out. — “will receive the crown of life.” This is the reward of his faithfulness. Compare 1Co 9:25, 2Ti 2:5; 2Ti 4:8, 1Pe 5:4, Rev 2:10; Rev 3:11; Rev 4:4, Joh 14:2-3. The crown of life is eternal life or glory (1Jn 2:25). — “which God has promised to those who love him.” See 2:5. The word “God” is not in the original text. Some versions say “the Lord,” but in italics (to indicate interspersed or added words).
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
the man who endures, or perseveres. Jas 1:2-4; Jas 5:11; Job 5:17; Ps 94:12; Ps 119:67, Ps 119:71, Ps 119:75; Pro 3:11, Pro 3:12; Hebrews 6:15; Hebrews 10:32; Hebrews 12:5; Rev 3:19.
when you have resisted. Deu 8:2; Deu 13:3; Pro 17:3; Zech 13:9; evil 3:2, bad 3:3; Hebrews 11:17; 1Pe 1:6, 1Pe 1:7; 1Pe 5:10.
the crown of life Matt 25:34; Luke 22:28-30; Romans 2:7-10; 1Co 9:25; 2Ti 4:8; 1Pe 1:7; 1Pe 4:13; 1Pe 5:4; Rev 2:10; Rev 3:21.
that God has promised. Jas 2:5; Isaiah 64:4; Matt 10:22; Matt 19:28, Matt 19:29.
to those who love him. Jas 2:5; Exo 20:6; Deu 7:9; Neh 1:5; Ps 5:11; Romans 8:28; 1Co 2:9; 1Co 8:3; 1Pe 1:8; 1Jn 4:19.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
the believer who supports evidence shows that you love Jesus and therefore, will receive the crown of life (Rev 2:10) at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The Bible describes the believer’s reward (2Co 5:10; Rev 22:12) with various vivid images such as precious metals (1Co 3:8-14), garments (Rev 3:5, Rev 3:18; Rev 19:7-8) and crowns (1Co 9:25; Rev 2:10; Rev 3:11).
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
Blessed. See notes on Matt 5:4 ; Matt 5:10-11. Believers who succeed in enduring trials are happy indeed (cf. Jas 5:11). bears. See the note on v. Jas 1:3. In this context it also describes the passive and painful process of surviving a trial, and focuses on the victorious outcome that is enjoyed in the end. This is a person who never gives up her saving faith in God, so the concept is closely tied to the doctrine of the eternal security and perseverance of the believer (see note on Matt 24:13; zip Joh 14:15; Joh 14:23; 1Jn 2:5-6; 1Jn 2:15; 1Jn 2:19; 1Jn 4:19; 1Pe 1:6-8). temptation. The most accurate translation is “tests” (see note on v.Jas 1:2). when you have resisted. Lit. “passed the test” (see note on v.Jas 1:2, “tests”). The believer has passed through his tests with success and victory, which indicates that he is genuine because his faith has withstood the test like Job’s. the crown of life It is better translated “the crown that is life”. This “crown” was a laureate diadem that was placed on the head of the undefeated athlete in ancient Greek competitions. Here it denotes the definitive reward of the believer, which is eternal life, which God has promised and will fully give him at the death or at the coming of Christ (see notes on 2Ti 4:8; Rev 2:10; zip 1Pe 5:4).
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
1:12 — “Blessed is the man who endures temptation.” Happy is the Christian, whether poor or rich, who perseveres in faith through the trials of life, because thus becoming a person approved by the Lord, from him he will receive the reward of his constancy of faith, which is eternal life. . Compare Matthew 5:10-12.
Does James speak in this verse of temptations or tests? I am convinced that he speaks of evidence. He speaks of the blessing of trials endured and overcome by faith. In verse 2 he speaks of joy in trials; in the 4 of the man thus perfected; and now on the 12th of the ultimate effect of the tests endured through a faithful life, which is eternal life.
–“supports”. This word in the Greek is the verb form of the noun found in verse 3. See there the notes on “patience,” “remain low.” The Version of the Bible of the Americas says well, “that perseveres under the test”, and in the margin, “remains constant”.
–“because when it has stood the test”. Rather, as the Popular Version expresses it “because when it was approved”, and the New American Version “because having been approved”. The Greek text literally says, “when it has been approved.” The idea of approval stands out.
– “will receive the crown of life”. This is the reward of his faithfulness. Compare 1Co 9:25, 2Ti 2:5; 2Ti 4:8, 1Pe 5:4, Rev 2:10; Rev 3:11; Rev 4:4, Joh 14:2-3. The crown of life is eternal life or glory (1Jn 2:25).
–“that God has promised to those who love him”. See 2:5. The word “God” is not in the original text. Some versions say “the Lord,” but in italics (to indicate interspersed or added words).
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
THE CROWN OF LIFE
James 1:12
Happy is he who faces the test with firm constancy! Because, when he has shown his true worth, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
He who meets the trial properly has the
happiness here and hereafter.
“
(i) In this life he shows his true worth. hey dokimos; the real metal with no admixture of impurities. His character has been tempered, and he emerges from the trial strong and pure.
(ii) In the life to come receive the crown of life There is more hidden here than meets the eye. In the ancient world; the choir (stefanos) it had at least four major associations.
(a) The flower crown was used on happy days, at weddings and at parties (cf. Isaiah 28:1 yes; Song of Song 3:11 ).
(b) The crown was the sign of royalty, and was worn by kings. Sometimes it was gold, and sometimes it consisted of a linen band around the forehead (Ps 21:3 ; Jer 13:181 ;
(c) The laurel wreath was the prize of the winner in the games, the most coveted by the athletes (cp. two Timothy 4:8):
(d) The crown was an emblem of honor and dignity. Parental instruction can bring a crown of grace to those who abide by it (Pr 1:9 Y; wisdom provides a crown of . glory (Pr 4:9 ):
We don’t have to choose between those meanings; all are included. The Christian has a happiness that no one else has. Life is for him like always being at a party. Participate in a royalty that no one else knows; because; although he is humble on Earth, he is a son of God. He has one victory that others cannot win, because he meets life and all its demands with the conquering power of the presence of Jesus Christ. he has a new dignity, because he realizes that God valued him at the price of the blood of Jesus Christ.
What is the crown? The crown of life Y that phrase means the crown consisting of life. The Christian’s crown is a new kind of life which is true life; through Jesus Christ has entered into a more abundant life.
James says that if the Christian meets the trials of life with the firm constancy that Christ gives, life becomes infinitely more splendid than before. Fighting is the path to glory, and the fight itself is already glory.
Source: New Testament Commentary
Jas 1:25; Jas 5:11; Matt 5:3-12; Luke 6:20-23; Luke 11:27-28; Luke 12:37-38.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
— crown: See note a 1Co 9:25.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
Proof. The author returns to the subject of proof by giving a promise. Blessed or happy is the person who perseveres under trial. How can such people be said to be happy? They cannot be according to the world’s perspective, but according to God’s. He has promised the crown of life, or life itself (as in Rev. 2:10) because such people have shown that they truly love God by enduring the test. It is like what happened with Abraham, who persevered in the test and then received what was promised by the Lord (Gen. 22:15-18) because he can say: “now I know that you fear God” (Gen. 22:12).
Not all of them will prove to be genuine when tested. Those who fail or want to give in when tested may do so by blaming God: “God is tempting me.” (The words translated “temptation,” “trial,” or “tribulation” are the same in Gk.) This is precisely what Israel did in the wilderness; they complained that God was responsible and blamed him (Ex. 17:2, 7). In fact, they did it ten times (Num. 14:22). The believers James was addressing were not to do the same, because God is not to be put to the test by sinners in the first place! (That would be a better translation than God is not tempted by evil). This is precisely what Israel was taught in Deut. 6:16.
The second reason believers should not blame God is because he does not tempt anyone. How could James write that when in Gen. 22:1 he says, “God tested (or “tempted”, which is the same word) Abraham”? The answer is that, beginning in the OT and continuing in Judaism between the two Testaments, stories like Abraham’s were interpreted as leaving out the true cause of the test, namely the devil (eg 2 Sam. 24:1 says that God “stirred up David against them”, while 1 Chronicles 21:1 says that “Satan…stirred up David”). Therefore, in the intertestamental book of Jubilees, the account of Gén. 22 on Abraham is reconstructed similarly to that on Job. Because of this interpretive tradition, James, who in 2:21 cites Gen. 22 explicitly, he could say that the true cause of the test was not God. The OT story is true, but it is a simplified form of reality.
However, James does not want the devil to be blamed either (although he mentions it in 4:7), but rather to accept the responsibility on one’s own shoulders. It is the passion itself that makes…