Identification
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” James 1.2
James uses the term “my brethren” eight times in his letter to those who are scattered abroad. Found twenty-six times in the New Testament, it has a variety of applications. Used by our Lord on several occasions, Jesus refers to His family (Matthew 12.48, 49), to His countrymen (Matthew 25.40), and to His followers (Matthew 28.10; Luke 8.21; John 20.17). The Apostle Paul used this phrase in a wide application in similar fashion to that of our Lord. He spoke of his spiritual family (Romans 7.4) and of his countrymen (Romans 9.3).
When both Paul and James address their readers as “my brethren,” they are using a term of endearment which has a softening effect on what is to come. Seeking to identify as a loving teacher and one who is looking out for the welfare of his audience, James affectionately reminds the twelve scattered tribes that they are in this together.
The Jerusalem assembly, which had become the center of Christian activity and had expressed their strong and austere stance against the acceptance of Gentiles into their fellowship, had influenced believers across the known world. The Judaizers had made a peaceful harmony, between Jewish believers and Gentile believers, strained at best. Clinging to outdated traditions which had been fulfilled by our Lord’s completed work on the Cross, the Judaizers pushed hard to have Gentiles embrace the Jewish religion prior to receiving them as brothers in Christ.
To this James pushes back, but does so in a loving fashion as he brings faith and works together allowing the works to testify of what was in his heart. While the Judaizers would have founded the assurance of their conversion upon spiritual activity, James suggests that works were only an indicator of, rather than a bridge to, eternal life. His argument in the second chapter contends that if a person is alive, he will be doing something; likewise, someone who is a true believer (spiritually alive) will be acting accordingly.
As he addresses his brethren, he reminds them of their plight as they move forward in their spiritual relationship with God. They had troubles from without – the Romans and organized religion. They had troubles from within – the Judaizers and other infiltrators who sought to destroy the church’s unity.
There would have been a natural timidity in regards to standing up for and exhibiting works toward a relationship with the One who had been crucified. Because of the attacks from without and from within, many would have faltered and become a part of the persecution rather than a part of those who stood against such things.
In the face of such difficult times, James encourages his readers to take stock in what they had learned. He says, “Count it all joy….” A careful study of the word “count” (hegeomai) is revealing in that it does not suggest something within the accounting realm, but rather it is a term that suggests taking charge of a situation. Here, in this verse, the voice is a middle deponent requiring someone to be personally absorbed with something to the point that the way one thinks and acts is changed. It involves an assessment of the circumstances and environment and setting one’s mind on moving forward through the issues at hand.
To that James suggests that having taken control of both the situation and our own thought processes, we should choose to be joyful when we are overtaken by temptations. Notice that James does not say “if” we should fall (find ourselves in the middle of difficulties) but “when” we fall (to fall into the midst of something so as to be totally surrounded by it). Temptations are inevitable and the believer should not be surprised when they come.
James is in good company as Peter joins in a similar exhortation: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (I Peter 4.12, 13)
Furthermore, the temptations and trials are seldom repeated when victory is won, but they do come in “divers” (poikilos – “mottled, manifold and with various characters”) fashions. When these problems arise we should rejoice in the fact that they have come because it offers the believer an opportunity to allow the power of the Almighty to work through us and it suggests that we are walking in the right path. After all, Satan has no need to tempt the lost. Not only are they already his children, but they have no Holy Spirit guiding them into all truth. Being left on their own, they need no devil to tempt them.
Copyright © 2022 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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