What does James 1:2 mean?
James wrote to Jewish Christians scattered by hardship, and his letter begins with a surprising command: "count it all joy" when trials come. "Divers temptations" here means various trials or testings, not only temptations to sin. James is not saying that suffering itself is pleasant, or that we should pretend it does not hurt. He explains in the next verses that testing produces patience, or endurance, and that endurance makes us mature and complete. Joy comes from seeing the purpose God can work through hardship. This is a choice to view trials through God's eyes, trusting that nothing we go through is wasted in his hands.
James 1:2 in the World English Bible
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,
Context
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
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Frequently asked questions
What does James 1:2 mean?
James wrote to Jewish Christians scattered by hardship, and his letter begins with a surprising command: "count it all joy" when trials come. "Divers temptations" here means various trials or testings, not only temptations to sin. James is not saying that suffering itself is pleasant, or that we should pretend it does not hurt. He explains in the next verses that testing produces patience, or endurance, and that endurance makes us mature and complete. Joy comes from seeing the purpose God can work through hardship. This is a choice to view trials through God's eyes, trusting that nothing we go through is wasted in his hands.
What does James 1:2 say in the KJV?
James 1:2 (KJV) reads: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”