James 1:2

James 1:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
• New International Version (NIV)Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
• New King James Version (NKJV)My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

Context of James 1:2

1This letter is from me, James. I am a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the 12 tribes of God's people who live in many different parts of the world. I say ‘hello’ to all of you. My Christian friends, remember to be happy, even when many kinds of trouble happen to you. Troubles can help you. 3God wants to see if you really trust him. Your faith in God will become stronger as a result of these troubles. 4So you should continue to trust God all the time. Then you will become stronger as a believer. You will become completely how you should be. You will not need anything more.

James 1:2 word by word

Πᾶσαν χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε, ἀδελφοί μου, ὅταν πειρασμοῖς περιπέσητε ποικίλοις,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• count itἡγέομαιhēgeomai · to governG2233
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• joyχαράchara · joyG5479
• whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• ye fall intoπεριπίπτωperipiptō · to fall uponG4045
• diversποικίλοςpoikilos · variousG4164
• temptationsπειρασμόςpeirasmos · temptation/testing: testingG3986

Cross-references for James 1:2

• James 1:12Some people continue to trust God even when troubles happen. God will bless those people, if they show that they really trust him. He will give them the gift which is life with him. He has promised to give this gift to all people who love him.
• Matthew 5:10Happy are the people who do what is right but other people hurt them because of it. The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like that.
• Luke 6:22People may hate you, because you believe in me, the Son of Man. They may say bad things against you and make you go away from them. They may say that you are very bad. When that happens, be happy.
• Acts 5:41The apostles went away from the meeting of the Jewish leaders. They were very happy because they thought to themselves, ‘These leaders have done bad things to us because we obey Jesus. That shows that God accepts us as his people.’
• Romans 8:17Because we are God's children, we also know that we will receive good things from him. Those are the things that he has promised to give to his children. Together with Christ, we will receive the things that God has kept for him. That is true if we agree to have troubles like Christ did. Then we will also enjoy life in heaven like Christ does.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9But he said to me, ‘I will be kind to you and I will help you. That will be enough for you. When you are weak, I will show that I am completely powerful to help you.’ So I am happy to be proud about my weakness. Then I know that Christ's power will be with me.
• 2 Corinthians 12:10That is why I am happy even when I am weak. People may insult me. They may bring me trouble. They may want to hurt me. I may have many kinds of trouble. But I am still happy because I am serving Christ. Yes, whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
• Philippians 1:29God is helping you to serve Christ well. That means that you believe in Christ. But it also means that you receive trouble and pain on his behalf. Both of those are gifts from God.
• Philippians 2:17You believe in Christ, and you are his servants. That is like you are offering yourselves as a sacrifice to God. Perhaps I will soon have to die. Then my blood would be like drink that I am pouring on your sacrifice, to please God. So, if I have to die now, I will be happy. And we should all be happy together.
• Colossians 1:24At this time, I am suffering on your behalf, but I am still happy. Christ himself suffered on behalf of his people, the church. Now, while I live in my human body, I also suffer. I continue to receive the pain that Christ received, so that it may be complete. In that way, I help the church, which is like Christ's own body.
• Hebrews 10:34You were kind to Christians who were in prison. When people took away your own things, you still chose to be happy. You knew that you had something better that would belong to you for ever.
• 1 Peter 4:13Instead, be happy when you have trouble. Remember that Christ also received much trouble and pain. If you have trouble like he did, then you will be happy when he returns. At that time, everyone will see how great Christ really is. Then you will be very happy with a great joy.
• Hebrews 11:36Other people who trusted God received insults. Some of them were hit with whips. Enemies of God tied these people up and they put them in prison.
• 1 Peter 1:6All this causes you to be very happy, even when you have troubles. For a short time now, different kinds of troubles may make you sad.
• 2 Peter 2:9We know that the Lord God has done all these things in past times. He knows how to save people who respect him from their troubles. But he will continue to punish the people who refuse to obey him. He will keep them until the day when he will judge them.
• Revelation 2:10I know that trouble will soon come to you. But do not be afraid. Listen! The Devil will cause some of you to go to prison. He wants to see whether you will continue to believe in me. As a result, you will suffer for ten days. But continue to trust me, even if you die. Then you will win against the Devil. I will give you a gift, as they give a crown to the winner of a race. You will have life with me for ever.

Commentaries on James 1:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Count it all joy - The word , which we translate temptation, signifies affliction, persecution, or trial of any kind; and in this sense it is used here, not intending diabolic suggestion, or what is generally understood by the word temptation.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2My brethren - Not brethren as Jews, but as Christians. Compare James 2:1. Count it all joy - Regard it as a thing to rejoice in; a matter which should afford you happiness. You are not to consider it as a punishment, a curse, or a calamity, but as a fit subject of felicitation. Compare the notes at Matthew 5:12. When ye fall into divers temptations - Oh the meaning of the word “temptations,” see the notes at Matthew 4:1. It is now commonly used in the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2My brothers: Refer to study note on 2:1. James uses a wordplay. The Greek word for "joy" (chara) sounds similar to the Greek word for "greetings" that he used at the beginning of his letter in 1:1. This wordplay helps connect the opening greeting with his encouragement to find joy even during difficult times.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. My brethren--a phrase often found in James, marking community of nation and of faith. all joy--cause for the highest joy [Grotius]. Nothing but joy [Piscator]. Count all "divers temptations" to be each matter of joy [Bengel]. fall into--unexpectedly, so as to be encompassed by them (so the original Greek). temptations--not in the limited sense of allurements to sin, but trials or distresses of any kind which test and purify the Christian character…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:2

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Joy
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

• Afflictions
• Entice
• Fade
• Lack
• Lay
• Liberally
• Lust
• Pure
• Receive
• Religion

Commentaries on James 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings