Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - James 1:3 - 1:3
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Jam 1:3. Τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν) your proving, or trial. So τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως, the trial of your faith, 1Pe 1:7; Pro 27:21 (Septuagint), δοκίμιον ἀργυρίῳ, καὶ χρυσῷ πύρωσις· ἀνὴρ δὲ δοκιμάζεται διὰ στόματος ἐγκωμιαζόντων αὐτόν, “The fining-pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; and so a man has his character tested by the mouth of those who praise him.” Herodian, δοκίμιον στρατιωτῶν (adde χριστιανῶν) κάματος, ἀλλʼ οὐ τρυφή, “The test of (Christian) soldiers is not luxury, but toil.” Zosimus, εὐνοίας δοκίμια παρασχόμενος, “Affording proofs of good-will.” The meaning of the word δοκίμιον is therefore trial patiently undergone. Were I not withheld by the parallelism in Peter,[3] I should more readily embrace in James the reading τῆς πίστεως, of your faith, supported as it is by so many witnesses.[4] As it is, trial, spoken of in general terms, embraces the trial of faith, love, and hope. And though there is no special mention of faith in this verse, yet James, as well as other apostles, esteems faith as all in all. See Jam 1:6; Jam 5:15. And the trial of faith, in particular, is firmly established, on the authority of Peter.-κατεργάζεται ὑπομονὴν, worketh patience) The same expression is used, Rom 5:3, with the addition, ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ δοκιμὴν, and patience (worketh) experience. See below, Jam 1:12.-ὑπομονὴν, patience) See Jam 1:12, and the note on Luk 8:15. So Psa 62:6 (Septuagint), ὅτι παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἡ ὑπομονή μου, “for my patient expectation is from Him.”
[3] From whom it may have been interpolated here.-E.
[4] And indeed Beng. preferred this fuller reading afterwards in the margin of the Ed. 2; and it is expressly given in the Germ. Vers.-E. B.
B and later Syr. support the omission of τῆς πίστεως; and so Tisch. But AC Vulg. support the words; and so Lachm. and Rec. Text.-E.