• \ 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
• 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
• 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
• 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
• Bondservant = in the Greek is the word "doulos." Doulos means slave or one who gives themselves up to another's will. One who is devoted to another permanently.

• John MacArthur says that Slavery, service, and manual labor was despised by ancient Greek culture. They thought that the better a man was, the less he should work. In contrast, God gave us a carpenter King, fisherman apostles, and tent-making missionaries.

• Lord = in the Greek is the word "kyrios." Kyrios means master. The master of a doulos, a slave.

• Read Galatians 3:26-28 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

• 1 James, a (bond) servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

• This style of writing James uses is Hebrew is called "pearls on a string," or "stringing pearls." It's designed to be rapid fire truth statements but there's always a unified theme.
• James' theme is "the wisdom of God."

• 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

• Read Psalm 23:4 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

• Bible commentator William Moffit translates this "greet it all joy."

• Read 1st Corinthians 10:13 13 No temptation (no trial) has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, (it will happen) he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

• Charles Spurgeon said it like this: God never puts heavy burdens on light shoulders.

• So, why should we consider it pure joy when trials come?
• 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance (or patience).

• Read 1st Peter 1:7 7 These (trials) have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

• Perseverance = in the Greek is the word "hypomone." Hypomone means patience, steadfastly waiting, endurance.

• Read Romans 10:17 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

• 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

• Read Hebrews 5:8 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

• Read John 16:33 33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

• Look to the "Words in Red."