But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
What does James 1:4 mean?
Christianity teaches men to be joyful under troubles: such exercises are sent from God's love; and trials in the way of duty will brighten our graces now, and our crown at last.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside James 1:2-4 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on James 1:4
But let patience have her perfect work - Let it be fairly developed; let it produce its appropriate effects without being hindered. Let it not be obstructed in its fair influence on the soul by murmurings, complaining, or rebellion. Patience under trials is fitted to produce important effects on the soul, and we are not to hinder them in any manner by a perverse spirit, or by opposition to the will of God. Every one who is afflicted should desire that the fair effects of affliction should be produced on his mind, or that there should be produced in his soul precisely the results which his trials are adapted to accomplish.
Key words
- entire
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entire. Compare the notes at 1 Thessalonians 5:23 . The word occurs only in these two places.
- patience
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But let patience have her perfect work,.
- perfect
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But let patience have her perfect work,.
Context in James 1
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James 1 belongs to the opening movement of the book, especially the section often described as testing and wisdom. James is a wisdom-shaped epistle about testing, speech, wealth, impartiality, works, prayer, and practical holiness. Read this chapter with the wider themes of works, wisdom, and speech in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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