James 1:12-18

James 1:12-Job : . The Beatitude on Endurance ( cf. James 5:11 and note). “ Trial” is still neutral: it is affliction which tests and develops loyalty. But since human nature has a bias towards evil, a trial “ exerted upon man’ s evil “ desire” ( James 1:14) becomes a “ temptation.” As in Romans 5:4, “ endurance” produces approvedness,” which brings the reward. The word “ crown” (as papyri show), can mean a royal diadem as well as a wreath of victory: the latter is better here. Peter’ s “ unfading crown of glory” is the same idea, and both (as in Revelation 2:10) go back probably to an unrecorded saying of Jesus ( cf. 2 Timothy 4:8, also Deuteronomy 30:20). The denial that God “ tempts” is based on the self-evidenced fact that there is nothing in Him to supply the seed of evil. This comes from our “ desire” when still unbent by submission to God’ s will. In itself “ desire” is neutral; Jesus Himself had it ( Luke 22:15). The allegory of Sin as mother of Death is magnificently worked out by Milton, P.L. ii. In contrast to this error, James declares that “ Every gift that is good, every bounty that is flawless ‘ droppeth from heaven upon the place beneath’”— so we may render to suggest the effect of a metrical quotation probably recognisable in the original. For “ the Father of the (heavenly) lights,” cf. Job 38:7. Unlike the moving sun, the earth and moon with light and shadow succeeding, He knows “ no mutability, nor overshadowing of change.” We are His offspring by the act of His will through Truth’ s own fiat: not literally the “ first-fruits” of His creation, Man becomes such in dignity by the fact that God is his Father, and not only his Creator.