James 5:11

Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.

We call them blessed that endured ... The true meaning of "patience" in this section is inherent in this. In the sense of stoicism, Job would hardly classify as "patient"; however, he endured despite every temptation.

The patience of Job ... "Job is mentioned only here in the New Testament,"[34] however, the book of Job is quoted in 1 Corinthians 3:19, which refers to Job 5:13.

The Lord is full of pity, and merciful ... Punchard suggested that James here "in the fullness of his gratitude, coined a word for this single phrase. `Great-hearted' would be close to its meaning,"[35]

The particular purpose served by the introduction of Job as an example here was explained by James Moffatt thus:

(The point of this is that) patient endurance can sustain itself on the conviction that hardships are not meaningless, but that God has some end or purpose in them which he will accomplish.[36]

The marvelous endurance of Job's faith in God is inherently visible in his reaction to one disaster after another. When death overtook his family, he said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). When even his wife suggested that he curse God and die, he said, "What, shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10). When his philosophical friends accused him of sin, citing the calamities which had overwhelmed him as proof of it, he said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him" (Job 13:15).

[34] Walter W. Wessel, op. cit., p. 962.

[35] E. G. Punchard, op. cit., p. 378.

[36] James Moffatt, The Moffatt New Testament Commentary, James (Garden City, N.Y.: 1928), p. 74.