At the outset the apostle expresses the spirit of fellowship he feels with his readers. This warmth of affection would reveal the constructive nature of his admonitions concerning problems of everyday life. James uses this form of address altogether 15 times, or once every 7 verses on the average, in an apparent effort to stress the bond of brotherhood that bound his heart to theirs in Christian fellowship.

 Or, “consider,” “deem,” “think.” It is the privilege and duty of the Christian to take an intelligent attitude toward the tests and trials that beset his pathway. He needs to study and understand God’s permissive relationship to such experiences (see on Job 42:5; Ps. 38:3; 39:9; Matt. 6:13; Rom. 8:28).

 That the Christian may expect “temptations” periodically is evident from the word “when,” or more literally, “whenever.” The word “fall” does not necessarily reflect spiritual declension. To “fall into ... temptations” simply means to encounter them (cf. Luke 10:30; Acts 27:41). Such situations are usually unsought, unexpected, and unwelcome. Furthermore, the “temptations” to which James here refers apparently constitute major obstacles that could easily overwhelm one whose mind is not “stayed” on God (see on Isa. 26:3, 4).

Or, “various.” Manifold are the “temptations” to which mankind—especially the Christian—is subject.

 Gr. peirasmoi, “tests,” “trials,” “afflictions,” “troubles,” “enticements [to sin]” (see on Matt. 6:13; cf. on Matt. 4:1). The word peirasmoi includes far more than the word “temptations” conveys to the modern English reader. It includes such afflictions as sickness, persecution, poverty, and calamity. Trials, whether expressly designed by Satan to tempt a man to sin, or only to annoy and harass him, are always a test of Christian experience.

 Too often even the most earnest Christians fail to understand and ministry of suffering and temptation in the formation of character, and as a result not only fail to profit from these experiences as they might but make their own way harder and lose the fellowship with God that might otherwise be theirs. There is no experience in life, however bitter or disappointing, that may not, in the providence of God and by the grace of Christ, contribute to Christian growth, bring us closer to God, and enrich our understanding of His love for us. Paul is the classic NT example of how a Christian can turn every defeat into victory (see on 2 Cor. 2:14; 4:8-11; 12:7-10). For a more complete analysis of the Christian attitude toward trials and suffering in general see on Ps. 38:3.

 That is, pure, unmixed joy. To the mature Christian the trials and tests of life need bring no burden of disappointment or discouragement. All this the Christian endures in faith and hope, “as seeing him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:27). Christian joy and courage are based, not on external circumstances—which may often be most forbidding—but on faith in God’s overruling providence and an intelligent understanding of His dealings with men. Human philosophies of life, religious or secular, may prepare men to meet trouble philosophically, with a calm and patient spirit, but Christianity teaches men how to be joyful under such circumstances through an intelligent understanding of the causes of suffering and through faith in God.