James 1:2

“My brethren, etc.] Not only according to the flesh, he being a Jew as they were; but in a spiritual sense, they being born again of the same grace, belonging to the same family and household of faith, and having the same Father, and being all the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus: count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; not the temptations of Satan, or temptations to sin; for these cannot be matter of joy, but grief; these are fiery darts, and give a great deal of uneasiness and trouble; but afflictions and persecutions for the sake of the Gospel, which are so called here and elsewhere, because they are trials of the faith of God's people, and of other graces of the…”

“My brethren--a phrase often found in James, marking community of nation and of faith. all joy--cause for the highest joy [GROTIUS]. Nothing but joy [PISCATOR]. Count all "divers temptations" to be each matter of joy [BENGEL]. fall into--unexpectedly, so as to be encompassed by them (so the original Greek). temptations--not in the limited sense of allurements to sin, but trials or distresses of any kind which test and purify the Christian character. Compare "tempt," that is, try, Gen 22:1. Some of those to whom James writes were "sick," or otherwise "afflicted" (Jam 5:13). Every possible trial to the child of God is a masterpiece of strategy of the Captain of his salvation for his good.”

“My brethren - Not brethren as Jews, but as Christians. Compare James 2:1. Count it all joy - Regard it as a thing to rejoice in; a matter which should afford you happiness. You are not to consider it as a punishment, a curse, or a calamity, but as a fit subject of felicitation. Compare the notes at Matthew 5:12. When ye fall into divers temptations - Oh the meaning of the word “temptations,” see the notes at Matthew 4:1. It is now commonly used in the sense of placing allurements before others to induce them to sin, and in this sense the word seems to be used in James 1:13-14 of this chapter. Here, however, the word is used in the sense of trials, to wit, by persecution, poverty, calamity of…”

“My brethren, count it all joy - Which is the highest degree of patience, and contains all the rest. When ye fall into divers temptations - That is, trials. James 1:4”

“1:2-4 Enduring troubles and temptations is a recurring theme (1:12-15; 5:7-12). Failure to endure is “wandering from the truth” that requires being “saved from death” (5:19-20). 1:2 Dear brothers and sisters: See study note on 2:1. • James uses a wordplay: joy (Greek chara) here is related to greetings in 1:1.”

“count: Jam 1:12; Mat 5:10-12; Luk 6:22, Luk 6:23; Act 5:41; Rom 8:17, Rom 8:18, Rom 8:35-37; Co2 12:9; Co2 12:10; Phi 1:29, Phi 2:17; Col 1:24; Heb 10:34; Pe1 4:13-16 divers: Heb 11:36-38; Pe1 1:6-8; Pe2 2:9; Rev 2:10 James 1:3”