James 1:5

“If any of you lack wisdom, etc.] This shows that the perfection before spoken of is not to be understood as in this life, since the apostle immediately supposes lack of wisdom in them; for this is not said in a form of doubting, whether they wanted it or not, but rather as supposing, and taking it for granted that they did; and in the first, and primary sense of the words, it intends wisdom to behave aright under temptations or afflictions. Saints often want wisdom to consider God as the author of them, and not look upon them as matters of chance, or impute them merely to second causes; but to regard them as coming from the hand of God, and as his hand upon them, as Job did; who does not…”

“English Version omits "But," which the Greek has, and which is important. "But (as this perfect entireness wanting nothing is no easy attainment) if any," &c. lack--rather, as the Greek word is repeated after James's manner, from Jam 1:4, "wanting nothing," translate, "If any of you want wisdom," namely, the wisdom whereby ye may "count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations," and "let patience have her perfect work." This "wisdom" is shown in its effects in detail, Jam 3:7. The highest wisdom, which governs patience alike in poverty and riches, is described in Jam 1:9-10. ask-- (Jam 4:2). liberally--So the Greek is rendered by English Version. It is rendered with simplicity, Rom…”

“If any of you lack wisdom - Probably this refers particularly to the kind of wisdom which they would need in their trials, to enable them to bear them in a proper manner, for there is nothing in which Christians more feel the need of heavenly wisdom than in regard to the manner in which they should bear trials, and what they should do in the perplexities, and disappointments, and bereavements that come upon them; but the language employed is so general, that what is here said may be applied to the need of wisdom in all respects. The particular kind of wisdom which we need in trials is to enable us to understand their design and tendency; to perform our duty under them, or the new duties…”

“If any want - The connexion between the first and following verses, both here and in the fourth chapter, will be easily discerned by him who reads them, while he is suffering wrongfully. He will then readily perceive, why the apostle mentions all those various affections of the mind. Wisdom - To understand, whence and why temptations come, and how they are to be improved. Patience is in every pious man already. Let him exercise this, and ask for wisdom. The sum of wisdom, both in the temptation of poverty and of riches, is described in Jam 1:9-10. Who giveth to all - That ask aright. And upbraideth not - Either with their past wickedness, or present unworthiness. James 1:6”

“1:5-8 James introduces wisdom as a recurring theme (cp. 3:13-18).”

“any: Exo 31:3, Exo 31:6, Exo 36:1-4; Kg1 3:7-9, Kg1 3:11, Kg1 3:12; Job 28:12-28; Pro 3:5-7, Pro 9:4-6; Jer 1:6, Jer 1:7; Co2 2:16 let: Jam 1:17, Jam 3:17, Jam 5:16; Ch1 22:12; Ch2 1:10; Pro 2:3-6; Isa 55:6, Isa 55:7; Jer 29:12; Jer 29:13; Dan 2:18-22; Mat 7:7-11; Luk 11:9-13; Joh 4:10, Joh 14:13, Joh 15:7; Joh 16:23, Joh 16:24; Jo1 3:22, Jo1 5:14, Jo1 5:15 and upbraideth: Mat 11:20; Mar 16:14; Luk 15:20-22 James 1:6”