James 1:3

γινώσκοντες. The part. has a causal force giving the reason for πᾶσαν χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε, ‘inasmuch as ye recognise’ &c. The tense implies a constantly recurring recognition.

ὅτι τὸ δοκίμιον, κ.τ.λ. Πίστις, here assured belief in Jesus Christ, is the supreme energizing principle of the Christian life. Christian life therefore consists in activity of faith, but this activity or exercise of faith is rendered possible by πειρασμοί, or trials which are the test or touchstone (τὸ δοκίμιον) of faith: the complete and perfect result (the compound κατεργάζεται gives the force of completion) of an active faith is ὑπομονή, patience, or endurance, or capacity of resistance to evil.

For τὸ δοκίμιον see 1 Peter 1:7, where the same expression occurs.

ὑπομονή is the principle of firmness in resistance to evil which fences in and gives security to the spiritual life. The word is rare in the classical period, but comp. ὑπομ. λύπης, Plato Deff. 412 c: τὴν τῆς μαχαίρας ὑπ. τῶν πληγῶν, Polyb. xv. 15. 8, where we have an important shade of meaning—there is a sense of activity in resistance as well as of capacity of resistance. It is not a mere passive quality, comp. the use of ὑπομένειν, Xen. Mem. II. 8. 6 τῶν πραγμάτων ὅσα μὲν δύνασαι ποιεῖν [χρὴ] ὑπομένειν: Ign. Polycarp 6 ἡ ὑπομονὴ ὡς πανοπλία. In N.T. the word both in its verbal and substantival forms receives an accession of meaning from its use by our Lord Himself: ὁ ὑπομείνας εἰς τέλος σωθήσεται, Matthew 24:13; or, as the saying is reported in Luke 21:19, ἐν τῇ ὑπ. ὑμῶν κτήσεσθε τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν, and in Luke’s version of the parable of the Sower καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ, Luke 8:15. The word does not occur in the other synoptics or St John’s Gospel, but is frequent in the Pauline Epistles; see especially Romans 5:3 εἰδότες ὅτι ἡ θλίψις κ.τ.λ., a passage strictly parallel to this, ἡ θλίψις corresponding with the τὸ δοκίμιον τῆς πίστεως of St James. And, as in Aristotle’s system, the repeated act produces the habit, from which in turn corresponding action springs.

So completely had ὑπομονή become identified with Christian character that it gave point to the Emperor Julian’s sneer, when the Christians complained of their treatment by pagan governors: “Bear it patiently,” he said, “as your God commands you,” Socr. H. E. III. 14.