‘Supremely Blessed’: The Reward for Persevering Through Trials

James 1:12

KJV

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

RIV

Supremely blessed, happy, and to be envied[85] is the man who made the choice to dig in his heels, stick it out, and turn down every opportunity to quit[86] even though situations arose to stop him and to bring destruction[87] in his life. Such a person is blessed because,[88] by his choosing to push back and stay in faith, he has proven that his faith is the real deal. The test may have been intended to crush him, but by standing firm, in the end, he will have been vindicated and his faith validated.[89] As a result, he’ll receive[90] a glorious victor’s crown — a crown that brings a physical and spiritual reward, both in life now and for all eternity.[91] This is the reward that is promised[92] to those who make it their goal to continually cherish and love[93] Him.

Footnotes

• [85] The words “supremely blessed, happy, and to be envied” are interpreted from a form of μακάριος (makarios), which literally means supremely, ridiculously, or hilariously blessed. It is derived from a Greek word that speaks of enlargement, thus describing this person as one who ends up larger, more blessed and well-off, at the end of his story than he was in the beginning. Such a person is supremely and ridiculously blessed because he has successfully overcome the trials and tests of life and has learned the key to receiving whatever he needs for the rest of his life.

• [86] The words “dig in his heels, stick it out, and turn down every opportunity to quit” are from a form of ὑπομένω (hupomeno), which means to stay, abide, remain in one’s spot, keep a position, or resolve to never surrender and to steadfastly maintain territory gained.

• [87] The words “situations arose to stop him and to bring destruction” are interpreted from a form of πειρασμός (peirasmos), which means to test, to try, to tempt. See footnote 16 for more on this word.

• [88] The word “because” is a translation of ὅτι (hoti), which I will refer to as a “pointer” word, for it points the reader to the next important statement.

• [89] The words “test may have been intended to crush him, but by standing firm, in the end, he will have been vindicated and his faith validated” are interpreted from a form of δοκιμάζω (dokimadzo), which pictures a test to prove the trustworthiness or claim of a product. See footnote 19 for more on this word.

• [90] The word “receive” is interpreted from a form of λαμβάνω (lambano), which simply means to receive or to graciously receive what has been graciously given. See footnote 55 for more on this word.

• [91] The words “a glorious victor’s crown — a crown that brings a physical and spiritual reward, both in life now and for all eternity” are translated from στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς (stephanon tes zoes). James used a form of the word στέφανος (stephanos), which portrays a victor’s crown. In ancient athletic games, a crown made of laurel leaves was placed on the head of winning athletes, and those who obtained this crown were esteemed and honored — and the laurel wreath was also a guarantee of provision for the rest of his life. But James added the words τῆς ζωῆς (tes zoes), which means of life; however, the word ζωῆς (zoes) is a form of ζωή (zoe), a word that includes life in the present and for all of eternity — hence, physical and spiritual life. The entire phrase στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς (stephanon tes zoes), a crown that brings a physical and spiritual reward, both in life now and for all eternity, shows that when a person has learned to allow this kind of endurance work to take place in his life, it puts him in a position to win in every regard. As noted previously, the Early Church viewed endurance as the “queen of all virtues.” They believed that this quality was the key to winning in every realm, for if one had this virtue, it was not ever a question of if he would win, but simply of when he would win — for, eventually, resistance would fail, he would outlast every assault, and he would end up the victor.

• [92] The word “promised” is interpreted from a form of ἐπαγγέλλομαι (epangellomai), which depicts a reward that is deserved, fitting, pledged, and promised.

• [93] The words “continually cherish and love” are interpreted from a form of ἀγάπη (agape), which depicts the highest form of love and describes the admiration one has for an object of beauty. The viewer is so taken by the object as he gazes upon it that it causes deep admiration and appreciation to come from his heart because he is so moved by what his eyes behold. In fact, the observer is so deeply moved by what he sees that he experiences an inability to express what he feels because he is so taken with the beauty of an object or person. Hence, it describes a deep, inexpressible, profound love.