Patience in Suffering and the Lord’s Coming
James 5:7-12
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Jas.5.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Μακροθυμησατε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- ουν: CONJ
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- εως: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- παρουσιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ιδου: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- γεωργος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκδεχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- τιμιον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- καρπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- μακροθυμων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- επ᾽αυτω: PREP+PRON,dat,sg,m
- εως: CONJ
- λαβη: VERB,aor,act,sub,3,sg
- προιμον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- οψιμον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Jas.5.8 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same epistle: repeats the call to patience and links it directly to the nearness of the Lord’s coming (same exhortation continued).
- Gal.6.9 (verbal): Uses the same harvest imagery and timing motif—‘at the proper time we will reap’—and urges perseverance until the appointed harvest.
- 2 Pet.3.12 (thematic): Both passages focus on waiting for and anticipating the coming day of the Lord/God and the attitude believers should hold while awaiting it.
- Matt.24:42-44 (thematic): Exhorts watchful readiness for the coming of the Son of Man; parallels James’ call to patient endurance until the Lord’s arrival.
- Heb.10:36 (thematic): Links patient endurance/perseverance with finally receiving God’s promised reward—similar theological point to waiting until the Lord’s coming to obtain the yield.
Alternative generated candidates
- Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it until it receives the early and the late rain.
- Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. Consider the farmer: he waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient over it until it receives the early and late rains.
Jas.5.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μακροθυμησατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- στηριξατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- καρδιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- οτι: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- παρουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ηγγικεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Luke 21:28 (thematic): Both exhort believers to steadiness because the coming/drawing near of the Lord/redemption is imminent (lift up your heads / strengthen your hearts).
- Matthew 24:42-44 (thematic): Calls for watchfulness and readiness in view of the Lord’s coming—parallels James’ urgency and pastoral command to be patient and steadfast.
- Romans 13:11 (structural): Uses the nearness of salvation as a motive for sober, urgent conduct—similar logic to James’ appeal to the Lord’s imminent coming.
- 1 Peter 4:7 (verbal): Declares the end/coming is near and urges sobriety and vigilance, echoing James’ summons to patience and strengthened hearts because the Lord is near.
- Revelation 22:20 (allusion): The recurring early Christian refrain 'Come, Lord Jesus' and Jesus’ imminent return resonates with James’ concluding note that the Lord’s presence is near.
Alternative generated candidates
- You also be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
- You also must be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Jas.5.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- στεναζετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- κατ᾽αλληλων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,m
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- κριθητε·ιδου: VERB,aor,pas,subj,2,pl+INTJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κριτης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- προ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- θυρων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- εστηκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 7:1 (verbal): Directly parallels the prohibition against judging others ('Judge not, that you be not judged'), echoing the same ethical injunction as James 5:9.
- Luke 6:37 (verbal): Repeats the command not to judge or condemn and promises mercy, closely matching James' warning against mutual grumbling and judgment.
- Romans 14:4 (thematic): Asserts that judgment belongs to the Lord ('Who are you to pass judgment?'), paralleling James' point that final judgment is God's prerogative.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 (structural): Urges withholding final judgment until the Lord's appearing, echoing James' admonition in light of the impending Judge.
- Revelation 3:20 (allusion): Uses similar imagery of one standing at the door; James portrays the Judge as standing at the door, which resonates with Revelation's motif of Christ at the door.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do not grumble against one another, brothers, lest you be judged. Look—the Judge stands at the door.
- Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged; see—the Judge stands at the door.
Jas.5.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- υποδειγμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- λαβετε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- κακοπαθιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- μακροθυμιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- προφητας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ελαλησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 Peter 2:21 (verbal): Uses the same idea/term of an 'example' (υπόδειγμα) to follow—here Christ as the model of suffering and patience, paralleling James' appeal to exemplars of endurance.
- Acts 7:52 (verbal): Stephen's charge that the fathers 'persecuted the prophets' echoes James' reference to the prophets' suffering, highlighting prophets as persecuted witnesses who spoke for the Lord.
- Matthew 23:29-36 (esp. 34) (thematic): Jesus describes sending prophets whom people will persecute and kill—paralleling James' portrayal of the prophets as sufferers and models of patient endurance.
- Hebrews 11:36-38 (thematic): Lists the hardships endured by righteous witnesses (mocking, flogging, imprisonments), thematically aligning with James' call to emulate the prophets' suffering and steadfastness.
Alternative generated candidates
- Take as an example of suffering and patience the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
- Take as an example of suffering and patience the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Jas.5.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ιδου: PART
- μακαριζομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- υπομειναντας·την: VERB,aor,act,part,acc,pl,m
- υπομονην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Ιωβ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ηκουσατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τελος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ειδετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- πολυσπλαγχνος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- οικτιρμων: ADJ,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Jas.1.12 (thematic): Both verses pronounce blessing on those who endure trials—James 1:12 and 5:11 frame perseverance as the mark of the blessed.
- Job 42:10-17 (allusion): Job’s prolonged suffering followed by restoration exemplifies the ‘end’ of Job’s endurance that James cites; James directly references Job’s patient endurance and its outcome.
- Exodus 34:6 (quotation): God’s self‑description to Moses (‘merciful and gracious, slow to anger…’) parallels James’ claim that the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
- Psalm 103:8 (verbal): The psalm attributes mercy and compassion to the LORD—language James echoes when affirming God’s compassionate, merciful character.
- Jonah 4:2 (verbal): Jonah uses the same terminology to describe God as gracious, compassionate and slow to anger; James’ wording resonates with Jonah’s confession of divine mercy.
Alternative generated candidates
- Indeed, we consider those blessed who endured. You have heard of Job's endurance and seen the outcome the Lord gave—how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
- Indeed, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome intended by the Lord—that the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
Jas.5.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Προ: PREP
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- μη: PART
- ομνυετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- μητε: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουρανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μητε: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μητε: CONJ
- αλλον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- τινα: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ορκον·ητω: NOUN,acc,sg,m + VERB,pres,act,imp,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- Ναι: PART
- ναι: PART
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- Ου: PART,neg
- ου: PART,neg
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- υπο: PREP
- κρισιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- πεσητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
Parallels
- Matt.5:34-37 (quotation): Direct parallel to Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount forbidding oaths and commanding that one's 'Yes' be 'Yes' and 'No' be 'No,' with the same warning about falling under judgment/condemnation.
- Matt.23:16-22 (allusion): Jesus criticizes religious leaders who swear by heaven, earth, temple, or altar and explains the relationship of these oaths to God — this echoes James' prohibition of swearing by heaven or earth.
- Deut.23:21-23 (thematic): Old Testament instruction to fulfill vows and not delay payment of vows (let your 'yes' be 'yes') provides the legal/ethical background for James' call to simple, responsible speech rather than oaths.
- 2 Cor.1:17-20 (verbal): Paul's discussion about not using 'yes and no' (and the trustworthiness of God's promises as the true 'Yes') resonates with James' insistence that a Christian's plain affirmation should be sufficient.
Alternative generated candidates
- Above all, brothers, do not swear—neither by heaven nor by earth nor by any other oath. Let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under judgment.
- Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven, nor by earth, nor by any other oath. Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No,’ so that you may not fall under judgment.
Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until he receives the early and late rains.
You also be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
Take, brothers, as an example of suffering and endurance the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings—that the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
Above all, my brothers, do not swear—neither by heaven nor by earth nor by any other oath; but let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no, so that you may not fall under judgment.