“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you — wisdom (sophia) here denotes not abstract knowledge but practical discernment for navigating trials with faith. The promise of God's generous giving (haplōs, literally 'simply' or 'ungrudgingly') contrasts with human stinginess and condemnation, establishing divine character as fundamentally generous rather than parsimonious. The condition is simple: asking without the complications of doubt or calculation. This verse pivots from the passive endurance of trials to the active seeking of wisdom, showing that perseverance requires not brute strength but divine insight.
Church Fathers on James 1:5
Remember what the Scriptures say: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given to him. James 1:5 Wisdom itself comes down from above, as the Apostle James himself tells us.
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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