1:2, 3. In this epistle on Christian living, James opens with a most crucial topic: the trials of life. These verses describe the various testings—whether from the world and Satan, or from God—into which godly Christians fall (Gr. peripiptō). These “negative” experiences are to be accepted with great joy, not for the sake of the trial itself but because of the positive work God can accomplish through the testing. The words in verses 2 and 3 (temptations and trying) are often regarded as virtually