SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:4
Y la paciencia consuma la obra, para que seis perfectos y enteros, sin faltar en alguna cosa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - James 1:4
Verse 4. Let patience have her perfect work] That is, Continue faithful, and your patience will be crowned with its full reward; for in this sense is ergon, which we translate work, to be understood. It is any effect produced by a cause, as interest from money, fruit from tillage, gain from labour, a reward for services performed; the perfect work is the full reward. See many examples in Kypke. That ye may be perfect and entire] teleioi, Fully instructed, in every part of the doctrine of God, and in his whole will concerning you. oloklhroi, having all your parts, members, and portions; that ye may have every grace which constitutes the mind that was in Christ, so that your knowledge and holiness may be complete, and bear a proper proportion to each other. These expressions in their present application are by some thought to be borrowed from the Grecian games: the man was teleiov, perfect, who in any of the athletic exercises had got the victory; he was oloklhoov, entire, having every thing complete, who had the victory in the pentathlon, in each of the five exercises. Of this use in the last term I do not recollect an example, and therefore think the expressions are borrowed from the sacrifices under the law. A victim was teleiov, perfect, that was perfectly sound, having no disease; it was oloklhrov, entire, if it had all its members, having nothing redundant, nothing deficient. Be then to the Lord what he required his sacrifices to be; let your whole heart, your body, soul, and spirit, be sanctified to the Lord of hosts, that he may fill you with all his fullness.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. But let patience have her perfect work , etc.] Or effect; or be brought unto perfection; which may denote both the sincerity and continuance of it unto the end, with constancy: patience may be said to be perfect, when it appears to be real and sincere, and not dissembled; for as there may be a feigned faith, a dissembled love, and an hypocritical hope, so likewise a mere show of patience: and certain it is, that as there is a patience which is commendable, there is one that is not, ( 1 Peter 2:20).
And this phrase may also design the constant exercise of this grace to the end; for he that endures, or is patient, and continues so unto the end, shall be saved, and enjoy that perfection of glory and happiness expressed in the next clause: that ye may be perfect and entire , wanting nothing; which cannot be understood of the saints in this present life; only as they are in Christ, and in a comparative sense; or as perfection may denote sincerity, and uprightness; or of a perfection of parts, but not of degrees; for the saints are very imperfect in themselves, and are very far from being complete in soul, body, and spirit; and want many things, and are wanting in many things, both in the exercise of grace, and in the discharge of duty; but when patience has had its perfect work, and has been tried to the uttermost, and is found right, and has held out to the end; then shall the saints be perfect in holiness and happiness, and be entire, whole, and complete; as they will be in the resurrection morn, both in soul and body, and will want no good thing, and will be free from every sorrow, nor will they be deficient in any service; and to this sense agrees ( James 1:12).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - Christianity teaches men to be joyful under troubles: such exercise are sent from God's love; and trials in the way of duty will brighte our graces now, and our crown at last. Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience, and not passion, is set to work in us: whateve is said or done, let patience have the saying and doing of it. When the work of patience is complete, it will furnish all that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare. We should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, as for wisdom to make a right use of it. And wh does not want wisdom to guide him under trials, both in regulating his own spirit, and in managing his affairs? Here is something in answer to every discouraging turn of the mind, when we go to God under a sense of our own weakness and folly. If, after all, any should say, This may be the case with some, but I fear I shall not succeed, the promise is, To any that asketh, it shall be given. A mind that has single an prevailing regard to its spiritual and eternal interest, and that keep steady in its purposes for God, will grow wise by afflictions, wil continue fervent in devotion, and rise above trials and oppositions When our faith and spirits rise and fall with second causes, there wil be unsteadiness in our words and actions. This may not always expos men to contempt in the world, but such ways cannot please God. N condition of life is such as to hinder rejoicing in God. Those of lo degree may rejoice, if they are exalted to be rich in faith and heir of the kingdom of God; and the rich may rejoice in humblin providences, that lead to a humble and lowly disposition of mind Worldly wealth is a withering thing. Then, let him that is rich rejoic in the grace of God, which makes and keeps him humble; and in the trials and exercises which teach him to seek happiness in and from God not from perishing enjoyments.
Greek Textus Receptus
η 3588 δε 1161 υπομονη 5281 εργον 2041 τελειον 5046 εχετω 2192 5720 ινα 2443 ητε 5600 5753 τελειοι 5046 και 2532 ολοκληροι 3648 εν 1722 μηδενι 3367 λειπομενοι 3007 5746
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Perfect work (ergon teleion). "This is followed by a perfect man. The man himself is characterized from his condition and work" (Bengel). Work (ergon) is the word with which katergazetai, worketh, is compounded. It is the accomplished result of patience in moral purification and ennobling. Compare work of faith, 1 Thess. i. 3. Perfect and entire (teleioi kai oloklhroi). The two words express different shades of thought. Teleioi, perfect, from telov, fulfillment or completion (perfect, from perfectus, per factus, made throughout), denotes that which has reached its maturity or fulfilled the end contemplated. 'Oloklhroi, from olov, entire, and klhrov, a lot or allotment; that which has all which properly belongs to it; its entire allotment, and is, therefore, intact in all its parts. Thus Peter (Acts iii. 16) says of the restored cripple, "faith has given him this perfect soundness (oloklhrian). Compare the familiar phrase, an accomplished man. Note, also, James' repetition of the key-words of his discourse, rejoice, joy, patience, perfect.
Wanting nothing (en mhdeni leipomenoi). Rev., more literally, lacking in nothing. Note James' characteristic corroboration of a positive statement by a negative clause: entire, lacking in nothing; God that giveth and upbraideth not; in faith, nothing doubting. The conditional negative mhdeni, nothing, is used, rather than the absolute negative oujdeni, as implying nothing which may be supposed; no possible thing.
