What Does James 1:4 Mean in the King James?
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The word “perfect” carries the sense of a process brought to its intended completion.
THE MEANING
Endurance is working in you now, carrying what remains unfinished toward maturity and wholeness. This work has a direction: a life no longer defined by lack.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that hardship means nothing is happening: this verse calls endurance a work with a path toward completion.
THE ROOT
τέλειον
teleion
GROWS FROM
τέλος
telos
End, goal, or intended completion.
“perfect” in this verse is teleion. The Greek adjective τέλειος (teleios) describes what has reached its intended end or maturity. James repeats this word family for both endurance’s work and the person being formed, joining the unfolding process to its outcome: wholeness.
ALSO GROWS
teleioō: Bring to completion; fulfill.
τελειόω
It shows that “perfect work” carries the sense of work brought through to its end.
teleiotēs: Maturity; completeness.
τελειότης
It makes clear that the result is a state of wholeness and maturity.
THE PATTERN
Endurance under testing becomes a work that carries life toward completion.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.THE THREAD
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:Philippians says God will ἐπιτελέω (epiteleō, bring to completion) the begun work, from the same τέλος (telos, end or goal) word family behind τέλειος (teleios, complete) in James. James names endurance as the work unfolding; Philippians shows that work being carried through to completion.
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