Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Parallel translations
- WEB knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
- BSB because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
- NKJV knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
- NASB knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
- NLT For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The reason for joy in trials is that tested faith produces endurance. Difficulty refines and strengthens genuine faith.
Overview
James explains the basis for joy: testing exposes and strengthens authentic faith, yielding steadfast endurance. Like metal refined by fire, faith proven under pressure grows more resilient. Paul makes a similar point in Romans 5:3-4, showing this was common apostolic teaching about the formative purpose of suffering in the Christian life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Rom 5:3–4And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
- Heb 10:36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
- Col 1:11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
- Rom 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- 2 Cor 4:17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
- 1 Pet 1:7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
- 2 Pet 1:6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
- Rom 15:4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
- Heb 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
- Rom 8:25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
- 2 Th 3:5And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
- Rom 2:7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
- 2 Th 1:4So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
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Christ at the center
The wisdom from above and the royal law of love are the life of those who belong to 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' — faith in him made visible in works.
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Original language
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