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knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
James 1:3 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
  • KJV Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
  • BSB because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
  • 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 5:3–4Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance;
  • Heb 10:36For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
  • Col 1:11strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy;
  • Rom 8:28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
  • 2 Cor 4:17For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
  • 1 Pet 1:7that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ —
  • 2 Pet 1:6and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness;
  • Rom 15:4For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through perseverance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
  • Heb 12:1Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
  • Rom 8:25But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.
  • 2 Th 3:5May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love, and into the perseverance of Christ.
  • Rom 2:7to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;
  • 2 Th 1:4so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your perseverance and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — James videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on James 1:3YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JamesMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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.

How James 1:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.