James 1:3 kjv
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:3 nkjv
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
James 1:3 niv
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James 1:3 esv
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
James 1:3 nlt
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
James 1 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 8:2 | "And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart..." | God tests to reveal heart and refine. |
| Psa 66:10 | "For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried." | Trials purify believers like metals. |
| Psa 119:71 | "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." | Affliction leads to deeper learning. |
| Isa 48:10 | "Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction." | God's refining process involves trials. |
| Rom 5:3-4 | "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope..." | Suffering is a path to character & hope. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." | All things, including trials, work for good. |
| Rom 12:12 | "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." | Perseverance in tribulation is a virtue. |
| 1 Cor 10:13 | "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape..." | God limits trials and provides way out. |
| 2 Cor 1:4 | "who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." | Suffering allows ministry to others. |
| 2 Cor 4:17 | "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison," | Trials produce eternal glory. |
| Eph 6:13 | "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." | Stand firm against evil, requiring endurance. |
| Phil 1:6 | "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." | God perfects His work in believers. |
| Col 1:11 | "May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;" | Divine power enables endurance with joy. |
| 1 Thes 1:3 | "remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." | Faith is linked to steadfastness and hope. |
| 2 Thes 1:4 | "Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring." | Perseverance in persecution is praised. |
| Heb 5:8 | "Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered." | Even Christ learned through suffering. |
| Heb 10:36 | "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." | Endurance needed to inherit promises. |
| Heb 12:1-3 | "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." | Christians called to run race with endurance. |
| 1 Pet 1:6-7 | "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." | Trials prove genuineness of faith. |
| 2 Pet 1:5-6 | "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness..." | Steadfastness is a developed virtue. |
| Rev 2:2 | "I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false." | Christ commends patient endurance. |
| Rev 3:10 | "Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." | Patient endurance leads to preservation. |
James 1 verses
James 1 3 Meaning
James 1:3 declares a profound spiritual principle: understanding that the proving or refining of one's belief and trust in God inevitably brings forth a resolute steadfastness or perseverance. This verse reveals the divine purpose behind difficulties encountered by believers, highlighting that trials are not random but serve to develop inner fortitude essential for Christian maturity.
James 1 3 Context
James Chapter 1 introduces the theme of trials and their transformative power in the believer's life. Following an exhortation to consider it "all joy" when encountering various trials (James 1:2), verse 3 provides the theological rationale for this perspective. It bridges the initial shock or pain of trials with the ultimate positive outcome, establishing the "why" behind the joyful response. Historically, James wrote to dispersed Jewish Christians who faced various forms of suffering, including persecution, poverty, and social discrimination, making the message of endurance highly relevant and practical for their immediate circumstances. This verse lays the groundwork for subsequent discussions on wisdom (v. 5), the nature of God's testing vs. tempting (v. 13), and the active living out of faith.
James 1 3 Word analysis
- Knowing (Greek: eidotes, a perfect participle from oida)
- This is not mere intellectual acquaintance but a deep, settled, experiential knowledge or firm conviction. It implies a recognition of a spiritual truth that guides one's perspective and action. It’s "having seen," leading to inner understanding.
- that the testing (Greek: dokimion)
- Refers to the process by which something is proved or tested to reveal its genuineness and quality. It is a proof or assay, like a test for gold to determine its purity. It implies a beneficial process, intended to bring out what is real, not to trap or condemn. It is distinct from peirasmos (used in v. 2 and v. 13) when the nuance of temptation to sin is more prominent, though both relate to trials. Here, it is the act of proving.
- of your faith (Greek: pisteōs humōn)
- Refers to the steadfast trust, belief, and reliance on God. This is the inner conviction and active commitment of the believer that is subjected to the proving process. It is the core of their spiritual identity that is being assayed.
- produces (Greek: katergazetai)
- Means "to work out," "to accomplish," "to bring about," "to effect." It implies a causative, productive, and often strenuous activity that yields a definite result. It's a powerful verb indicating that the testing is not passive but actively generates something.
- endurance (Greek: hupomonēn)
- Translates as "patience," "perseverance," or "steadfastness." It's not passive resignation but active, persistent waiting or steadfastness in the face of difficulties. It’s the ability to bear up under prolonged trials with courage and consistency, maintaining one's course and faith, even with future hope in view.
Words-group analysis:
- "the testing of your faith": This phrase precisely defines what is being proven – not random suffering, but the genuineness and strength of one's personal belief and trust in God. It underscores that faith itself is being refined and strengthened through the process.
- "produces endurance": This highlights the guaranteed, transformative outcome. The act of proving one's faith does not merely result in endurance, but actively works it out as a product. It's an internal growth process, not a temporary state.
James 1 3 Bonus section
The wisdom spoken of later in James 1 (v. 5) is closely tied to the "knowing" of verse 3. To "know" that the testing of faith produces endurance is a form of spiritual wisdom itself. It enables a believer to "count it all joy" (v. 2) precisely because they understand God's greater redemptive design in their trials. This principle aligns with the ancient Israelite understanding that God often leads His people through challenging circumstances to humble them and to reveal their hearts, thereby drawing them into deeper dependence on Him and shaping their character. The dokimion of faith serves to distinguish genuine believers from those with only superficial faith, proving what is real.
James 1 3 Commentary
James 1:3 reveals the teleological nature of trials for the Christian: they have a divinely appointed purpose. When believers face difficulties, their initial inclination might be to seek immediate relief or question God's presence. However, this verse invites a different perspective, rooted in the knowing that suffering serves as a crucible for faith. It's a proving ground, similar to how gold is refined by fire, showing its true worth and purity. This process is not meant to break the believer but to build them up, revealing the authenticity and resilience of their commitment to Christ. The natural byproduct of faith subjected to testing is hupomonēn—a profound, active perseverance. This is not a passive waiting for trials to end but a spiritual fortitude that allows one to steadfastly endure and continue believing, even when circumstances are grim. This divinely orchestrated sequence of testing leading to endurance is foundational to spiritual maturity, enabling a believer to stand firm and joyful amid adversity, assured of God's sovereign and good purpose.
- Example 1: A person faces chronic illness and, instead of despairing, continues to trust God's provision daily, which builds their capacity to rely on Him more deeply for spiritual and physical strength.
- Example 2: A believer experiences job loss and, through prayer and persistent seeking, learns greater patience and trust in God's timing, rather than succumbing to anxiety.
- Example 3: A Christian endures long-term persecution for their belief and through it develops an unwavering resolve to witness for Christ, showcasing their faith's deep roots.