King James Bible
"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
James assumes believers possess a foundational understanding that trials serve a divine purpose. This phrase connects to his previous instruction to "count it all joy" when facing trials, establishing that Christian suffering requires informed perspective rather than blind acceptance. The Greek word for "trying" (dokimion) refers to the testing process that proves genuineness, like refining gold. James presents trials not as arbitrary hardships but as deliberate tests that reveal and strengthen the authenticity of one's trust in God. The testing process produces "patience" (hupomone)—better understood as steadfast endurance or perseverance under pressure. This is not passive waiting but active spiritual fortitude, suggesting that character development emerges through the friction of faith meeting adversity.