James 1:3 (KJV)

Passage

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Nearby Context

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "knowing", "trying", "worketh", and "patience". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "faith" and "knowing", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "My brethren count it all joy when..." into verse 4's "But let patience have her perfect work...", so "faith" and "knowing" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "faith" and "knowing" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.