knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.
Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (3) The second, because patience, a surpassing and most excellent virtue, is brought about in us by this means. (d) That by this your faith is tried, that is, those various temptations.
the trying--the testing or proving of your faith, namely, by "divers temptations." Compare Rom 5:3, tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience (in the original dokime, akin to dokimion, "trying," here; there it is experience: here the "trying" or testing, whence experience flows). patience--The original implies more; persevering endurance and continuance (compare Luk 8:15).
Troubles may befal the best Christians. Satan uses afflictions to draw men to sin or deter them from duty, but in God's hand they trial and improve our graces; the gold enters the furnace to be purified. We need armor on every side because temptations lie on all sides.
AI summary
Commenting on James 1:2-12