^1:6This brings you great joy,¹¹ although you may have to suffer¹² for a short time in various trials. ^1:7Such trials show the proven character of your faith,¹³ which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away¹⁴—and will bring praise¹⁵ and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.¹⁶

Read in Logos

Footnotes

11 Grk “in which you exult.”
12 The oldest and best witnesses lack the verb (א* B, along with 1505 ), but most (𝔓72 א2 A C P Ψ 048 33 1739 𝔐) have ἐστίν here (estin, “[if] it is [necessary]”). The verb looks to be an explanatory gloss. But if no verb is present, this opens up the time frame in the author’s mind even more, since the conditional particle for both the first class condition and the fourth class condition is εἰ (ei). That may well be what was on the author’s mind, as evidenced by some of his other allusions to suffering in this little letter (3:14, 17). has the verb in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity. Grk “Though now, for a little while if necessary, you may have to suffer.”
13 Or “genuineness,” the result of testing. On the other hand it may denote the process of testing: “that the proving of your faith … may bring praise.” The author is not asserting that the quality of the readers’ faith is in doubt and will be proven by future trials. He declares their faith to be a present reality in v. 5 and 9, so in context v. 8 affirms that their faith is indeed genuine.
14 Grk “which is passing away but is tested by fire,” describing gold in a lesser-to-greater comparison with faith’s proven character.
15 Grk “that the testing of your faith … may be found unto praise,” showing the result of the trials mentioned in v. 6.
16 Grk “at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (cf. v. 13).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

NLTNew Living Translation

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

in which you rejoice greatly, although now for a short time, if necessary, you are distressed by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

KJV 1900King James Version

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Public Domain