As far as this author is concerned, faith is not a theoretical matter with a list of dogmas to recite or even beautiful doctrine to defend. He sees it as a practical matter that expresses itself in daily life, and especially in how we respond to trials. We can well imagine that the Christians to whom he was writing were constantly exposed to various temptations, perhaps more so than those who remained in Palestine. They were far from the official church leaders in Jerusalem. Thus the author starts