Trials and Temptations: Their Source and Nature

The temptation of Jesus constitutes the most striking of all the series of circumstances in which the word diabolos is introduced. This temptation, to be examined with success, must be preceded by an investigation of the subject of temptation itself: which, being understood, must throw light upon the temptation of Christ, “because he was in all points tempted like as we are,” Hebrews 4:15.

The matter, therefore, for the present inquiry will be, “What is temptation?”

Fortunately, the apostle James has given us the source of temptation:- “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed: then, when Just hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death,” James 1:15. To understand what James intends to convey, the word translated “tempt” must be examined. It is peirazo. This word is itself a derived word, being derived from peiro, “to pass through or along.” From this word is derived the noun peira, which means “a passage through.” As an illustration of this meaning of peira, the following is appropriate: “By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned,” Hebrews 11:29. The term rendered “assaying” is peira, and the passage correctly translated would be this, “through which the Egyptians, making the passage, were drowned.” The same word occurs in the following passage, “And others had trial of mockings and scourgings”: or, as it ought to be, “others bore peiran, the passing through of mockings and scourgings,” Hebrews 11:36. As, in passing through a passage, there is often danger, peira means “a trial.” From this word peira comes peirao, and from peirao comes peirazo, and the word most frequently rendered “to tempt.”

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Author: John Epps

Keywords: temptation, Source of evil, tempted, tempt, lusts of the flesh, trials, test, tested

Bible reference(s): Matthew 5:28, Matthew 6:23, Matthew 12:35, Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21-23, Mark 7:23, Luke 22:15, 1 Cor. 10:6, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Galatians 4:14, Col. 3:5, Hebrews 4:15, James 1:13-15, Luke 8:13, Luke 11:4, Gal 5:16-17, 1 Pet 2:11, 1 John 2:16, Revelation 2:2, Revelation 3:10

Source: A Biblical Exposition of the Truth Concerning “That Old Serpent, the Devil and Satan” (London: Sherwood & Co., 1842)

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