temt, tem-tā ́shun (נסה, nāṣāh, “to prove” “try,” “tempt” מסּה, maṣṣāh, “a trial,” “temptation”; πειράζω, peirázō, “to try” “prove” πειρασμός, peirasmós “a trial,” “proof”): The words have a sinister connotation in present-day usage which has not always attached to them. Originally the words were of neutral content, with the sense of “putting to the proof,” the testing of character or quality. Thus, God is “tempted” by Israel’s distrust of Him, as if the people were actually challenging Him to show His perfections (Exodus 17:2; Psalms 78:18; Acts 15:10; Hebrews 3:9, and often); Abraham is “tempted,” being called upon to offer up Isaac (Genesis 22:1); and Jesus is “tempted” to a spectacular Messiahship (Matthew 4 and parallel passages (see TEMPTATION OF CHRIST)). No evil is implied in the subject of these temptations. Temptation therefore in the Scripture sense has possibilities of holiness as well as of sin. For as all experience witnesses, it is one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall. To be tempted—one may rejoice in that (James 1:2), since in temptation, by conquering it, one may achieve a higher and nobler manhood.
And so be pedestaled in triumph?”
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Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia
Keywords: Tempt, Temptation
Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.