October 2024

Testing, Trying, Tempting

WHAT IS GOD'S ROLE IN THESE THINGS?

It is very clear from James 1:13 that "God tempteth no man." And yet, this

word ("tempt") is the same Greek word translated as "test" or "try" found

in other passages -- which state that God DOES tempt, test, or try his

creatures. This is an important subject, and resolution of the seeming

contradiction is important to us for our understanding of God and His

character.

THE WORD

The Greek word (peirazo) is Strong's #3985. Later in this article

will be listed all 39 New Testament uses of it. This list is from The

Englishman's Greek Concordance of the New Testament. This

concordance is based on the KJV. The Greek word will appear in some of

these verses where test, try, or tempt is absent in some translations. This is

due to the fact that in these verses the word is translated with variants.

A look at all of the uses will convince us BEYOND DOUBT that the James

1:13 statement is a QUALIFIED statement. It is not, as written, a blanket

rule that God does not tempt, try, or test. To summarize its true meaning:

​

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted with

evil by God." God, Himself, is never tempted with evil, and He,

Himself, never uses evil to test anyone.

​

That is the NECESSARY meaning of James 1:13 when we give an exhaustive

study to the word in the New Testament (or even the Old Testament). In

other words, God DOES test (try or "tempt") people, but never with evil --

ONLY by good means and with good ends in His mind.

One modern update-edition of Strong's is entitled, The New Strong's

Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Its dictionariesgo far beyond the information supplied in the original edition. Under

#3985, there are 7 usage-definitions of this word. We will quote the list

because it greatly aids us in our considerations.

​

(1) Testing will cause its recipients to appear as what they always

have been. This is predominantly, though not exclusively, the

sense of peirazo.

​

(2) Nothing in the word requires it to refer to a trial given with the

intention of entangling the person in sins.

​

(3) Peirazo properly means to make an experience of, to pierce or

search into [i.e., look deeply into], or to attempt (Acts 16:7; 24:6).

​

(4) It also signifies testing whose intention was to discover whether

a person or thing was good or evil or strong or weak (Mt. 16:1;

19:3; 22:18), or if the outcome is already known to the tester, to

reveal the same to the one being tested (II Cor. 13:5).

​

(5) Sinners are said to tempt God when they put Him to the test

by refusing to believe His word until He manifests His power.

​

(6) God tempts people only in the sense of self-knowledge,

and so that they may and often do emerge from testing holier,

humbler, and stronger than they were before.

​

(7) Peirazo applied also to the solicitations and suggestions of

Satan, the tempter (Mt. 4:3; I Th. 3:5), putting one to a test with

the intentions and desire that the proved may not turn out

approved, but reprobate, and break down under the test. Satan

never proves in order to approve, nor tests that he may accept.

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THE COMPLETE NEW-TESTAMENT USAGE

(As Listed in Englishman's, Page 610)

(Shown with KJV Translations)

​

Matt. 4:1 to be tempted

4:3 tempter

16:1 tempting

19:3 tempting

22:18 tempt

22:35 tempting

Mar. 1:13 tempted

8:11 tempting

10:2 tempting

12:15 tempt

Lu. 4:2 being tempted

11:16 tempting

20:23 tempt

Joh. 6:6 prove

8:6 tempting

Acts 5:9 tempt

15:10 tempt

16:7 assayed

24:6 hath gone about

I Cor. 7:5 tempt

10:9 tempted

10:13 to be tempted

II Cor. 13:5 examine

Gal. 6:1 be tempted

I Th. 3:5 (x2) tempter

have tempted

Heb. 2:18 (x2) being tempted

that are tempted

3:9 tempted

4:15 tempted

Heb. 11:17 was tried

11:37 tempted

Jas. 1:13 (x3) is tempted

am tempted

tempteth

1:14 is tempted

Rev. 2:2 hast tried

2:10 may be tried

3:10 to try

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SUMMARY

Various translators translate the word with other possibilities (such as

"test"). But in any case, the meaning of the word, depending upon context,

is endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline, examine, ascertain, discern,

know, prove, etc.

​

God NEVER tests by putting evil in front of someone. Thus "tempteth"

in James 1 has the more modern meaning of TRICK TO DECEIVE. It is

simply out of God's character to do such a thing. It is, however, the very

nature of Satan's character to do such a thing.

​

But God DOES, indeed, "test" with the OBJECTIVE of bringing out good

results. It is unfortunate that "tempt" is ever used with reference to God's

dealings with anyone. It gives us the wrong impression.

​

In the Old Testament (as shown by the Septuagint Greek), we see that God

"tempted" Abraham (same Greek as tried or tested). Clearly He did NOT

place evil before Abraham! He placed OPPORTUNITY before Abraham for

Abraham's good eternally. Abraham "passed the test" -- he took advantage

of the opportunity.

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