James 1:12-18, Trials and Temptations (1)

Here is a word study that was quite significant for me personally.  It has to do with the NT words for “trial, temptation, test.” 

peira (fem. noun): a trial, attempt

·       Hb 11:29: Egyptians attempted to cross Red sea, drowned

·       Hb 11:36: other saints "experienced" mockings, scourging, etc.

With these two uses you can begin to see the significance of the family of terms.  The “attempt” (trying to do something) and the “trials” (hard experiences) have something in common with “temptations” (Satan’s inducements) and “tests” (an experience that proves us in some way).  All these are situations that have a possibility of success or failure.  Like jumping in the water, you can sink and be in trouble or you can swim and make progress.

peirazō (verb): to try, test

·       Mt 4:1: Jesus led to wilderness to be t-ed by devil (Mk 1:13; Lk 4:2)

·       Mt 4:3: the tempter came to Jesus

·       Mt 16:1: Pharisees, etc test Jesus asking for sign (Mt 22:18,35; 19:3; Mk 8:11; 10:2; 12:15; Lk 11:2,16; Jn 8:6)

·       Jn 6:6: Jesus tests Philip, asking for food for multitude

·       Ac 5:9: Ananias & Sapphira tested HS

·       Ac 9:26: Saul tried to associate w/Christians

·       Ac 15:10: Judaizers tested God by putting yoke of law on Gentile Xians

·       Ac 16:7: Paul tried to go East but HS prevented him

·       Ac 24:6: Paul accused of trying to desecrate temple

·       1Co 7:5: don't keep from your mate, except....lest Satan tempt you

·       1Co 10:9: don't try (ekpeirazō) Lord as some tried & were killed by serpents

·       2Co 13:5: we must try ourselves to see if we are in the faith

·       Gal 6:1: restore fallen brother, being careful lest we be tempted

·       1Th 3:5ab: Paul feared temptor had tempted them & they had fallen

·       Hb 2:18ab: since Christ tempted like us, He can aid those who are tempted

·       Hb 3:9: Fathers tried God in wilderness

·       Hb 4:15: Christ tempted as we are, yet w/o sin

·       Hb 11:17: Abe, when tested, offered up Isaac

·       Hb 11:37: OT saints tempted

·       Jas 1:13abcd,14: when tempted don't say "God tempted me;" God can't tempt to sin or be tempted to sin. We are tempted when carried away by own lust.

·       Rev 2:2: Ephesians tested those who claimed to be Apostles

·       Rv 2:10: Smyrna to be cast in prison by devel to be tested

·       Rv 3:10: Philadelphia kept from hour of testing (peirasmos) to try the world