Trial or Temptation

Many of us have felt as though we have been tried or have been tempted at some point in our lives.

This article takes a look at the following Greek words concerning Trial 0r Temptation, and it provides verses and study material from the True Bible Study (TBS) translation and studies.

We will read about the difference between the good trial and the bad temptation - plus the role that the flesh category has in the behavior of some people who permit it to influence them.

Greek Words	TBS Translation	TBS Explanation
Verb: peirazo	to tempt or to make trial-of	to try in the bad sense of putting to the test with evil and ill-intent, enticing to do wrong, to try to cause to fall-aside from the truth of God's Word, to entice to disbelieve what God says during a specific situation. The devil is the one who tempts with/by evil. or to try in the good sense of putting to the test with a view to ascertain the truth about someone or something
Verb: ekpeirazo	to tempt-out	to intensely tempt, make trial-of or try-out, in the bad sense of putting to the test with evil and ill-intent enticing or provoking to do what is against God's intention
Noun: peirasmos	temptation	a trial, the method of being tried or tempted with evil, being put to the test in the bad sense of being enticed to do wrong; the devil is the source of evil/bad temptation to say/do what is against God’s intention
Adjective: apeiros	untried	untested, inexperienced
Adjective: apeirastos	not-a-tempter	not one who tempts pertaining-to or consisting-of the things that are contrary to what God has spoken, His Word, or contrary to what He would want people to have, His will or intention regarding their lives

Let us begin with a record in the Book of Matthew about Jesus being tempted by the devil:

Matthew 4:1 and 3 - verb: peirazo; Matthew 4:7 - verb: ekpeirazo

Matthew 4:1-4:

^4:1Then Jesus was led-up by the spirit into the desert-place to be tempted by the devil ^.2and having fasted forty days and forty nights afterwards he hungered ^.3and the (one) tempting having come-towards (him) said to him, "If you are son of God you must say (words) in order that these stones may be caused-to-become breads." ^.4But the (one) having answered said, "It was written²: 'The man will not live on only bread but on every spoken-matter journeying-out by means of (the) mouth of God'."

As we read this record we should realize that Jesus at that time was in the process of accomplishing redemption and salvation to/for mankind - and therefore he was tempted in all things on behalf of mankind.

The number 40 is significant in that from God's point of view it is the period of probation and trial in order to prove something. Also, 'fasting' literally refers to abstaining from physical eating, but figuratively refers to doing the will of God which includes praying to Him, listening to Him, and doing what He says (refer to Isaiah 58:3-8).

After Jesus had not been eating for forty days and forty nights (40 x 24-hours) he was hungry. And, the one tempting (referring to the devil, but with another name that emphasizes the fact that he actively tempts others) approached Jesus and said to him...

• "If you are son of God (if/since you are God's son)
  • you must say (speak definite words)
  • for the purpose and result that
  • these stones may be caused-to-become breads (would come to pass to be loaves of bread for you to eat so that you won't be hungry and you will live)."

The word "if" could also be translated "since" from the Greek sentence structure – the one tempting is not doubting that Jesus is truly the son of God. God had made this very clear when Jesus received holy spirit from God (refer to Matthew 3:16 and 17).

From an unaware viewpoint, it could seem that the tempter/devil was offering Jesus help by giving him advice on what to do in order to keep himself alive without having to rely on someone else nor on God to get what is needed to live. This was as the devil did to Adam (the first man) and Eve (the first woman) recorded in Genesis chapter 3.

Jesus did not respond by saying, "Of course I'm the son of God!" – because this was not in question. Nor did Jesus argue or deliberate on what the one tempting said as to how to use what God had made available to him. But Jesus answered by referring to what was previously written as part of God's Word in the Book of Deuteronomy 8:1-3, which Moses spoke and wrote.

Jesus answered saying:

• "It was written and is still written:
• 'The man (mankind) will not live (will not have life, not be alive)
  • resting or based upon only bread (bread alone),
• but on the contrary, man will live
  • resting or based upon every spoken-matter journeying-out by means of the mouth of God (all/every portion of the whole of God's Word proceeding to mankind through God's mouth – figuratively emphasizing that what is spoken must originate from God in order to give life to the man)'."

Verses 5-7:

^.5Then the devil takes him beside (himself) into the holy city and caused him to-stand on the pinnacle of the temple, ^.6and he says to him, "If you are son of God you must throw yourself below for it was written² that 'He will command His angels concerning you and they will lift you on (their) hands lest-perhaps you may stumble your foot against a stone.'" ^.7Jesus said to him, "Again it was written², 'You will not tempt-out (the) Lord your God.'"

The devil takes or receives Jesus beside himself into Jerusalem and made him stand on the pinnacle (little wing) of the main Temple, and he says to Jesus:

• "If/since you are God's son (this is the same usage as verse 3 above)
• you must cast yourself downwards from where you are standing,
• in truth it was written and is still written that
  • 'He will command (enjoin, charge)
    • His angels about you
  • and they will lift you (take you up and carry you away)
    • on their hands (a figure emphasizing their powerful protection over him and treating him with dignity and respect)
  • lest-perhaps you would stumble (beat) your foot against a stone.'"

Here we see that the devil referenced what is written as part of God's Word! The fact that he spoke part of the Book of Psalms did not make what he was doing and implying - right (correct, accurate)!

Was Jesus tricked or deceived by the misquoted and misused verses from Psalms? No.

Jesus brought to light by speaking to him:

• "Again it was written and is still written (it has not changed),
• 'You will not tempt-out (you will not intensely tempt, make trial-of or try-out, in the bad sense of putting to the test with evil and ill-intent enticing, provoking and endeavoring to force)
• the Lord your God (the Lord your God to do something during that specific situation, but which would be contrary to His intention regarding which these words were originally spoken).'"

Jesus references what is written in Deuteronomy 6:16, which refers to what the children of Israel did as recorded in Exodus chapter 17, where the rock was a type of the coming Christ. They were tempting God as to whether He was present with them or not, and if He was present then whether He would take care of them by doing what He said that He would do for them or not.

Verses 8-11:

^.8Again the devil takes him beside (himself) into a very high mountain and points-out to him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, ^.9and said to him, "All these-things I will give to you if-ever having fallen you may worship me."

^.10Then Jesus says to him, "You must go, satan, for it was written², 'You will worship (the) Lord your God and you will render-service only to Him. '" ^.11Then the devil leaves him; and look!, angels came-towards (Jesus) and used-to minister to him.

Again the devil takes Jesus beside himself into a very elevated hill and indicated to him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. The devil said to Jesus:

• "All these-things I will give (willingly present) to you
• if it should happen that after you fall down in the position of homage you would worship me (pay homage to me)."

This was the condition in which the devil offered Jesus his way for him to gain back what Adam had lost regarding dominion over what God had originally given to Adam, but which he had willingly given to the devil. All he would have to do was to fall down in the position of homage and directly worship the devil. However, this way of doing things was contrary to the way that the only true God wanted Jesus to accomplish this task.

What was Jesus' reaction – did he tell the devil that he was lying or bluffing? No. Jesus knew it was true that the devil at that time had control over the kingdoms of the world.

Then Jesus says to the devil: you must go, satan…. Notice that Jesus uses the name "satan" here, not "devil" or "tempter." The name "satan" emphasizes his adversarial attributes.

Jesus commanded satan to go saying to him:

• "You must go (actively lead yourself under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else, go and cease being near me),
  • satan,
• for it was written and is still written,
  • 'You will worship the Lord your God (you will pay homage to, be obeisant toward, Jehovah your Elohim)
  • and you will render service only to Him (you will perform or carry-out service to Him alone, nobody or nothing else). '"

Then the devil leaves Jesus. The devil didn't argue with Jesus, nor did he say "no" to him, but he did what Jesus wanted him to do. He obeyed him and went away from Jesus.

And look (behold, see)! – angels came towards Jesus and spent time ministering to him. These spirit-beings served to benefit Jesus; they were doing work to bring him profit, taking care of him as regards what he needed at that time.

 

Hebrews chapter 2 tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted and he is now able to help people who are tempted today:

Hebrews 2:18 - verb (twice): peirazo

Hebrews 2:18:

^.18for in that-which he suffered² himself having been tempted, he is able to come-to-help the (people) being tempted.

Paul writes that resting in the fact that...

• Jesus suffered (he experienced, he was affected by things previously and this truth has not changed),
• and Jesus himself was tempted (made trial of, tried in the bad sense of being put to the test with evil and ill-intent being enticed to do wrong, to cause him to fall-aside from the truth of God’s Word, he was enticed to disbelieve what God says by the devil)

...Jesus is able to come-to-help (the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ presently is capable, he has the able-power to run to give aid, to advance to support)...

• the people who are being tempted.

 

Hebrews chapter 4 also tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted and he is now able to help people who are tempted today:

Hebrews 4:15 - verb: peirazo

Hebrews 4:14-16:

^.14therefore having a great chief-priest having gone-through² the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us strongly-hold the agreement, ^.15for we have not a chief-priest not being able to suffer-together with our weaknesses but having been tempted² according to all-things according to likeness without sin, ^.16therefore let us go with boldness towards the throne of the grace in order that we may receive mercy and find grace for well-timed help.

Paul writes that following-on logically (referring to what is written in previous verses)…

• having a great chief-priest
  • who has gone through the heavens,
• Jesus the son of God,

…let us strongly-hold the agreement (we should take strong hold of the agreement, be strong with forceful strength saying the same thing, speaking the same words, speech in agreement with him; refer to Romans 10:8-10 and Hebrews 3:1)…

• for we have not a chief-priest not being able (we don’t have a high priest who does not have the ability, the able-power, the capability)
  • to suffer together with our weaknesses (to experience our weaknesses in conjunction with us, to be affected by the infirmities that we have, to sympathize with our lack of strength)
• but we have a chief-priest who has been tempted (he was made trial of, tried in the bad sense of being put to the test with evil and ill-intent being enticed to do wrong, to cause him to fall-aside from the truth of God’s Word, he was enticed to disbelieve what God says by the devil, and this fact has not changed)
  • according to all-things (he was tempted in/by all the things that affect us, everything)
  • according to likeness (in a similar quality to us)
    • without sin (apart-from sin - even though Jesus was tempted in all things, he did not commit any sin against God, he did not miss or swerve from the mark of what God says, God’s Word),

…therefore let us go with boldness towards (we should come with freedom of speech, frankness and openness of speaking, towards)…

• the throne of the grace (the high seat designated for the king and has the quality of the grace, of bestowing something freely without any merit on the recipient's part)
• for the purpose and result that
  • we may receive mercy (we would take what would be given to us to use, which is mercy, active-relief because of withholding merited judgment, not bestowing punishment on us who would deserve to be punished relative to the walk/behavior category)
  • and we may find grace (we would come-upon and receive what Jesus would offer to us)
    • for well-timed help (timely aid and support, help given at the good specific period, the precise occasion when needed).

 

Galatians chapter 6 gives us advice on how to help others:

Galatians 6:1 - verb: peirazo

Galatians 6:1:

^6:1Brothers, also if-ever a man may be taken-beforehand in some falling-aside, you, the spiritual-people, must fully-equip the person-of-this-kind in (the) spirit of meekness – scoping yourself (that) also you may not be tempted!

Paul addresses the Galatian holy-people (Christians) as "brothers" reminding them that they, including Paul, were all brothers because they all had received the same gift of holy-spirit from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ when they first believed what God says regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul writes: Brothers, if it should ever happen that…

• a man (referring to a holy-person),
  • would be taken-beforehand in some falling-aside (caused to receive something so as for him to fall aside from the truth of God's Word),
• then you spiritual people (you who are being receptive-to and are walking in accordance with your holy spirit-life)
  • must fully-equip the person of this sort (put such a holy-person in a fitting, straight, right order, restoring him to the proper condition of walking-in-line-with holy spirit),
• and you do this within the sphere of action of
  • the spirit of meekness (the spirit that is characterized-by, energizing, and manifesting tender receptiveness or receptivity towards God and the things of God).

While any one of you is doing this…

• you must be scoping yourself (looking intensely at yourself as a target so as to determine your own action carefully)
• for the purpose that
  • also you would not be tempted (made trial-of or tried in the bad sense of being put to the test with ill-intent being enticed to also do wrong and fall-aside from the truth of God's Word during that specific situation)!

The only true God does not tempt anyone to go against His Word. It is the devil (satan) who tempts with evil. Of course none of us can force another person to accept and believe God's Word, because it is up to his/her own freedom of will - but you must do your part during this type of situation according to what God says - whatever the reaction may be from the person who has already fallen-aside.

 

Matthew chapter 6 records Jesus teaching some people with the Judean/Israeli background regarding how to pray to God:

Matthew 6:13 - noun: peirasmos

Matthew 6:13:

 ^.13and let You not carry us into temptation but You must rescue us away-from the evil-one;

When praying there is to be no doubt about what God has already said. Those who pray must believe what God says and state it definitely when talking to/with God. In this example of how to pray, Jesus is not commanding his Father, God, to do something, nor is he thanking God for something that God has not done yet as though trying to force God into doing what Jesus says! 

In verse 13 Jesus says:

• "...and let You not carry us into temptation (let it not be that You God would bear or endure us going into trial to be tried in the bad sense, by allowing or permitting this to happen to us) –
  • but on the contrary,
  • You must rescue us away-from the evil-one (You must deliver us, snatch or draw us to Yourself away-from the one who is evil, actively malignant - the tempter/devil/satan)."

When Jesus was speaking to these people it was during the time that he himself was in the process of accomplishing redemption and salvation to/for mankind.

 

II Peter chapter 2 tells us today during the new covenant that God knows to rescue the people who are reverential towards Him from temptation:

II Peter 2:9 - noun: peirasmos

II Peter 2:9 and 10(a):

^.9(the) Lord knew² to rescue reverential-people from temptation,

but to keep unrighteous-people being curtailed into (the) day of judgment, ^.10(a)but especially the (people) journeying behind flesh in (their) intense-yearning of (the) act-of-staining and despising lordship.

The Lord knew and continues to know (God perceives, He sees to the end of perceiving and knowing with His mind)…

• to rescue (deliver, snatch or draw to Himself)
  • reverential-people (those who behave with good/well service being respectfully reverential of/towards God)
    • from temptation (out from trials, from being put to the test in the bad sense of being enticed to do wrong),
• but to keep (as to keep an eye on, watch over)
  • unrighteous-people (those who are not righteous, unjust people, who are not being or doing what is right/just from God's viewpoint)
    • being curtailed (docked or pruned, as keeping them within limited bounds)
    • into the day of judgment (judgment day, the time-period of the action of pronouncing sentence, passing judgment, the decision being made in judgment),
  • but especially (most-of-all) the people
    • journeying behind flesh (who are passing or traveling through their everyday living backwards or after the physical natural body with its soul/breath life, the flesh category)
  • within the cause and sphere of action of
    • intense-yearning (lust, here used in the bad sense, strong desire attached or fixed upon certain objects other-than God and the things of God)
    • of/for the act of staining (the action that taints themselves and others, the activity of tingeing or coloring with something else that is not correct)
  • and despising lordship (thinking down-on or against mastership or dominion).

 

Matthew chapter 22 records people tempting Jesus about paying taxes:

Matthew 22:18 - verb: peirazo

Matthew 22:15-22:

^.15Then the Pharisees having journeyed took counsel so-that they may entrap him in word ^.16and they apostle to him their learning-disciples with the Herodians saying, “Teacher, we knew² that you are true and you teach the way of God in truth, and it is not a concern to you concerning not-one-person for you do not observe into (the) face of men. ^.17Therefore you must say to us what is considered by you: is it permitted to give census-tax to Caesar or not?”

 ^.18But Jesus having known their evilness said, “Why do you tempt me, hypocrites? ^.19You must point-upon the lawful-coin of the census-tax.” And the (people) carried-towards him a denarius ^.20and he says to them, “Of whom (is) this image and the writing?” ^.21They say, “Of Caesar.” Then he says to them, “Therefore you must give-away the-things of Caesar to Caesar and the-things of God to God.” ^.22And having heard they marveled and having left him they went-away.

In verse 18 we read that Jesus perceived their evilness (active malignancy, exercised badness) and said:

• “Why do you tempt me (why do you actively make trial of me, try me in the bad sense of putting me to the test with evil and ill-intent enticing me to do wrong, to fall-aside from the truth of God’s Word in this specific situation),
  • hypocrites?....”

Hypocrites are those who answer in reply in pretense as if wearing a mask playing a part on a stage, feigning to be what they are not, to be what others think they are or want them to be, who judge from underneath the truth and so deliberately misrepresent themselves and the truth of God's Word.

Jesus continued to talk with them and in verse 21 explains:

• “Following-on logically, you must pay-back in full what is due or obligated which are the things belonging to Caesar
  • to Caesar
• and the-things of God
  • to God.”

When they heard what Jesus said they were astonished.

 

Matthew chapter 22 records someone asking Jesus about the old covenant commandments:

Matthew 22:35 - verb: peirazo

Matthew 22:35-40:

^.35and one law-person out-from them asked making-trial-of him, ^.36“Teacher, of-what-kind (is) a great commandment in the law?”

 ^.37But he said to him, “‘You will love¹ (the) Lord your God in your whole heart and in your whole soul and in your whole mind-process’; ^.38this is the great and first commandment. ^.39(The) second (is) like it, ‘You will love¹ your neighbor as yourself.’ ^.40In these two commandments the whole law and the prophets are hung.”

A man who was skillful in the law of Moses asked Jesus a question with familiarity inquiring for information on a certain topic, making trial of him (trying him, in the good sense of putting him to the test in order to ascertain the answer). We will see from Jesus’ response that this man, who was well learned in the law of Moses and taught others how to behave according to the law, was not tempting him in the bad sense.

• “Teacher,
• of what kind is a great commandment in the law (of what sort is a commandment that is large in importance, asking Jesus to choose a specific one from the law of Moses, which were the commandments that God told Moses to tell to all of the children of Israel at that time)?”

Jesus brought to light by saying him: 

• “‘You will Godly-love the Lord your God
  • in your whole heart (within the entire sphere of action of the center/core of your being, the seat of your whole personal self and life)
  • and in your whole soul (within the entire sphere of action of the life of your physical body which is soul-life, evidenced by your breathing, breath-life - this is figuratively referring to your whole being, including your character and disposition as you are living your life)
  • and in your whole mind-process (within the entire sphere of action of your meditation, your conscious thinking-through and reflecting-on the perception in your mind)’;
    • this is the great and first commandment.
• The second is similar to the first,
• ‘You will Godly-love your neighbor as yourself (love with God’s love the person living near you and therefore has the same background and belief - as you will Godly-love yourself).’
  • In these two commandments the whole law and the prophets are hung (within these 2 commandments the whole law of Moses and what the prophets prophesied are suspended; these 2 are on top, and the whole law and the prophets hang below them being fastened to them thereby being supported by them from above, not from below).”

The great and first commandment was regarding that-which God asked His people to do towards God Himself: you will Godly-love the Lord your God in your whole heart and in your whole soul and in your whole mind-process.

The second commandment was like the first one in that Godly-love was involved, but this time it was regarding that-which God asked His people to do towards each-other and towards themselves (each himself): you will manifest Godly-love towards your neighbor (that person who is near from-among the children of Israel) as you will manifest Godly-love towards yourself.

Before the day of Pentecost (which is recorded in Acts chapter 2), God told His people how to Godly-love in His revealed spoken and/or written words, and also at times certain individuals among His people received holy spirit from God temporarily whereby they received information from Him regarding how to love in different specific situations.

 

Matthew chapter 16 records people tempting Jesus about showing them a sign:

Matthew 16:1 - verb: peirazo

Matthew 16:1, 2(a), 4:

^16:1And the Pharisees and Sadducees having come-towards (Jesus) tempting asked him to point-upon a sign from heaven to them. ^.2(a)But the (one) having answered said to them, ^.4“An evil and adulterous generation earnestly-seeks-after a sign, and a sign will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” And having left them down he went-away.

These Pharisees and Sadducees went to Jesus and asked him something - but their motivation to ask this question inquiring for information was to tempt him. They asked him to display a sign from heaven to them (a designated signal or standard of authenticity to them out-from the heaven, figuratively referring to God).

But Jesus answered by saying to them:

• “An evil (actively malignant)
• and adulterous (which is the voluntary action of debasing oneself with/by someone or something else that is contaminating or defiling from God's viewpoint)
• generation (referring to a time-period of a race, descent or kind of living-beings)
  • intensely looks for a sign,
  • and a sign will not be given to the evil and adulterous generation
    • except the sign of Jonah.”

And Jesus left them down (in the sense of leaving them behind him where they were) and he went away somewhere else.

 

Matthew chapter 19 records people tempting Jesus about the husband/wife relationship:

Matthew 19:3 - verb: peirazo

Matthew 19:3-8:

^.3And Pharisees came-towards him tempting him and saying, “If it is permitted (for a husband) to loosen his wife from (himself) according to every cause?” ^.4But the (one) having answered said, “You read that the (One) having created from (the) beginning ‘a male and a female He made them,’ ^.5and He said, ‘By-reason-of-this a man will leave-down (his) father and mother and he will be glued-together-towards his wife and the two will be into one flesh,’ didn’t you? – ^.6so-that they will no-longer be two but one flesh; therefore that-which God yoked-together man must not separate.”

 ^.7They say to him, “Why therefore did Moses command to give a book of departure and to loosen her from (himself)?”

 ^.8He says to them that “Moses towards your hardheartedness permitted you to loosen your wives from (yourselves), but from (the) beginning it did not become² thus.

The Pharisees came towards Jesus tempting him and saying:

• “Is it available for a husband to release his wife/woman away from himself
  • according to every cause (all grounds for charge, every reason for accusation)?”

The motivation of these Pharisees was to tempt Jesus; they did not really want to know God’s intention (will) regarding this issue!

But Jesus answered by saying, “You read that:

• the One (God) having created from the beginning
  • ‘a male and a female He made them’ (recorded in Genesis 1:27)
• and God said (recorded in Genesis 2:24),
  • ‘By-reason-of-this (for this sake)
  • a man will leave-down his father and mother (in the sense that he must actively leave them remaining behind)
  • and he will be glued together towards his wife (he will be caused to adhere, stick, cleave himself with/towards his woman),
  • and the two of them will be into one flesh (resulting in only one flesh from God’s viewpoint),’
• didn’t you?....”

The construction of this question indicates that the expected unspoken answer to Jesus’ question by the Pharisees should be, “Yes, we have read this.”

We should notice that Jesus said that God made them a male and a female from the beginning of their existence – there is no mention of so-called ‘evolution’ as though mankind came from monkeys or worms or fish, etc. In fact Genesis 2:7, 21, and 22 explain in detail the physical making of mankind, plus the fullness of Genesis 1:27 includes the spiritual creating of the male and the female when God placed holy spirit-life within Adam and Eve upon the condition that they would believe and obey what God says to them.

Jesus continues:

• “…so-that they will no-longer be two but one flesh (the result and consequence is that the man/husband/male and the woman/wife/female will not any longer be two fleshes, but on the contrary they will be ONE flesh);
• therefore that-which God yoked-together man must not separate (logically following-on from what I have just said, that singular resulting product which God yoked together man must not put apart/asunder, must not be severed so as to be without the other).”

The verb “to yoke together” means: to jointly-yoke, co-yoke, to yoke in conjunction with another on the same yoke. Here, God yoked together the man and woman. They are to live and work in service to God on the same team, so-to-speak - as oxen being joined together by the yoke for the purpose of working together, tied to the same wooden/metal bar or frame by-which they work within its limitations plowing a field going evenly together in the same direction according to their master's direction and instruction. The husband and wife’s master must be the only true God and they are both to willingly live their lives and work together in service to God.

The Pharisees say to Jesus:

• “Why therefore did Moses command (enjoin, charge)
  • to give a book of departure (to give his wife something in writing which indicates that she is now in a position of standing away from him, a divorcement, divorce paper)
    • and to loosen her from himself (to unbind, unfasten, release her away from himself, let go of his wife/woman)?”

Jesus says to them that…

• “Moses towards your hardheartedness permitted you to loosen your wives from yourselves (Moses allowed you Israelites to loosen your wives from yourselves this way in consideration of the hardness of the center/core of your beings - the seat of your whole personal selves and life became hard, as having dried-up from lack of water and becoming stiff like a leaf having detached itself from the tree - how? - by your refusal of what God says because God is the true source of water/nourishment to give and maintain your life) –
  • but from the beginning (start)
  • it did not become and continues not to be in this manner.”

The truth of how God intends man/husband/male and woman/wife/female to be together has not changed.

 

I Corinthians chapter 7 records information about the marriage relationship:

I Corinthians 7:5 - verb: peirazo

I Corinthians 7:3-5:

^.3The husband must give-away the debt to the wife, and likewise also the wife to the husband; ^.4the wife does not exercise-authority of (her) own body but the husband, and likewise also the husband does not exercise-authority of (his) own body but the wife; ^.5you must not deprive one-another if (it is) not-something out-from agreement towards a time in order that you may have-convenience for prayer, and again you must come-together on the same-objective in order that satan may not tempt you because-of your incontinence;

During the marriage relationship, the husband must actively give-away (pay back) the debt (that-which is rightfully due, owed or obligated by him, his indebtedness) to the woman - all that is rightly due her, which includes conjugal rights and companionship, because she is his wife.

And similarly (in like manner) also the wife must give-away the debt to the adult-male - all that is rightly due him, which includes conjugal rights and companionship, because he is her husband.

In the Christian marriage relationship, the wife does not have exclusive authoritative-power over her own physical body, but on the contrary, her husband has the right to exercise authority over her body, to arouse her and have sexual relations with her.

And similarly (in like manner) also the husband does not have exclusive authoritative-power over his own physical body, but on the contrary, his wife has the right to exercise authority over his body, to arouse him and have sexual relations with him.

You both must not deprive each-other - you must not take something away-from your husband/wife which he/she needs for completeness resulting-in his/her not having completeness in that specific-area, even though he/she may have a portion of it. Neither the husband nor the wife can fully-satisfy themselves alone in this category.

The exception to this is if the source of your deprivation in this category is...

• from agreement between you (speaking in unison regarding this matter)
  • for a specific time-period (a temporary occasion)
• for the purpose and result that
• you both may have free-time provided by the cessation of this activity
• and so spend that time devoting yourselves
  • to prayer (communicating to, with, and from God privately, the general speaking towards/with God).

After that specific time-period you both must again come together…

• for the same objective and purpose (referring to having sexual relations, etc)
• – why? –
• for the purpose and result that
  •  satan (the name emphasizing the devil's opposing and adversarial attributes)
  • may not tempt you both (try you, make trial of you putting you to the test with ill intent)
  • on account of your incontinence (your lack of self-restraint or not having power or command over yourselves as regards your sexual passions - which may lead to fornication and adultery if it is not attended to).

 

Matthew chapter 26 records Jesus explaining a difference between spirit and flesh:

Matthew 26:41 - noun: peirasmos

Matthew 26:40 and 41:

 ^.40And he came towards the learning-disciples and finds them lying-down-asleep and he says to Peter, “Thus you are not strong one hour to wakefully-watch with me; ^.41you must wakefully-watch and you must pray in order that you may not go into temptation; indeed the spirit (is) eager but the flesh (is) weak.”

During the time when Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, he went towards the learning-disciples and found them voluntarily lying down asleep. Jesus said to Peter:

• “In this manner of lying down sleeping
• you (the three of you)
  • do not have physical strength for one limited period of an hour to be watchful in company and association with me (to keep awake - figuratively: to have your eyes open and be alert and sensitive to what God wants you to know and do);
• you must wakefully-watch and you must pray
  • for the purpose and result that
  • you may not go into temptation (into trial to be tried in the bad sense of being tempted with evil, to say/do what is against the only true God’s intention);
• indeed the spirit is eager (emphatically the holy spirit that God has given to you and I at the moment is ready, it has a willing enthusiasm to carry-out God’s will)
• but the flesh is weak (the physical part of us is without strength, feeble as to carrying-out God’s will).”

The flesh was the vehicle of temptation in this record.

 

Galatians chapter 4 also indicates that temptation is via the flesh:

Galatians 4:14 - noun: peirasmos

Galatians 4:12-15:

^.12You must become as I because I also as you, brothers, I supplicate you; you treated me unrighteously (in) nothing, ^.13but you knew² that because-of weakness of the flesh I good-messaged to you formerly, ^.14and my temptation, the (temptation) in my flesh, you did not despise but you accepted me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus, ^.15therefore where (was) your happiness? – for I bear you witness that if able, having dug-out your eyes, you (would have) given (them) to me;

Paul writes to the Galatian holy-people (Christians)...

• You must presently become
  • as I am - in the walk (behavior, conduct) category during the everyday living of life with/for God and the Lord Jesus Christ
• - why? -
• the cause being that
• I am also as you are
  • – we are all human-beings and brothers in the holy spirit category having received the same holy spirit-life within us –
• I supplicate you (I communicate my needful request to you regarding the walk/behavior category).

You treated me unrighteously in nothing (you didn't wrong me in anything, you were unjust towards me in not one thing)…

• when I was with you formerly (the time before this, previously, on the prior occasion when we were together),
• but you knew at that time and you still know (perceive, see) this:
  • that on account of the weakness (the lack of strength, infirmity)
    • pertaining to the flesh (the limitations of the fleshy human-being's realm of understanding)
  • I good-messaged (I preached the gospel, evangelized)
    • to you.

And, my temptation which was within my flesh (the trial, putting me to the test in the bad sense of enticing me to do wrong because of things happening to me in the fleshy realm; refer to Acts 14:11-22)…

• you did not despise (you did not think nothing of it, you did not treat me with contempt),
• but on the contrary,
• you accepted me (you welcomed me)
  • in comparison to how you would accept
    • an angel of God (one of God's angels, a spirit-being with the character and function of being a messenger - or this could refer to a human messenger on God's behalf),
  • in comparison to how you would accept
    • Christ Jesus (the resurrected Christ Jesus our Lord) –

…therefore, this having been your attitude at that time, let me ask you:

• where was your happiness (where did your happiness lie, what caused you to be happy then, was it in my flesh)?
• The unwritten answer is:
  • our happiness was not based on your flesh with the bad things happening to you by various methods trying to stop you from preaching God's Word to us.

In truth, I bear you witness (I attest with information which I personally have about you and therefore I state with authority) that:

• if you were able (if you had the able-power, the capability),
  • after you had dug (plucked) your own eyes out
  • you would have given them to me if you had believed at that time that some extra pieces of flesh would have helped somehow!

These holy-people used-to be so enthusiastic regarding Paul's good-messaging concerning God and all the things of God that they would have helped Paul in any way possible. At that time they knew that the flesh category was not what made them happy nor did it make Paul happy – but their happiness was based-upon God and all the things of God – the holy spirit category.

 

Hebrews chapter 3 includes reference to the time of 40 years during the old covenant when the people of Israel were in a desert waiting to go into the promised land - but they were tempting God:

Hebrews 3:8 - noun: peirasmos; Hebrews 3:9 - verb: peirazo

Hebrews 3:7-11:

^.7On-which-account – according as the Spirit, the Holy (Spirit) says, “Today if-ever you may hear His sound ^.8you may not harden your hearts as in the embitterment according to the day of the temptation in the desert-place ^.9which your fathers tempted in proving (Me) and saw My works ^.10forty years, on-which-account I was very-displeased-towards this generation and I said, ‘Always they are caused-to-wander with the heart but they did not know My ways,’ ^.11as I swore in My wrath, ‘If they will go into My rest’”....

In verse 7 Paul writes: 

• according as the Spirit, specifically the Holy Spirit says (referring to God Himself, emphasizing the truth that He is Spirit and He is Holy),
  • “Today (not some other day but today, the present time)
  • if it should ever happen that you would hear His sound/voice
    • you should not harden your hearts (let you not harden the center/core of your beings, the seat of your personal selves and living, as a leaf having dried-up, because of your refusal to partake of God's supply of "water" which is God's spiritual blessing and thus become stiff, like a leaf having detached itself from the tree that was to be its source of water and nourishment to give and maintain life)
  • as in the embitterment (in comparison to the time of the sharpness against God, during the pointedness, keenness which was piercing and pungent, the acridity, which was cruelly-painful to the recipient of it – God was the recipient of this embitterment)
    • according to the day of the temptation in the desert-place (the day of the trial, the time of putting to the test in the bad sense of enticing to do wrong while in the desolate place, the wilderness),
  • which temptation your fathers tempted in proving Me (your forefathers, ancestors actively put Me on trial by testing, by examination to either approve or disapprove Me)
  • and they saw My works forty years (they perceived and knew My deeds, My actions expending My energy, the effects that I produced for 40 years),
  • on account of which I was very displeased towards this generation (I was extremely grieved with this race, descent or kind of living-beings)
  • and I said,
    • ‘Always they are caused-to-wander with the heart (on every occasion they are caused to err, they don’t stay in their rightful place, they are led astray by themselves or others in their heart; singular ‘heart’ even though a group of people because they are all the same, they wander like a planet is constantly moving around when viewed from the earth unlike the stars which retain their position relative-to each other)
    • but emphatically they did not know My ways (they themselves did not have personal knowledge of My methods of proceeding, My manners of action),’
    • as I swore in My wrath (My lasting angry vengeance, like a burning fire, not a spur-of-the-moment thing),
    • ‘If they will go into My rest (if they will at a future time go/come into My resting time and place, downtime, when and where I permanently cease from pertinent work at its completion, when the task is finished; rest connotes victory, final rest from disturbance - salvation, safety, security, stability, and wholeness)’”….

The final outcome will be determined at a future time as to who will receive God’s wrath and who will go into His rest, and then all will see what will come to pass. God told them the consequences of believing and of not-believing what He said. They had to make their own decision whether they would believe what He told them being true to/for themselves. Paul explains this in detail in Hebrews chapters 3 and 4.

The righteous wrath of/from God will come to pass following Christ’s gathering together of all holy-people first with him in the air away from the earth, which marks the beginning of the day of the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ will be the primary one executing God’s wrath. 

 

Acts chapter 15 records a discussion about people from the Gentile background receiving the gift of holy spirit just the same as the people from the Judean/Israeli background - but some people's behavior was tempting God:

Acts 15:10 - verb: peirazo

Acts 15:7-11:

^.7But much seeking having come-to-pass, Peter, having stood-up, said towards them, "Adult-males, brothers, you well-know that from (the) old days among you God selected-for-Himself the Gentiles to hear the word of the good-message by means of my mouth and to believe, ^.8and God, Knower-of-the-heart, bore them witness, having given (to them) the spirit, the holy (spirit), according as also to us, ^.9and He throughly-judged nothing between both us and them having cleaned their hearts with belief.

 ^.10Therefore now, why do you tempt God to put a yoke on the neck of the learning-disciples which neither our fathers nor we were strong to lift-up? – ^.11but by means of the grace of the Lord Jesus we believe to be saved according to which manner those-people-also."

The apostles and the elders were assembled at this time. However, after a lot of seeking had happened, Peter is the one who stood-up and spoke before those gathered in this meeting. Peter reminded them that they were all grown-men and they were all brothers in Christ because they all had received the same holy spirit-life - they were brothers from God's point of view because God was their Father in the spirit category.

As Peter speaks we find out that he is referring to what happened to him in Acts chapter 10 and 11:1-18. They knew that they received exactly the same holy spirit-life because they heard them speaking with/in tongues, just as the apostles did on the day of Pentecost (refer to Acts chapters 2, 10, and 11).

In verse 10 Peter continues:

• "Therefore at this present time, why do you tempt God (why do you actively make trial of God, try Him in the bad sense of putting Him to the test with evil and ill-intent enticing Him to do wrong, to fall-aside from the truth of His Word in this specific situation)
• – how? –
• by putting (placing) a yoke on the neck of the learning-disciples (not a literal yoke but figuratively referring to the law of Moses as a wooden/metal bar or frame by-which these students would be forced to work and live within its limitations, like oxen are yoked when plowing a field)
  • which neither our fathers (forefathers, ancestors)
  • nor emphatically we ourselves
    • were strong to lift-up (we did not have the strength physically to bear, support, carry it)?
• But, contrary to that yoke,
• it is by means of the grace of the Lord Jesus (through the unmerited favor of/from the Master Jesus, through what the Lord Jesus freely bestows without any merit on the recipient's part)
  • that we believe to be saved (we have faith in what God says about Himself and the Lord Jesus Christ, with the result of being made safe, we are saved)
  • according to the same manner that those people with a Gentile background also believe with the result of being saved."

 

I Corinthians chapter 10 records information regarding the people of Israel during the old covenant times as an example for us today. It also records the truth that God is believable and He will not allow us to be tempted over what we are able to bear - but God will provide a way out from any temptation so that we will be able to bear-up:

I Corinthians 10:9 - verbs: ekpeirazo and peirazo; I Corinthians 10:13 - verb: peirazo, and noun: peirasmos

I Corinthians 10:6-10:

^.6But these-things were caused-to-become types of us with-a-view-for us not to be intense-yearners of bad-things according as those-people-also intensely-yearned; ^.7neither must you become idolaters according as some of them, wholly-as it was written², "The people sat-down to eat and to drink and stood-up to play"; ^.8neither let us fornicate according as some of them fornicated and they fell one day twenty-three thousands; ^.9neither let us tempt-out the Christ according as some of them tempted-out and they used-to-be destroyed by the snakes; ^.10neither must you murmur fully-as some of them murmured and they used-to-be destroyed by the destroyer.

These verses give us understanding of why the majority of the people of Israel died in the desert and therefore they did not go into the promised land before Moses' death. Paul writes that...

• these things,
  • which happened and were recorded in the old covenant writings,
• were caused to become types (marks, impressions or patterns)
  • pertaining to/for all holy-people,
  • and thus it is available for us to behave ourselves in a similar manner as they did towards/against God.

However, we should not behave as they did - as Paul explains in verse 9:

Neither should we holy-people (Christians)…

• tempt-out the Christ (intensely tempt, make trial-of or try-out, in the bad sense of putting to the test with evil and ill-intent enticing, provoking and endeavoring to force Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed-one to do something)
  • to see if what God said regarding His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is true or not,
• according as some of the people of Israel tempted-out God regarding the Christ,
  • and so those people who refused to look believingly towards the salvation and redemption which the Christ would make available to them
    • were being destroyed (utterly-ruined or lost from being among God's people – they were killed)
    • by the snakes.

This is a reference to what occurred as recorded in Numbers 21:5-9 where the people of Israel spoke...

• against God and Moses,
• against their deliverance from Egypt,
• and against the bread which God had given to them for their sustenance to keep their physical bodies healthy,
• plus they also accused God of not supplying them with any water to keep the life in their bodies (both the bread and the water were necessary).

They were against God and against the Christ whom they were to look forward to because Christ was to be...

• their true spiritual bread and water,
  • their future means of supply of new bodies which would not be liable to death,
  • and their means of supply of the life of their new bodies which would be holy spirit life which would not be taken away from them.

They would then live with and for God being in constant communication and enjoying God’s blessings by means of the Christ.

Paul continues: Neither must you holy-people...

• murmur (grumble discontent and complaints)
  • fully-as some of the descendants of Israel murmured,
  • and so caused themselves to be destroyed by the destroyer (the one who ruins and slays, causes disaster with death)
    • which is the devil/satan.

Instead of remaining within God's protection by believing and obeying what He said and gave to them to believe and obey, they chose to remove themselves from God and the things of God - and thus they opened themselves up to the devil's destroying and ruining power causing them to be lost from among God's people and to lose everything including their lives.

Verses 11-13:

^.11But these-things came-together typically to those-people but it was written towards our admonition into whom the completions of the ages came-down², ^.12so-that the (holy-person) considering to have stood² must observe (that) he may not fall.  

^.13A temptation has not taken² you except a manly (temptation) – but God (is) believable Who will not let you to be tempted over that-which you are able but He will make together with the temptation even the way-out-from (it for you) to be able to bear-up.

In verse 13 Paul continues teaching to help the Corinthian holy-people not to fall from walking in alignment and agreement with the truth of the good-message (the gospel, evangel).

What is it that may cause a holy-person not to stand firm on God's Word? A temptation.

But Paul explains:

• a temptation (a trial or putting to the test in the bad sense of enticing to do wrong)
• has not in the past and still does not at the present time
  • actively take hold of you (as though receiving you in its hand)
    • except or unless it was/is a temptation pertaining to mankind.

Our holy spirit-life, which is the spirit of Christ in us, continues to do God's will - but it is only in our manly or human realm that temptation has the possibility to be yielded-to by a holy-person in that same manly or human realm.

The only true God does not tempt anyone to go against His Word. It is the devil (satan) who tempts with evil – the first occurrence of mankind being tempted to go against what God says is recorded in Genesis chapter 3.

But, even though any one of us may be tempted to say or do something which is contrary to what God says and asks us to do, God Himself was and is and will continue to be believable – He is faithful – He is trustworthy! We can rely on the words that God our Father speaks and we can rely on whatever He does.

There should be no doubting of God's words which He gives us to believe because He is believable. God has fulfilled His promise which He spoke and is recorded in Genesis 3:15 regarding the coming of the seed: Christ - plus God is believable to continue to fulfill today and to completely fulfill the whole of this promise in the future, by means of the Lord Jesus Christ.

• God, Who is believable,
  • will not let (not permit) you holy-people
  • to be tempted by anyone or anything
    • over (beyond, in excess of, above)
    • that-which you are able (capable, have the able-power)
    • to deal with.
• Contrary to you not being able to bear-up under the pressure of any temptation,
  • God will actively make (produce, bring about)
    • in conjunction with with whatever temptation may be offered to you at any time (by the devil or his cohorts whether devil-spirits or people working for the devil)
  • the way of going out from that temptation,
• for the purpose that
• you are presently able to bear-up (you are capable, have the able-power to carry the weighty-pressure of the temptation from underneath).

God will not leave you all alone without any help from Him - but instead He will give you support and sustain you so that you can get out from underneath the influence of that temptation. Of course, it is up to each individual whether he/she accepts God's help or not!

Praise God that He always gives His children a way of going out from being under any temptation, no matter who or what it comes from, and thus we have the availability not to be crushed underneath it.

 

I Thessalonians chapter 3 shows that people can be tempted away from the correct belief - from God's Word:

I Thessalonians 3:5 - verb (twice): peirazo

I Thessalonians 3:5:

^.5because-of-this also I no-longer protectively-covering, I sent with-a-view to know your belief lest-somehow the (one) tempting tempted you and our labor became into emptiness. 

Paul writes to the Thessalonian holy-people (Christians): On account of the fact that...

• also since I am no longer protectively covering you at this time because I am physically away from you,
• I sent Timothy
  • for the purpose of personally knowing your belief (what you are believing, the state of your faith)
• lest in some manner the one who is presently and actively tempting (making trial of or trying people in the bad sense of putting people to the test with evil and ill-intent enticing people away from believing God's Word)
  • has tempted you
• and so our labor (the wearisome effort that myself and those with me exerted previously with you)
  • came to pass to result in
    • emptiness (empty of contents having no effect as regards your behavior during your everyday living).

Paul was concerned for these Thessalonian holy-people and did what he could do at that time to help them to remain steadfast upon God's Word. He was not 'thinking-evil' of them - he wanted to do his best to make sure that they were not affected by the activities of the devil directly, or via his devil-spirits (demons), or via the people who take their direction from the devil and/or devil-spirits.

 

I Timothy chapter 6 details what occurs to people whose determination is to be rich:

I Timothy 6:9 - noun: peirasmos

I Timothy 6:9-11(a):

^.9but the (people) deliberately-determining to be wealthy fall-in into temptation and a trap and many unmindful and harmful intense-yearnings, the-ones-which sink men deep into (ruining) destruction and (losing) destruction, ^.10for the love-for-silver is a root of all the bad-things, of which some-people reaching-for were caused-to-wander away-from the belief and pierced themselves with many pains. ^.11(a)But you, oh man of God, must flee these-things….

The people who are deliberately determining to be wealthy (who are purposefully willing to be rich) fall in into…

• temptation (trial, put to the test in the bad sense of being enticed to do wrong)
• and a trap (a snare, that-which would hold them fast so that they would be entangled in it)
• and many (a lot of) 
• unmindful (lacking the application of their minds and therefore are unlearned or unintelligent)
• and harmful (injurious)
  • intense-yearnings (strong desires attached or fixed upon certain objects other-than God and the things of God, lusts),
    • the intense-yearnings which actively sink men deep into ruining destruction (ruination and slaying, disaster with death)
    • and losing destruction (loss, perdition, being utterly lost and ruined away-from God).

As regards to the holy-person (Christian) – this is only in reference to the walk (behavior) category which adversely affects his fellowship with God.

As regards to the unsaved person – he remains in his unholy, dead, and losing state relative-to God, unless of course he would change his mind and believe what God has given all of us to believe regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus receive God’s gift of holy spirit (refer to Romans 10:8-10).

In truth…

• the love-for-silver (loving silver coins, money, money-loving, having the brotherly or friendly kind of love for money)
  • is a root of all the bad-things (the word ‘root’ is used like a tree’s root relative to the tree itself and the fruits it produces; the love of silver is a root lifting-up and giving nourishment to produce all the things contrary to what God would want people to have, the things that do not issue from the only true God),
• of which (referring to the love for silver/money, a root of all the bad-things)
• some-people who are reaching-for (stretching themselves out to attain, they are reaching at/after it)
  • have already been caused to wander away-from the belief (they were caused to err, not to stay in their rightful place, like a planet is constantly moving around when viewed from the earth unlike the stars which retain their position relative-to each other - they were led astray away from the faith, away from what God has given us to believe, to have faith in, to trust)
  • and pierced themselves with many pains (they have actively penetrated through themselves, impaled themselves, as piercing themselves with/by something pointed so as their flesh is around it like putting a sharp rod through an animal so as to roast it on a spit, they pierced themselves with/by a lot of sufferings, distresses).

 

James chapter 1 tells us that we can joy during times of temptation when we continue to patiently endure in accordance with what God says to/for us:

James 1:2 - noun: peirasmos

James 1:2-4:

^.2You must lead (your minds to regard it) all joy, my brothers, whenever you may fall-into variegated temptations ^.3knowing that the sure-proof of your belief renders patient-endurance to-work, ^.4but the patient-endurance must have a complete work in order that you may be complete-people and whole-lotted-people being-left (short) in nothing.

James writes:

• You must take the initiative (cause it to be in your minds)
  • to view it as being all/every joy (a time of rejoicing)
• my brothers (not only were those to whom he was writing all of the Judean/Israeli background, but they were brothers in the holy spirit category),

…at whatever time you would fall into being surrounded by variegated temptations (fall into the middle of manifold or various trials, being put to the test in the bad sense of being enticed to do wrong)…

• - how or why view it as a time of rejoicing? -
• knowing (having a personal, truly active and relative knowing)
  • that
• the sure-proof (the refined indubitable essence of that-which has already been proved by testing or examination and has thereby been approved, proved to be genuine and pure)
  • of your belief (pertaining-to and contained-in the faith/trust that you have, which is the information that God has made known to you to have confidence-in with assured certainty and surety)
• renders patient endurance to work (it causes to effect or achieves a bearing-up, holding, enduring and remaining upright relative to God and the things of God under any obstacles),

…but the patient endurance must have a complete work (a perfect deed by the ultimate arrival of the state of its completeness, it must reach God's intended fulfilling ending-issue to produce the correct effect)…

• for the purpose and result that
• you may (would) be
  • complete-people (people who are in a state of perfectness having reached God's intended fulfilling ending-issue for you)
  • and whole-lotted-people (people who have the wholeness or entirety belonging to you of the inheritance, the assigned lot)
    • being left short in nothing (left with nothing undone, lacking not one thing).

 

James chapter 1 also tells us that we should patiently endure during times of temptation - plus God does not tempt with bad things:

James 1:12 - noun: peirasmos; James 1:13 - verb (3 times): peirazo, adjective: apeirastos; James 1:14 - verb: peirazo

James 1:12-15:

^.12Happy (is the) adult-male who patiently-endures temptation because having become approved he will receive the crown of the life which He promised to the (people) loving¹ Him.

^.13Not-one-person being tempted must say that “From God I am tempted”, for God is not-a-tempter of bad-things and He tempts not-one-person (with bad-things), ^.14but each-person is tempted being drawn-out and being enticed by (his) own intense-yearning, ^.15then the intense-yearning having taken-together brings-forth sin, but the sin having been completed bears death.

The word translated "happy" means that the one spoken about is pronounced happy, felicitous; he is a happy person from God's viewpoint, not that he feels happy at that time necessarily, but because of the reason that James explains.

The grown-man who patiently endures temptation (who holds-out, bears-up, stays or remains upright relative to God and the things of God under trial, being put to the test in the bad sense of being enticed to do wrong) is happy – why? – because…

• after he has become approved (passed the test, the examination and thereby he becomes approved)
• he will receive the crown of the life (similar to the victory wreath or garland prize put on the head of the victor/winner of a contest or race, but this crown pertains-to and consists-of the life, referring to the definite hope of future life with God and Lord Jesus Christ - eternal life)
  • which He promised (God proclaimed or declared the message of His intentions concerning this crown of the life)
    • to/for the people loving God.

Not one person (nobody, no-one) who is presently being tempted (put on trial, being tested or examined in the bad sense of being enticed to go against God) must say that “From God I am tempted”…

• for God is not-a-tempter of bad-things (the only true God is in the state, quality, character, essence of being NOT One Who tempts pertaining-to or consisting-of the things that are contrary to what He has spoken, His Word, or contrary to what He would want people to have, His will or intention regarding their lives)
• and emphatically He (God Himself)
  • tempts (puts on trial, puts to the test in the bad sense of enticing to do wrong)
  • – who? –
    • not one person (nobody, no-one)
    • with bad-things.

But each person (individually, particularly, singly, distinctly) is tempted – how? – …

• being drawn-out (being dragged out from his current position in the walk/behavior category)
• and being enticed (deceived, baited, caught, like a fish is caught by the one fishing, allured)
  • by his own intense-yearning (by the agency of his own strong desire attached or fixed upon a certain object, and in this context referring to something other-than God and the things of God - by the person’s own lust),
  • then the intense-yearning,
    • after it has taken-together (when it has received its desired effects with that person, when it has caught, seized, grasped, surrounded him as the sperm becomes surrounded by the egg during conception),
  • brings-forth sin (produces sin, that-which is aberration from God's Word, missing the mark of what God says),
  • but the sin,
    • having been completed (after sin has reached its full term, when it has accomplished its task),
  • bears death (yields death).

Note: The basic meaning of the Greek root word dokim – translated into English in various ways such as: to prove, approve, disapprove, approved, unapproved, proof – is: to prove by testing or examination by usage or experience for the purpose of either approving or disapproving the resulting evidence. In order to accomplish this task in accordance with God’s Word, a person should demonstrate the quality and character of the relevant object by carrying-out his/her own assigned function according to God’s Word to/for that person. The person would experience and realize it coming to pass, and bring what God intends to/for that person into concrete existence during his/her everyday living of life.

 

I Peter chapter 4 tells us that it is not a strange thing for tempttions to occur: 

I Peter 4:12 - noun: peirasmos

I Peter 4:12 and 13:

^.12Loved-people¹, you must not think-strange on the fire among you coming-to-pass towards a temptation to you as of a strange-thing coming-together to you, ^.13but you must joy according to that-which you share-in-common with the sufferings of Christ in order that exulting also you may joy in the revelation of his glory.

Peter addresses the holy-people (Christians) as loved – beloved, truly you are loved by God and by myself with God’s kind of love.

He continues: You must not think-strange (it should not be thought of as foreign to/by you, something unfamiliar, not belonging to your way of living, you should not be amazed)…

• on/by the fire among you (the fiery ordeal, as the time and action of firing during the refining process when the fire destroys all it can burn)
  • presently coming-to-pass
  • for the purpose of a temptation to/for you (a trial, putting you to the test in the bad sense of enticing you to do wrong)
• as of a strange-thing coming-together to you (happening to you),

…but on the contrary, you must joy (rejoice)…

• according to (in accordance with)
  • that-which you share-in-common with the sufferings of Christ (you participate, partake, share a portion of Christ’s experiences, of the things that affected and affect him)

...for the purpose and result that...

• exulting (being elated, as leaping a lot, jumping, springing about, dancing)
  • also you would joy in the revelation of his glory (rejoice during/at the uncovering of his importance, splendor, renown – the works that you do now in agreement with God’s intention will not be burned but you will receive a reward for them at the judgment seat of Christ; refer to II Corinthians 5:10).

 

Revelation chapter 2 shows a difference between making trial of others in the good sense, and tempting others in the bad sense:

Revelation 2:2 and 10 - verb: peirazo

Revelation 2:2:

^.2I knew² your works and labor and your patient-endurance, and that you are not able to lift-up bad-people, and you made-trial-of the (people) saying themselves (to be) apostles and they are not, and you found them (to be) liars; 

John is writing the words from the Lord Jesus Christ:

• "I knew and continue to know (perceive, see)
  • your works (your deeds, the effects produced with/by your actions expending your energy)
  • and labor (toil)
  • and your patient endurance (bearing-up, holding, enduring and remaining upright relative to God and the things of God under any obstacles),
• and that you are not able to lift-up bad-people (you cannot, you do not have the able-power or ability, you are not capable of bearing, supporting, carrying the people who are bad, who behave in a manner that is contrary to God’s intention),
• and you made-trial-of (you tried, in the good sense of putting them to the test to ascertain the truth about)
  • the people saying that they themselves are apostles (they are claiming that they are holy-people who are sent forth or away from God or from the Lord Jesus Christ on a specific mission or assignment to a person or people)
  • and they are not apostles,
    • and you found them to be liars (people who lie, who speak false statements; they are false apostles, they have NOT been sent forth/away on a specific mission or assignment by God or by the Lord Jesus Christ, their whole appearance is a façade, it's a lie)....

Further along in chapter 2, John writes:

Verse 10:

 ^.10You must fear nothing (regarding) which-things you are about to suffer - look!, the devil is about to throw (some) from you into prison in order that you may be tempted and you will have pressure ten days - you must become believing continuously-until death and I will give to you the crown of the life.

• You must fear nothing (continue not being fearful, don't be afraid of anything, not one thing)
• regarding the things which you are on the point of suffering (experiencing, being affected by things which do not originate from the only true God) - 
  • look (behold, see, pay attention)!,
  • the devil
  • is on the point of throwing (casting) some from/of you (plural) into prison (imprisonment, a place where you will be watched and guarded)
    • for the purpose and result that
    • you would be tempted (made trial-of or tried in the bad sense of being put to the test with evil, put on trial, examined with ill-intent, being enticed to do wrong, to cause you to go against the only true God, to fall-aside from the truth of what God says, to disbelieve God's Word to you)
  • and you will have pressure (compression or stress which will afflict or squeeze you whether it will be physical or mental or spiritual)
    • ten days (a full, complete cycle or series of pressure) -
• you must become believing (faithful, having active belief/faith, trusting what God says during this time of pressure) 
  • continuously until death (for the whole duration of time up to the point of you dying, being killed)
• and I will give to you (I - the Lord Jesus Christ - will present to you)
  • the crown of the life (similar to the victory wreath or garland prize put on the head of the victor/winner of a contest or race - but this crown pertains-to and consists-of the life, referring to the definite hope of future life with God and Lord Jesus Christ - eternal life).

 

II Corinthians chapter 13 tells us to test ourselves:

II Corinthians 13:5 - verb: peirazo

II Corinthians 13:5:

^.5You must make-trial-of yourselves if you are in the belief, you must prove yourselves, or don't you fully-know yourselves that Christ Jesus (is) in you since (it is) not-something (that) you are unapproved-people.

Paul writes to the Corinthian holy-people (Christians)...

• You must make trial of yourselves (try yourselves, in the good sense of putting yourselves to the test in order to ascertain)
  • if you are within the belief (behaving within the sphere of action of the faith, trust relative to God and the things of God).

You must prove yourselves (put yourselves to the test, examine yourselves so as to approve or disapprove this to be the case).

Or don't you fully-know yourselves (don't you have full, clear and exact personal knowledge about yourselves) that…

• the resurrected Christ Jesus is within you right now in the holy-spirit category (refer also to Colossians 1:27) –
  • since it is not true that you are unapproved-people (people who are not approved by God or by the Lord Jesus Christ, people who have not passed the test or examination - those who have not received the gift of holy spirit).

These holy-people were approved in the spirit category; each one of them had holy spirit-life within them. However, it was up to each one of them to live their everyday lives according to that foundation of belief which they had been taught by Paul and others.

They were sons of God and that would not change in the holy spirit category - but their close-fellowship relationship with God depended on whether or not they continued to believe and obey God and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the state of their walk (behavior, conduct) may have fluctuated away from the belief that God has given all of us to believe during this day and time - His Word to/for us.

 

Hebrews chapter 5 tells us that people who have not been tested remain immature in their behavior:

Hebrews 5:13 - adjective: apeiros

Hebrews 5:12-14:

^.12...and you became² having need of milk not solid nourishment, ^.13for every-person sharing of milk (is) untried of (the) word of righteousness for he is an infant, ^.14but the solid nourishment is of complete-people, the (complete-people) having – because-of the habit – the perceptions (in the state of) having been exercised² towards through-judgment of both beautiful and bad.

Paul writes: You became and continue to be in the state of having need of...

• milk (you need the information regarding God and the Lord Jesus Christ to be in very digestible milk, as an infant would need physical milk for healthy growth into maturity)
  • – not solid nourishment (literally ‘solid nourishment’ means: firm, stable sustenance from food eaten to maintain physical life - but figuratively this means: you have become unable to eat and digest the solid nourishment of God's Word).

In truth, all/every person sharing (partaking) of milk...

• is untried of (untested regarding, inexperienced in)
  • the word of righteousness (justness, justice, the spoken account pertaining-to being and doing what is just/right from God's viewpoint)
• for that person is an infant.

An “infant” in this context figuratively refers to a person who walks (behaves) as a minor being under-age, who conducts himself immaturely, as a baby without the power of speech and so being childish without the power of adult/mature speech, as-opposed to those who are wise and understanding.

Paul is using a figure of speech to emphasize the contrast in the behavior category between holy-people who conduct themselves as infants and those who conduct themselves as mature, complete people.

We should recognize that this refers to the walk/behavior category, to being receptive to God’s Word communicated either via what has already been written, or God’s words told to them by another holy-person, or via their own holy spirit-life, or via whatever method God or the Lord Jesus Christ may communicate God’s intention.

The truth regarding the holy spirit category is that all holy-people are complete spiritually (having reached and arrived at God's intended ending-issue available today for us). We are perfect because each holy-person has already received the gift of holy spirit; therefore we are spiritually complete and this truth cannot change in the spirit category.

Regarding the walk (behavior, conduct) category - Paul writes:

• every person sharing of milk is untried of the word of righteousness for he is an infant –
• but the solid nourishment is of (it belongs-to and is for)
• complete-people,
  • emphatically and specifically the complete-people
  • who have
    • because of the habit (on account of the habitual practice, the repeated mode of behavior that they have, the manner of continually conducting themselves),
  • their perceptions (their faculties of perceiving, their abilities to sense)
    • in the state of being already exercised (trained as a gymnast without any hindrance) and they are continuing in this exercised state
• – for what purpose? –
• towards through-judgment (making a distinction)
  • of both
  • beautiful (that-which has a manifested decorous, harmonious and acceptable goodness from God’s viewpoint, what is a beautiful thing evidencing the beauty of God and His Word)
  • and bad (that-which is contrary to God’s intention from God’s viewpoint, what is a bad thing evidencing badness).

 

Hebrews chapter 11 details the time when Abraham was tested:

Hebrews 11:17 - verb: peirazo

Hebrews 11:17-19:

^.17In belief – he, being made-trial-of, offered² Isaac, even the (person) having accepted the promises used-to-offer the only-begotten, ^.18towards whom it was uttered-forth that “In Isaac seed will be called to you”, ^.19having calculated that even out-from dead-people God (is) able to raise (him) up, from-which he even brought him to-himself in a parable.

Within the sphere of action of the belief that God communicated – Abraham…

• being made-trial-of (being tried, in the good sense of being put to the test in order for God to ascertain certain information regarding Abraham; God is the One Who tested Abraham as recorded in Genesis chapter 22 and God does not tempt anyone to go against His Word, refer to James 1:13),

…offered Isaac (Abraham brought/carried Isaac towards God, Isaac being the intended offering to be killed; he did exactly what God told him to do in bringing his son Isaac to be offered to God)…

• with emphasis Abraham,
  • the person having accepted the promises (he had welcomed, willingly taken-up the promises to himself as a person would welcome, be readily receptive-of, embrace a beloved guest taking responsibility to perform all that was required of him),
• used to offer the only-begotten (he spent time making the offering, it was not a 5-minute deal, he was offering his only-begotten son, Isaac, during that past time),
  • towards whom (with a purposed reference to Isaac)
  • it was uttered-forth that “In Isaac seed will be called to you” (God had spoken to Abraham with reference to his son Isaac that seed will be called to Abraham within the sphere of action of Isaac),
• having calculated (computed, reckoned, counted)
• that even out from among the dead-people God is able to raise him up (that God has the ability, the able-power, the capability to raise Isaac up alive from the rest of the dead-people after Abraham would have completed his offering killing him in the process; this corresponds to God’s initial promise in Genesis 3:15 regarding the Christ, the Messiah),

…from which fact with emphasis Abraham brought Isaac to-himself (he received, took and carried his son Isaac to/with himself whom he acquired from God as compensation or reward so as to preserve and take-care of him from that time onwards) – in a parable.

Literally a “parable” means to throw something beside or alongside something else, but here it refers to the fact that Abraham received Isaac back from God alive, not a dead offering but alive, which was an illustration used to serve as a comparison to the Christ who would be resurrected. This comparison was in certain respects only, not taking the whole event literally in every detail because every detail would not be applicable to the comparison.

Abraham passed the test - he became approved to/for God.

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