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f. 19v Temptations; conversions by John the BaptistUnknown (likely commissioned by a Dominican friar) · c. 1320-1330

Temptation(offenses)

/temp-TAY-shun/

Summary

Temptation in Scripture refers both to trials that test faith and to solicitations toward evil, with God providing the way of escape for His people.

☩Testing and Trial

Scripture uses the concept of temptation to describe both divine testing and satanic enticement. God tested Abraham by commanding the sacrifice of Isaac, not to cause him to sin but to prove his faith. The wilderness wanderings tested Israel to reveal what was in their hearts. James distinguishes between testing, which God uses for good, and temptation to evil, which comes from within: '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.'

Key verses:Genesis 22:1Deuteronomy 8:2James 1:13-14

☩Sources of Temptation

Temptation to sin arises from three sources: the world with its enticements, the flesh with its desires, and the devil with his deceptions. Eve was tempted through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Satan tempted David to number Israel and actively seeks to sift believers as wheat. James explains that each person 'is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.'

Key verses:Genesis 3:1-61 Chronicles 21:11 John 2:16James 1:14-15

☩Victory Over Temptation

Christ's temptation in the wilderness provides the model for overcoming: He met each temptation with the word of God. Because He was 'in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin,' He can help those who are tempted. God promises that He will not allow believers to be tempted beyond what they can bear and will provide a way of escape. Prayer, vigilance, and reliance on God's Word are the believer's defenses.

Key verses:Matthew 4:1-111 Corinthians 10:13Hebrews 2:18Hebrews 4:15

Related Verses141 mentions

Proverbs· 14 verses

1:102:102:164:144:15

Luke· 11 verses

4:14:138:138:1411:4

Deuteronomy· 10 verses

4:347:198:28:58:11

Genesis· 9 verses

3:112:1918:1320:620:9

See Also

1/2
Livre de la Vigne nostre Seigneur, fol. 122r
Demons
Abraham's sacrifice from a manuscript from the 14th century
Faith
Satan
Satan
Stumbling
Stumbling

References

  1. 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Temptation," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  2. 2.James Orr (ed.), "Temptation," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
  3. 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Temptation," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
  4. 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Temptation," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
  5. 5.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Temptation," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).