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James - Days 11 & 12
Is God Tempted? Does God Tempt?
I asked you to consider the following three questions as you studied James yesterday:
- James said, "God cannot be tempted." How do you explain verses like Num. 14:22, Deu. 6:16, and Psa. 95:8-9 in light of James' statement?
- As a corollary to the previous question, how do you explain the temptation of Christ (Mat. 4:1)? We believe Christ was God. We believe God can't be tempted. Christ was tempted.
- James told us that God doesn't tempt any man. How do you explain verses like Genesis 22:1 and 2Sa. 24:1in light of James' statement?
I'm going to leave this post up today and tomorrow to give you a chance to share what you've discovered as you tried to answer these questions. To post a comment, just click on the blue Comments link at the end of this post in type in what you've found. We'll review the results together on Thursday and then continue on with our verse by verse study on Friday. Thanks for participating.
KeithPosted by Keith Gardner | ∞ |
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Tempting God: I did a quick Greek search of 'temptation' and I'm not sure of the significance of it, but in the OT when people were talked of tempting God, the word 'nacah' is used meaning to test or try. In the NT, temptation is 'peirazo' when it pertains to humans, meaning trials or testings. 'Apeirazo' (the negative form of peirazo) is used when it pertains to God. I'm not a Greek scholar or even a student so I'm not sure why the two different words are used. My guess is that it shows the depravity of the Israelites (the Bible says God can't be tempted, but it doesn't say that people won't try). In the NT, it's talking about a human condition.
Temptation of Christ: Temptation is a part of life. Christ, while being 100% God was also 100% man and had to go through the same trials as we do. Like God allowing Satan to tempt Job, Christ allowed himself to be tempted by Satan. He conquered sin in His life as well as His death.
Temptation of Abraham and David: God allows temptation when it is a test not to make someone more faithful but to reveal their faith to themselves. It's not so much temptation as it is a character builder.
Posted by: Heather | November 22, 2005 8:25 AM