Expert: Dean Gade - 9/17/2005

Question
Dear Dean,
I am writing a paper on temptation therefore I need a definition of it. please give me a definition of it in theology and insert your source if possible.
regards, P.

Answer
The word for "Temptation " in the New Testatment Greek means: a putting to proof  solicitation, discipline.  It is like a test...not always in a good sense because when applied to God it can mean making God prove Himself to us.

Temptation is NOT sin.  Giving in to temptation to do evil IS sin.

Jesus was tempted, but did not sin.  Even when we are mature Christians, we still have instances when we give in to temptations from the devil, the world and even our own flesh.

Here are some verses which speak about temptation:

Matt 26:41
41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

1 Cor 10:13
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Tim 6:9-10
9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Matt 4:1-4
4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Heb 2:17-18
17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Heb 4:14-16

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need

James 1:13-15

13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
(all above from New International Version)