Testing & Trial – Two Kinds
There are two Greek words that are translated by most English versions as trial, test or tempt. In the 1600’s the word "tempt" meant to test. Today it means to entice or seduce for the purpose of getting another person to sin or commit a crime. The Greek words and their Hebrew equivalents explain more about what the Bible is talking about regarding this important subject.
The first word is peirazo {pi-rad'-zo} which means to try and test with the purpose of discovering what good or evil, what power or weakness is in a person or thing. From Thayer’s Lexicon we have this partial definition: "in a bad sense, to test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgments." This word is sometimes use in connection with God’s trials but is more often used when talking about the Pharisees testing Jesus (Mark 8:11; Luke 10:25; Mark 12:15) and used when Satan causes trials (1Cor. 7:5; Matt. 4:1). This word is used in John 6:6 when Jesus asked Phillip a question to "test" him or "prove" him.
"Peirazo" in the Greek compares to "massa" in the Hebrew. This word is used when David put the armor that Saul gave him to the test (1Sam. 17:39). It is also used in 1Kings 10:1 of the Queen of Sheba who had heard of Solomon’s wisdom & knowledge and put him to the test.
The other Greek word is dokimazo {dok-im-ad'-zo} which is never used in connection with Satan. This word means the act of testing for the purpose of approval. The word was found in a manuscript dated about 140 A.D. where it was used in a plea for exemption of physicians "who passed the examination (dokimazo). It is translated "approve" and "sanction" as well as test or tempt, or prove. A good illustration is Luke 14:19 where the man invited to dinner asked to be excused because, "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them." This test is done in expectation and hope of a victorious announcement. Satan never tests us with the hope of approving us. He only tests with the hope that we will fail as he did with Job. He hoped Job would break under the stress of severe trial and test and the he would curse God.
The word is used in passages like Rom. 1:28 where they refused to approve to retain God in their knowledge. "Dokimazo" is used in 1Cor. 3:13 where every man’s word will be tried (dokimazo) by fire to "try" it to see what sort it is. But God expects that our work will pass the test for a victorious announcement! We read, "But let each one test (dokimazo) his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor" (Gal. 6:4 RSV).
A SIN TO TEST GOD: While we do put men to the test, we are not to put God to the test. A test of God is a defiant challenge to prove His words and promises are true and just. This is a sin because of lack of faith. The Israelites had seen God power, His miracles in Egypt and through the Red Sea. They witnessed the devastation of Egypt when God passed over them but struck the first born in Egypt. Yet they still doubted and lacking faith needed to put God to the test. Those who put God to the test are condemned (Ex. 17:2; Num.14:22-23; Ps. 78:18, 41,56; Ps.95:9; Mal. 3:15; Acts 5:9; 15:10). When Israel did it it went down in history to be talked about over and over.
Testing God amounts to putting God on trial. "We don’t know, God, whether your words are true or not. We don’t know whether you have the power you say you have or not. In effect, we don’t know whether you are lying to us or not!"
There was a place named as a memorial of the Israelites testing (massa) God (Ex. 17:7) as a perpetual reminder! To goad God shows extreme irreverence and God forbids it! See Deut. 6:16. This is the Scripture Jesus quoted when the "tempter" (peirazo, another designation for Satan) came to Him. In effect, Satan was saying, if you really are the Son of God, then jump off the temple mount and God has promised to put His angels and protect you. This amounted to putting God and His Son on trial. Jesus knew what Satan was doing and said, "You shall not tempt (test, put to the test = peirazo) the Lord your God" (Matt. 4:7).
However, God tests us by putting us in situations which reveal the quality of our faith and devotion to see what is in our hearts (minds). He did it to Abraham (Gen. 22:1). He did it to Israel (Ex. 16;14; 20:20; Deut. 8:2, 16; 2; 13:3). He did it to Hezekiah (2Chron. 32:31).
God purifies us by this as a metal is purified (Ps. 66:10; Isa. 48:10; Zech. 13:9; 1Pet. 1:6-8. We are strengthened and matured by this process (James 1:2-4;12; 1Pet. 5:10). Through our faithfulness in the trials we become approved (James 1:2; 1Cor. 11:19).
Next time we will examine how Satan tests us and the tools he uses.
The first word is peirazo {pi-rad'-zo} which means to try and test with the purpose of discovering what good or evil, what power or weakness is in a person or thing. From Thayer’s Lexicon we have this partial definition: "in a bad sense, to test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgments." This word is sometimes use in connection with God’s trials but is more often used when talking about the Pharisees testing Jesus (Mark 8:11; Luke 10:25; Mark 12:15) and used when Satan causes trials (1Cor. 7:5; Matt. 4:1). This word is used in John 6:6 when Jesus asked Phillip a question to "test" him or "prove" him.
"Peirazo" in the Greek compares to "massa" in the Hebrew. This word is used when David put the armor that Saul gave him to the test (1Sam. 17:39). It is also used in 1Kings 10:1 of the Queen of Sheba who had heard of Solomon’s wisdom & knowledge and put him to the test.
The other Greek word is dokimazo {dok-im-ad'-zo} which is never used in connection with Satan. This word means the act of testing for the purpose of approval. The word was found in a manuscript dated about 140 A.D. where it was used in a plea for exemption of physicians "who passed the examination (dokimazo). It is translated "approve" and "sanction" as well as test or tempt, or prove. A good illustration is Luke 14:19 where the man invited to dinner asked to be excused because, "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them." This test is done in expectation and hope of a victorious announcement. Satan never tests us with the hope of approving us. He only tests with the hope that we will fail as he did with Job. He hoped Job would break under the stress of severe trial and test and the he would curse God.
The word is used in passages like Rom. 1:28 where they refused to approve to retain God in their knowledge. "Dokimazo" is used in 1Cor. 3:13 where every man’s word will be tried (dokimazo) by fire to "try" it to see what sort it is. But God expects that our work will pass the test for a victorious announcement! We read, "But let each one test (dokimazo) his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor" (Gal. 6:4 RSV).
A SIN TO TEST GOD: While we do put men to the test, we are not to put God to the test. A test of God is a defiant challenge to prove His words and promises are true and just. This is a sin because of lack of faith. The Israelites had seen God power, His miracles in Egypt and through the Red Sea. They witnessed the devastation of Egypt when God passed over them but struck the first born in Egypt. Yet they still doubted and lacking faith needed to put God to the test. Those who put God to the test are condemned (Ex. 17:2; Num.14:22-23; Ps. 78:18, 41,56; Ps.95:9; Mal. 3:15; Acts 5:9; 15:10). When Israel did it it went down in history to be talked about over and over.
Testing God amounts to putting God on trial. "We don’t know, God, whether your words are true or not. We don’t know whether you have the power you say you have or not. In effect, we don’t know whether you are lying to us or not!"
There was a place named as a memorial of the Israelites testing (massa) God (Ex. 17:7) as a perpetual reminder! To goad God shows extreme irreverence and God forbids it! See Deut. 6:16. This is the Scripture Jesus quoted when the "tempter" (peirazo, another designation for Satan) came to Him. In effect, Satan was saying, if you really are the Son of God, then jump off the temple mount and God has promised to put His angels and protect you. This amounted to putting God and His Son on trial. Jesus knew what Satan was doing and said, "You shall not tempt (test, put to the test = peirazo) the Lord your God" (Matt. 4:7).
However, God tests us by putting us in situations which reveal the quality of our faith and devotion to see what is in our hearts (minds). He did it to Abraham (Gen. 22:1). He did it to Israel (Ex. 16;14; 20:20; Deut. 8:2, 16; 2; 13:3). He did it to Hezekiah (2Chron. 32:31).
God purifies us by this as a metal is purified (Ps. 66:10; Isa. 48:10; Zech. 13:9; 1Pet. 1:6-8. We are strengthened and matured by this process (James 1:2-4;12; 1Pet. 5:10). Through our faithfulness in the trials we become approved (James 1:2; 1Cor. 11:19).
Next time we will examine how Satan tests us and the tools he uses.
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