Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God" [for temptation does not originate from God, but from our own flaws]; for God cannot be tempted by [what is] evil, and He Himself tempts no one. |
Bible Question: Can God in fact be tempted? If translated correctly by modern English Bibles, this verse would say that it is impossible for God to be tempted. But then we have passages like Mt 4.1 ff. (temptations in wilderness) and Heb. 4.15 that tell us that Jesus was in fact tempted. If Jesus is God in the flesh (and yes, I am convinced of the deity of Jesus), how are we to understand this verse? Do the modern English versions (which all seem to basically agree on the reading of the text) translate this verse well? I have had someone recently suggest that the verse would be better translated as "God ought not to be tempted." I do not know Greek well enough to deal with the translation issues, so if anyone can shed some light on that, I would appreciate it. Also, I think I have an answer for how these verses can all be reconciled using the modern English readings, but I would very much like to hear from others on how they understand this verse first. So if anyone would be willing to share how you interpret (understand) this verse, especially in comparison to Mt 4.1 and Heb. 4.15, I would greatly appreciate it! |
Bible Answer: NASB James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. AMPLIFIED James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one. Subject: yes Note: Dear Humbled by his Grace, Ask yourself: Who is the tempter? Matt 4:1 "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." Who can be tempted? The obvious: mankind, those who are in a flesh, bone and blood, body, including Jesus! But the difference in mankind in general, and Jesus specifically, is Phil 2:6-11 (see v. 8 the focus) "And being found in fashion as a man, he HUMBLED himself, and became OBEDIENT (to whom? God)unto death (how long on earth? up to and including)the death of the cross." Note in V. 7 that man is defined as a servant, and Jesus came in that form, so when he was completely obedient to God the Father, in that servant form,called mankind, God had the one obedient man he needed to defeat satan!!!!! Ro 5:19 "For as by one man's (the servant form, the first Adam)disobedience many were MADE sinners, so by the obedience of one (the servant MAN, the second, and last, Adam, Jesus)shall many be MADE righteous." What is good? Micah 6:8 God has showed you O Man what is good; and what does the Lord Require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (margin says: to humble yourself to walk with God). What is evil? The opposite of Good: to do unjustly, to hate mercy, to be disobedient and refuse to walk with God. Micah 6:8 What does evil do? Evil tempts God by disobedience! Matt 4:7 Jesus said to satan, "It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God." What does good do? Mal 3:6 "I am the Lord, I change not" Good doesn't have to change, only evil has to change. Who is the source of evil? John 10:10 The thief. Is God a thief? No! But satan is a thief! The thief comes not except to steal, to kill and to destroy. Who does the Bible say Jesus is the exact image of? Heb 1:3 "who (Jesus) being the brightness of his (God the Fathers) glory, and the express (exact) image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty (God the Father) on high;" Who is the source of good? James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." I John 1:5 God is light John 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light.... Is God evil? No, he is the source of all good, light,life and good gifts! Is satan good? No, he is the source of all evil, darkness, death, and killing, stealing and destroying. I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because YOUR adversary the devil, AS a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he MAY devour." He knows he can't devour God. He is NOT a roaring lion, he is only acting like one. He is seeking people, who can be devoured by his lies, I just don't let him. How do you prevent him from devouring you? John 8:31-32 Jesus said, keep turning the page, and do what I say...i.e. "If you continue in my word... then ...you are my disciples; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall MAKE you free." When you rightly divide the word of God, and discern good and evil, you will have been exercised fully. Strong meat is: the word of God Heb 5:12-13 Exercise is: knowing good and evil, and choosing good and refusing evil. Heb 5:14,Isa 7:15 Always in Christ, C.S.M. |