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that ye may be tried" (Rev. 2: 10). The sequel, "faithful unto death" and the "crown of
life", provides sufficient evidence to establish the meaning of this reference. Rev. 3: 10
we have already considered when dealing with the hour of temptation which is coming
upon the world "to try" the earth-dwellers.
The word peira, which lies at the root of the words translated "tempt", "temptation",
"try" and "prove", means a point, or an edge, or, as we would call it, a "probe". It is a
well-known phenomenon in language for "b" and "v" to be interchangeable,
consequently we are not surprised to learn that the verb "to prove" comes from probare,
"to test as to its goodness", which in turn comes from the word probus, "good". So we
find such words as "probable", "probation", "probity", all coming from the same root,
and having the basic meaning of "testing for goodness".
The word "probe" means either an instrument, or the act of searching, exploring and
trying. In the great majority of the passages where "tempt" and "temptation" occur in the
N.T., the meaning is just this "probing to discover whether goodness is present", and only
in a few passages can the popular idea of "tempting to commit sin by solicitations and an
appeal to evil desires within" be discovered.
We return therefore to the original verse that caused this examination, and rejoice to
know that in all the "probing" and "testing" that must be undergone on the way to glory,
we have both the sympathy and the succour of Him Who was tempted in all points like
his brethren, "sin excepted". Where temptation issues in sin, not sympathy, succour and
infirmity, but forgiveness and restoration are needed, and forthcoming, but in such
experiences the Son of God can have had no part. He needed not forgiveness, he was
never deflected, he needed not to be restored.
In conclusion we would draw the reader's attention to the equivalent words used in the
O.T. First, those in the A.V.
(1)
Nasah . . . To Try, Prove; Example Gen. 22: 1
(2)
Massah . . . A Trying; Ex. Psalm 95: 8.
(3)
Bachan . . . To Try, Test; Ex. Mal. 3: 15.
In addition to these, peira (Gk.) and derivatives translate various Hebrew words,
which are not translated "tempt" or "temptation in the A.V. These we give to make
the evidence complete.
(4)
Inyan . . . Travail, Business. Eccles. 5: 3.
(5)
Gadad . . . A Troop. Gen. 49: 19.
(6)
Tseba . . . Host, "Appointed time". Job 7: 1.
(7)
Lahah . . . A Madman. Prov. 26: 18.
Tromm lists a few various readings, none of which make any difference to the results
already obtained. They are too complicated to set out here, and indeed the reader who is
so far advanced as to be able to follow any such attempt would already be independent of
our help, these articles not being written for such.
May we count it all joy that we are counted worthy of being tested, and flee all
solicitations to the "old man" within us. Realizing that the one form of temptation but