1 Corinthians 10:13

1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

a. NLT: The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

b. NIV: No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it.

c. YLT: No temptation hath taken you -- except human; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able, but He will make, with the temptation, also the outlet, for your being able to bear it.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

e. Worrell Translation: A temptation has not taken you, except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able, but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man…”

a. There hath…taken [2983 *  lambano] [Strong: a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas 1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while 138 is more violent, to seize or remove)):--accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).]

1). Albert Barnes New Testament Commentary: Seized upon you, or assailed you. As when an enemy grasps us, and attempts to hold us fast.

b. no [3756 * ou; also (before a vowel) ouk, and (before an aspirate) ouch] [Strong: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

c. temptation [3986 * peirasmos][Zodhiates: Trial, temptation, a putting to the test, spoken of persons only…] [Strong: from 3985; a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity:--temptation, X try.]

1). The Greek word used in 1 Corinthians 10:13 for “temptation” is the same word used in describing the temptations the devil used to get Christ Jesus to sin.

a). Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

d. you [5209 * humas] [Strong: accusative case of 5210; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).]

e. but 1508 * ei me] [Strong: from 1487 and 3361; if not:--but, except (that), if not, more than, save (only) that, saving, till.]

f. such common to man [442 * anthropinos][Zodhiates: Human, belonging to man, his manners, customs, nature or condition.] [Strong: from 444; human:--human, common to man, man(-kind), (man-)kind, men's, after the manner of men.]

1). In my years as a Christian I have heard many times the phrase, “God will never put more on you than you can bear”, or “God will not give me more than I can handle”, or something similar. I have agreed and said “Amen!” many times to the phrase, but in reality, the phrase is not in the Bible. It is a very unscriptural phrase.  I will not say the phrase any longer and I will not Amen the phrase when it is spoken to me. The Scripture that it’s supposedly taken from, 1 Corinthians 10:13, says nothing about God putting anything on us. This verse is a very specific promise that speaks about God providing an escape from temptation and that’s really all it says.

2). The context of this verse is clearly referring to being tempted to sin against God. 1 Corinthians 10:1-10 references the many examples of Israel in their temptations and how they failed and walked in sin and they were listed by Paul as a warning to us.

a). 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

3). Temptations are not from God, they are from the devil and things he throws into our path to get us to sin against God.

a). James 1:12-15 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

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4). What this means is that we as individuals are not going to be tempted with something that a man or woman hasn’t gone through before us or after us.

a). [New Living Translation] “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience…”

b). [Amplified Bible] “For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]…”

2. “…but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able…”

a. but [1161 * de] [Strong: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. God [2316 * theos] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

c. is faithful [4103 * pistos] [Strong: from 3982; objectively, trustworthy; subjectively, trustful:--believe(-ing, -r), faithful(-ly), sure, true.]

d. who [3739 * hos;  including feminine he, and neuter ho] [Strong: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

e. will…suffer [1439 * eao] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; to let be, i.e. permit or leave alone:--commit, leave, let (alone), suffer.]

f. not [3756 * ou; also (before a vowel) ouk, and (before an aspirate) ouch] [Strong: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

g. you [5209 * humas] [Strong: accusative case of 5210; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).]

h. to be tempted [3985 * peirazo] [Strong: from 3984; to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:--assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt(-er), try.]

i. above [5228 * huper] [Strong: a primary preposition; "over", i.e. (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case superior to, more than:--(+ exceeding, abundantly) above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding (above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for sake of, in stead, than, to(-ward), very. In the comparative, it retains many of the above applications.]

j. that  [3739 * hos;  including feminine he, and neuter ho] [Strong: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

k. ye are able [1410 * dunamai] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible:--be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power.]

1). In light of these truths, interjecting into this verse the philosophy of, “God won’t put more on me than what I can bear”, is blaming God for all our temptations. Whenever I hear this phrase it is when people are being pummeled by problems and crisis, one after another and they say, “Well God promised that He won’t put more on me than what I can bear.” What we need to do is start taking authority over the devil who is the real cause of these things and quit blaming God.

2). This is a Covenant promise that God will not allow us to be tempted above and beyond what we are able to handle. It means that we can never find an excuse for our sin. This however does not include us willfully and knowingly engaging in behavior that is giving provision to the flesh. For instance, if I have a problem with alcoholism I can’t walk into a bar voluntarily and expect God to not allow me to be tempted above what I am able to resist.

3. “…but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

a. but [235 * alla] [Strong: neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]

b. will…make [4160 * poieo] [Strong: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield.]

c. with [4862 * sun] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting union; with or together (but much closer than 3326 or 3844), i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.:--beside, with. In composition it has similar applications, including completeness.]

d. the temptation [3986 * peirasmos] [Strong: from 3985; a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication, adversity:--temptation, X try.]

e. also [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

f. a way to escape [1545 * ekbasis] [Strong: from a compound of 1537 and the base of 939 (meaning to go out); an exit (literally or figuratively):--end, way to escape.]

g. that ye [5209 * humas] [Strong: accusative case of 5210; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).]

h. may be able [1410 * dunamai] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible:--be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power.]

i. to bear it [5297 * hupophero] [Strong: from 5259 and 5342; to bear from underneath, i.e. (figuratively) to undergo hardship:--bear, endure.]

1). The temptation is never from God, it always originates from the devil and is picked up and carried by our weaknesses. Here is the great Covenant promise that when the devil throws a temptation to us that God in His loving faithfulness to us will always provide a way out of the temptation, that we in faithfulness can endure the temptation and escape it without sinning against our heavenly Father. Our example in this is of course Jesus. In his life and ministry Jesus experienced every temptation that we experienced.

a). Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

2). Jesus always responded to temptation with the Scripture.

a). Matthew 4:1-11 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

3). The text of 1 Corinthians 10:13 declare that God will always provide an escape for the temptations of the devil. The escape, as Jesus demonstrated in his life and ministry is the Word. We are to respond to temptations with the Word!

a). Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

b). Psalm 17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

4). Within this New Covenant there are such great promises that God has provided to us through Jesus Christ, one of which is to provide for us the ability to escape temptation.

a). Hebrews 2:1-3  Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

5). If we neglect God’s provision for us to escape temptation, then there is no escape and we will fall into sin.

a). Hebrews 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

6). But even then, if we do sin, God has provided forgiveness and mercy that when we do sin, he will forgive us when we confess our sins to him.

a). 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

b) Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.