Temptation week 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Temptation week 2 - Essay Example ?bahan’ and is used to denote either ‘testing of buildings and precious metals’ (see 1 Cor 3:13; 1 Peter 1:7 New Revised Standard Version) or testing of the Christian character (Rom 5:4 New Revised Standard Version, cited in Deasley, 1997). Another Greek term in the New Testament for ‘testing of persons’ is (peirazw) peirazo. The theme of testing runs through most of the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments (see Gen 22:1, 42:15; Deut 4:34; also 1 Peter 1:7; 2 Cor 13:5; Rom 5:4; James 1:2-3; Gal 6:1; Heb 11:17 New Revised Standard Version). Thus, not only Christians are encouraged to test their belief, strength of will and fortitude, but also people are tested for their honesty, knowledge, etc. Even Jesus has been tested, though with intent to be discredited, by the Pharisees (see Matt 16:1; Mark 10:2 New Revised Standard Version); while people have been put to the test by God in order to reveal their qualities, thoughts and obedience (see Jer 12:13; 1 Chron 29:17 New Revised Standard Version). This is especially the case of those who exercised an all-important role in God’s purposes, such as Abraham, as well as the prophets and the people of Israel (see Gen 22:1; Exod 15:25; Deut 8:2 New Revised Standard Version). Another theme that appears noticeable in the Holy Scripture is the one of temptation (Gen 3:4-6; Matt 4:3; Mark 1:13; Acts 5:3 New Revised Standard Version); the theme is especially prominent at the critical points in Jesus’s ministry and redemptive mission, most notably His baptism and death on the cross (Deasley, 1997). Being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, Jesus rejected protection, provision and power over the world, though fake one, which were offered to Him in exchange for deviation from His divinely appointed mission, and thus succeeded where Israel had failed (Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-12 New Revised Standard Version). The second major test had been in the garden of Gethsemane, where, according to the Synoptic Gospels,