[B-Greek] articles on PEIRASMOS

Ann Nyland accuratebibles at ozemail.com.au
Fri Aug 15 19:18:36 EDT 2003


Note that E.V. Rieu trans. the word as "ordeal" (though as Jeffrey points
out, there's more to it than that). James 1:13 - note APEIRASTOS which
occurs only here in the N.T. It's a rare word in the documentary (papyri and
inscriptions) evidence. See I.Smyrna (Smyrna, II-III), honorific text,
"Elpidianos, sacred [slave], honors his master Marcus Aurelius Soterikhos,
the nomothetes-strategos, and commander of armed men who puts no one through
an ordeal."

Don't forget, the word "sin" and "lusts" has been added to many English
translations, confusing the issue. Also, the word "desires" is too strong
for me as an English word - I prefer "wants and wishes" for EPIQUMIA. The
word itself does not have a negative connotation, and is used of good desire
in, for example, Luke 22:15 and Phil. 1:3. "Desires" can be ambiguous in the
English language. Note that most translations don't have Paul having an evil
lust of the flesh to visit the Romans in Romans 15:23.

I have not come across any evidence that the word can mean "temptation".

Ann Nyland

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Robie" <jonathan.robie at datadirect.com>
To: "Jeffrey B. Gibson" <jgibson000 at comcast.net>; "Biblical Greek"
<b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2003 7:29 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] articles on PEIRASMOS


> At 03:21 PM 8/15/2003, Jeffrey B. Gibson wrote:
> >I have uploaded several files on PEIRASMOS and PEIRAZW, including my
> >DNTB entry on "Testing and Trial in Secular Greek Thought", to the
> >following page:
> >
> >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JBGibsonWritings/files/
>
> Thanks - this is very helpful. Although I agree with your conclusion that
> PERIAMOS and PEIRAZW *usually* refer to a trial rather than temptation in
> the modern English sense, I currently still find it difficult to believe
> that it *never* means temptation.
>
> I would be interested in your response to the following excerpt from my
> original email on this topic - modified to make it a little less
confusing,
> since my original wording was not precise:
>
> >In verses 13-14, though, the word PEIRAZW seems to be linked to a
person's
> >desires, which lead him astray:
> >
> >James 1:13-15 MHDEIS PEIRAZOMENOS LEGETW hOTI APW QEOU PEIRAZOMAI; hO GAR
> >QEOS APEIRASTOS ESTI KAKON, PERAZEI DE AUTOS OUDENA. hEKASTOS DE
> >PEIRAZETAI hUPO THS IDIAS EPIQUMIAS EXELKOMENOS KAI DELEAZOMENOS; EITA hH
> >EPIQUMIA SULLABOUSA TIKTEI hAMARTIAN, hH DE hAMARTIA APOTELESQEISA
APOKUEI
> >QANATON.
> >
> >Especially the close linkage to the phrase EXELKOMENOS KAI DELEAZOMENOS,
> >drawing the person out and baiting them, seems to refer to enticing
> >someone or tempting them. In verses 2-3, PIERAZW seems refer to trials
> >that need to be endured, in 13-15 it seems to refer to appetites that can
> >result in us being hooked like a fish
> >
> >To me, this indicates that the word PEIRAZW refers to testing, which may
> >include testing either by persecution or temptation.
>
> Another verse where PEIRAZW seems to have a meaning linked to temptation
is
> Galations 6:1:
>
> Gal 6:1 (WEB) Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who
> are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;
> looking to yourself so that you also aren't tempted.
>
> The last phrase of this in Greek is: SKOPWN SEAUTON, MH KAI SU PEIRASQHS.
>
> In this context, the implication seems to be that if someone else has
> fallen into sin, and we engage with them, we may also face temptation
> through this contact. I do not know how to construe this verse without the
> sense of temptation.
>
> How do you interpret these verses?
>
> Jonathan
>
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