παραζόμενος, while tempted, in the course of temptation. Such a primitive form of error may have arisen from a perverted inference from the petition in the Lord’s Prayer: μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν, Matthew 6:13. St James’ words reveal the secret of temptation. However external the inducements to it may appear, its root is within. Comp. Sir 15:11 ff.

ἀπὸ θεοῦ. ἀπὸ denotes origin simply, not agency. Winer, P. III. § xlvii. b note 2.

ἀπείραστος, for classical ἀπείρατος. κακῶν, genitive of source, ‘untempted by evil.’ Comp. ἄκλαυτος φίλων, Soph. Ant. 847; κακῶν�, Aesch. Theb. 875; Winer, P. III. § XXX. 4. Others render as R.V. marg. ‘untried in evil.’ But ἀπείραστος is clearly in connexion with the attendant verbs πειράζομαι, πειράζει, and must have the same signification which they bear. There is no real theological difficulty. Absolute freedom from the power of temptation precludes the possibility of tempting others.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising

Old Testament