This series is taken from a blog post Pastor Scott wrote: Am I saved? Seven tests to know! There are some differences, but they will be reconciled when the class concludes. While none of us enjoy trials (which is why James 1:2 commands us to "count" them as joy versus "feel" joy), one of the blessings from them is the greater confidence they can give us in our salvation: James 1:3 says trials "[test] your faith." In what sense? To see if it survives trials.
1 Peter 1:7 says trials "prove" or "reveal" the "genuineness of our faith." Here are the Greek and Hebrew words Pastor Scott discussed during the message. The hyperlinked words take you to Blue Letter Bible where you can see the greater details of each... New Testament (Greek) words: "Trials" in James 1:2 and 1 Peter 1:6 is peirasmos, occurring 21 times in the NT and it means: "a trial, proving: adversity, affliction, trouble sent by God and serving to test or prove one's character, faith, holiness."
"Testing" in James 1:3 and "genuineness" in 1 Peter 1:7 is dokimion, occurring only in these two verses and it means, "the proving; that by which something is tried or proved, a test." Old Testament (Hebrew) words: "Tested" or "proved" is nacah, occurring 36 times in the OT and it means, "to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test."
"Know" is yada', occurring 947 times in the OT and it means, "to know", but it describes a very intimate knowledge. For example, "Genesis 4:1 Adam knew (yada') his wife, and she conceived." |
