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1 Corinthians 10:13 says
"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."
In the context of the chapter, these verses were written after Paul began to talk about how the trials and temptations of those in the Old Testament were written as a example to us. He says this in verse 6 when he says
"Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did".
the things that he is referring to are incidents in the Old Testament such as times when the people of God engaged in idolatry or sexual immorality in the wilderness.
Rather, in verse 13 it seems to say that God will not push a person passed the point of no return or beyond your ability to bear it. But, will provide some way out so that the person can endure it.
He uses the word "escape" which is the transliterated word ekbasis which means an egress, an exit, way out.
He provides this way out so that the person can endure (hypophero) it which means to bear patiently, to bear by being under. Which seems to suggest to me not completely getting rid of it, but giving the person the strength to endure it.
I noticed that he used the same phrase twice in this passage first he said "you are able" dynamai and then later "so that you will be able" which is that same transliterated word meaning to be able to do something, to be capable, strong and powerful.
It's interesting to me that when you initially read the passage it sounds like the escape is a way to avoid the temptation and yet when you look more into the root word it seems like it is the strength to withstand it. Perhaps it is both as needed
Four points that are made in Matthew Henry's commentary about this passage that I want to point out:
1. "No temptation,' says the apostle, "hath yet taken you, but such as is common to man, what is human; that is, such as you may expect from men of such principles as heathens, and such power; or else such as is common to mankind in the present state; or else such as the spirit and resolution of mere men may bear you through.' Note, The trials of common Christians are but common trials: others have the like burdens and the like temptations; what they bear up under, and break through, we may also.
2. God is faithful. Though Satan be a deceiver, God is true. Men may be false, and the world may be false; but God is faithful, and our strength and security are in him. He keepeth his covenant, and will never disappoint the filial hope and trust of his children.
3. He is wise as well as faithful, and will proportion our burden to our strength. He will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able. He knows what we can bear, and what we can bear up against; and he will, in his wise providence, either proportion our temptations to our strength or make us able to grapple with them. He will take care that we be not overcome, if we rely upon him, and resolve to approve ourselves faithful to him. We need not perplex ourselves with the difficulties in our way when God will take care that they shall not be too great for us to encounter, especially.
4. When he will make them to issue well. He will make a way to escape, either the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. There is no valley so dark but he can find a way through it, no affliction so grievous but he can prevent, or remove, or enable us to support it, and in the end overrule it to our advantage.
"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."
In the context of the chapter, these verses were written after Paul began to talk about how the trials and temptations of those in the Old Testament were written as a example to us. He says this in verse 6 when he says
"Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did".
the things that he is referring to are incidents in the Old Testament such as times when the people of God engaged in idolatry or sexual immorality in the wilderness.
Rather, in verse 13 it seems to say that God will not push a person passed the point of no return or beyond your ability to bear it. But, will provide some way out so that the person can endure it.
He uses the word "escape" which is the transliterated word ekbasis which means an egress, an exit, way out.
He provides this way out so that the person can endure (hypophero) it which means to bear patiently, to bear by being under. Which seems to suggest to me not completely getting rid of it, but giving the person the strength to endure it.
I noticed that he used the same phrase twice in this passage first he said "you are able" dynamai and then later "so that you will be able" which is that same transliterated word meaning to be able to do something, to be capable, strong and powerful.
It's interesting to me that when you initially read the passage it sounds like the escape is a way to avoid the temptation and yet when you look more into the root word it seems like it is the strength to withstand it. Perhaps it is both as needed
Four points that are made in Matthew Henry's commentary about this passage that I want to point out:
1. "No temptation,' says the apostle, "hath yet taken you, but such as is common to man, what is human; that is, such as you may expect from men of such principles as heathens, and such power; or else such as is common to mankind in the present state; or else such as the spirit and resolution of mere men may bear you through.' Note, The trials of common Christians are but common trials: others have the like burdens and the like temptations; what they bear up under, and break through, we may also.
2. God is faithful. Though Satan be a deceiver, God is true. Men may be false, and the world may be false; but God is faithful, and our strength and security are in him. He keepeth his covenant, and will never disappoint the filial hope and trust of his children.
3. He is wise as well as faithful, and will proportion our burden to our strength. He will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able. He knows what we can bear, and what we can bear up against; and he will, in his wise providence, either proportion our temptations to our strength or make us able to grapple with them. He will take care that we be not overcome, if we rely upon him, and resolve to approve ourselves faithful to him. We need not perplex ourselves with the difficulties in our way when God will take care that they shall not be too great for us to encounter, especially.
4. When he will make them to issue well. He will make a way to escape, either the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. There is no valley so dark but he can find a way through it, no affliction so grievous but he can prevent, or remove, or enable us to support it, and in the end overrule it to our advantage.