Welcome! You have accidentally reached the blog of a heteroclite follower of Jesus: dave wainscott. I'm
"pushing toward the unobvious" as I post thinkings/linkings
re: Scripture, church and culture. Hot topics include: temple tantrums, time travel, sexuality/spirituality, U2kklesia, role of the pastor, God-haunted music/art..and subversive videos like these.
Personally, I would lean toward an understanding that "lead us not into temptation" (easily translated "trial" as well) has to do with trials of faith but also temptations to sin, both of which can come from demonic influence as seen with Jesus in the time in the wilderness and also experienced by his followers to an extent. The temptations or trials are test one's faith, but the evil one hopes that they will cause the faithful to fall or fail, and if possible, turn from the Lord, who is our strength, to weaken us or destroy us. The evil one can only touch God's people if he has the Lord's permission, and only God can deliver us from such trials (as seen in Job and in the wilderness) which is why this phrase is a plea in the midst of a prayer, the Lord's prayer, which He gave us as the perfect model of prayer.
Personally, I would lean toward an understanding that "lead us not into temptation" (easily translated "trial" as well) has to do with trials of faith but also temptations to sin, both of which can come from demonic influence as seen with Jesus in the time in the wilderness and also experienced by his followers to an extent. The temptations or trials are test one's faith, but the evil one hopes that they will cause the faithful to fall or fail, and if possible, turn from the Lord, who is our strength, to weaken us or destroy us. The evil one can only touch God's people if he has the Lord's permission, and only God can deliver us from such trials (as seen in Job and in the wilderness) which is why this phrase is a plea in the midst of a prayer, the Lord's prayer, which He gave us as the perfect model of prayer.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, Prof Clay.
DeleteI like to paraphrase the translation into "testation."