What does 1 Corinthians 13:10 mean?

QUESTION: What does 1 Corinthians 10:13 mean?

 ANSWER: That verse reads: “No temptation has taken you except what is common to men. But God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out in order for you to be able to endure it.”

In context Paul pointed out that the Israelites fell into temptation and incurred God’s displeasure in the wilderness. He used numerous examples of their unfaithfulness and God’s punishment upon them to stress to Christians that we cannot presume to always have God’s favor.

It is quite common today, in fact, it is a matter of doctrine among Baptist sects of evangelicals and others under their influence, to push the ludicrous idea that all that is required of Christians is to “believe” and all will be well. They believe that nothing else is required of them. Jesus, of course, taught that only those who actually do the will of the Father will inherit the kingdom.

In the 10th chapter of Corinthians Paul is exhorting dedicated Christians to flee from the subtle snare of idolatry. (Idolatry is anything that takes priority over God) Obviously, merely “believing” will not necessarily empower anyone to avoid temptation.

Satan the Devil is also known as the Tempter. He tempted Jesus to disobey God – but failed to lure Jesus into disobedience. God’s angels afterwards ministered to him. Because Jesus has suffered temptation and won the victory over the Tempter he is now in a position to come to the aide of those who are suffering temptation of all sorts. And everyone is tempted in one way or another.

But it is up to each one of us to resist and seek assistance, in which case God, through Christ, will help us to endure and make the way out for us.