1 Corinthians 10 13

1 Corinthians 10:13 kjv

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 nkjv

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 niv

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.

1 Corinthians 10:13 esv

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 nlt

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10 verses

1 Corinthians 10 13 meaning

This verse offers profound comfort and assurance to believers facing trials and temptations. It asserts that no temptation encountered is unique or insurmountable, but rather common to human experience. It establishes God's unfailing faithfulness as the bedrock of His promise to limit the severity of any temptation, ensuring it will never exceed a believer's divinely enabled capacity to endure. Furthermore, it guarantees that alongside every temptation, God will actively provide a specific "way out" or an escape, not necessarily from the difficult circumstance itself, but from succumbing to sin, thereby enabling the believer to stand firm and persevere through it.

1 Corinthians 10 13 Context

1 Corinthians 10:13 serves as a pivotal assurance within Paul's larger warning against idolatry and overconfidence. In chapter 10, Paul uses the historical failures of the Israelites in the wilderness (idol worship, sexual immorality, grumbling) as a direct cautionary example for the Corinthian church. The Corinthians, a community marked by spiritual gifts and often arrogance, were tempted by the pagan environment around them, particularly regarding food offered to idols and participation in pagan feasts. Paul's message, initiated in verse 12 ("Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall"), directly precedes this verse. He combats any notion of spiritual immunity or superiority, reminding them that just as the Israelites fell despite their spiritual privileges, so too could they. Verse 13 then provides a critical counterbalance: while temptation is real and dangerous, believers are not abandoned or given a burden beyond their capacity, but rather strengthened by a faithful God. It grounds their struggle in human experience while elevating their hope in divine intervention and empowerment for perseverance.

1 Corinthians 10 13 Word analysis

• No temptation: (Greek: Ouk peirasmos - οὐκ πειρασμός). The Greek term peirasmos can mean both "testing" or "trial" and "temptation." In this context, it encompasses external pressures or internal allurements to sin. The emphatic "No" (οὐκ) strongly assures believers that they face no novel or unprecedented type of struggle.
• has overtaken you: (Greek: eilēphen humas - εἴληφεν ὑμᾶς). The perfect tense implies a past action with continuing results, suggesting being "seized" or "gripped" by something inescapable. Paul reassures that no temptation has cornered or overcome them in a unique, un-navigable way.
• except what is common to mankind: (Greek: ei mē anthrōpinos - εἰ μὴ ἀνθρώπινος). Anthrōpinos means "human" or "typical of humans." This signifies that the nature of their struggles is universal to the human condition and is not an exceptional or demonic test beyond human capacity to understand or address. It counters any feeling of unique burden or spiritual isolation.
• And God is faithful: (Greek: Pistos ho Theos - πιστὸς ὁ Θεός). This is a foundational theological affirmation. Pistos denotes reliability, trustworthiness, and adherence to one's promises. God's character is the bedrock of the entire promise. His faithfulness guarantees His actions.
• he will not let you be tempted: (Greek: ouk easei humas peirasthēnai - οὐκ ἐάσει ὑμᾶς πειρασθῆναι). Easei means "he will permit" or "allow." This highlights God's sovereignty; He exercises ultimate control over the scope and intensity of any trial, actively limiting its reach. He permits temptation but does not directly cause the enticement to sin (Jas 1:13).
• beyond what you can bear: (Greek: hyper ho dynasthe - ὑπὲρ ὃ δύνασθε). This sets a crucial boundary. Dynasthe implies strength or ability. God measures temptation according to our capacity, not according to our natural ability but according to the strength He provides. He understands human limits.
• But when you are tempted, he will also provide: (Greek: alla poiēsei syn tō peirasmō kai tēn - ἀλλὰ ποιήσει σὺν τῷ πειρασμῷ καὶ τὴν). The verb poiēsei ("he will make/provide") suggests God's active, direct, and continuous involvement. This is not passive allowance but active provision.
• a way out: (Greek: ekbasin - ἔκβασιν). Ekbasis literally means "an exit," "an issue," or "a way of escape." This is not necessarily an escape from the pressure or circumstance of the trial, but an escape from succumbing to sin within the trial, or a pathway through it that leads to endurance. It provides an alternative to falling.
• so that you can endure it: (Greek: tou dynasthai humas hyponenkein - τοῦ δύνασθαι ὑμᾶς ὑπενεγκεῖν). Hypenenkein means "to bear up under," "to sustain," or "to endure with fortitude." The ultimate goal is perseverance. The "way out" leads not always to relief from the struggle, but to strength in the struggle, enabling steadfastness without capitulating to sin.

• Words-group analysis
• "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind": This phrase dispels the myth of spiritual exceptionalism or unique suffering. It validates the struggles of believers, emphasizing the shared human experience of temptation and reassuring them that their struggles are not extraordinary or isolated. This removes excuses for capitulation and pride, as all believers face similar challenges.
• "And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear": This segment pivots from human experience to divine character. God's faithfulness (His reliability and covenant loyalty) is the guarantee that His children will not be subjected to burdens greater than the spiritual and emotional capacity He grants them. It underscores divine sovereignty over even adverse circumstances, assuring a boundary on temptation's power.
• "But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it": This promises God's proactive intervention. It indicates that the "way out" (ekbasis) is an integral part of the temptation itself, a divine provision concurrent with the challenge. The purpose of this way out is not necessarily the removal of the temptation, but the empowerment (dynamai) to persevere (hyponenkein) without succumbing to sin. It points to a pathway of faithful response within the trial.

1 Corinthians 10 13 Bonus section

• The Nature of Peirasmos: While peirasmos often carries the negative connotation of "temptation to sin" (e.g., Matt 6:13), it can also mean "test" or "trial" with a view to strengthening or proving faith (e.g., Jas 1:2). Here, Paul's warning against idolatry suggests "temptation to sin," but the "way out" provided implies a trial that, when endured, builds character. God "allows" the test, while Satan "initiates" the temptation to fall, all under divine control.
• The Holy Spirit's Role: Although not explicitly mentioned, the divine empowerment to "bear" and "endure" is understood to be the work of the Holy Spirit. It is through the Spirit that believers can live righteously and withstand temptation, enabling them to choose the "way out" God provides (Gal 5:16; Rom 8:4).
• God's Knowledge of Our Limits: The assurance that God "will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear" speaks to God's intimate knowledge of each individual believer's strengths and weaknesses, spiritual maturity, and capacity for resilience. It implies a tailor-made trial and a commensurate supply of grace and strength.
• The "Way Out" as Opportunity: The "way out" (ekbasis) can be understood not just as an escape from the trial, but as an opportunity for righteous action, prayer, or drawing closer to God within the trial. It's an active path, requiring the believer to choose reliance on God's strength and wisdom. This often involves choosing to trust God's promises, resisting sinful urges, or turning away from an alluring situation.

1 Corinthians 10 13 Commentary

1 Corinthians 10:13 is a cornerstone verse offering immense practical and theological comfort, especially within the context of Christian struggle against sin and adversity. It effectively counteracts two dangerous extremes: despondency due to seemingly insurmountable trials and prideful overconfidence leading to spiritual recklessness. Paul assures believers that their temptations, though real and pressing, are neither unprecedented ("common to mankind") nor unchecked. This levels the playing field, reminding us that all humanity, including Jesus himself (Heb 4:15), faces these "human" temptations. The power of the verse lies in grounding the believer's security not in their own strength, but in God's immutable character—His faithfulness. Because God is faithful, He imposes a precise limit on temptation, ensuring it never exceeds the spiritual resources He makes available. Furthermore, this faithful God actively interjects, providing an "escape hatch" or a specific pathway within the trial, enabling the believer to choose endurance over compromise. This "way out" is not an automatic bypass of the struggle, but a divine enablement to steadfastly bear the trial without falling into sin, ultimately fostering resilience and dependence on Him.