I Corinthians 10:13 · Bible study
1 Corinthians 10:13 Commentary: God's Faithfulness in Temptation
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does 'common to man' mean? Does 'way of escape' mean removal or endurance? Paul's promise of faithfulness in temptation.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A promise that God limits temptation and provides the strength to endure it.
- Key words: anthrōpinos (human/modest), peirasmos (testing/temptation), ekbasis (way out), pistos (faithful).
- Main debate: Does “common to man” mean “ordinary” or “proportioned to human strength”? Does the “way of escape” remove the trial or enable endurance?
- Theological theme: God's covenantal faithfulness and human responsibility; divine sovereignty and human ability.
- Best use: Pastoral comfort; teaching on temptation, perseverance, and God's character.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
WEB World English Bible 2000
No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
No temptation hath taken you--except human; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able, but He will make, with the temptation, also the outlet, for your being able to bear it .
Darby Darby Bible 1890
No temptation has taken you but such as is according to man's nature; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able [to bear], but will with the temptation make the issue also, so that [ye] should be able to bear [it].
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
No os ha tomado tentación, sino humana: mas fiel es Dios, que no os dejará ser tentados más de lo que podéis llevar; antes dará también juntamente con la tentación la salida, para que podáis aguantar.
Nenhuma tentação vos veio, que não fosse humana; porém Deus é fiel; que não vos deixará tentar mais do que o que podeis, antes com a tentação também dará a saída, para que a possais suportar.
Aucune tentation ne vous est survenue qui n’ ait été humaine, et Dieu, qui est fidèle, ne permettra pas que vous soyez tentés au-delà de vos forces; mais avec la tentation il préparera aussi le moyen d’ en sortir, afin que vous puissiez la supporter.
Es hat euch noch keine denn menschliche Versuchung betreten; aber Gott ist getreu, der euch nicht läßt versuchen über euer Vermögen, sondern macht, daß die Versuchung so ein Ende gewinne, daß ihr's könnet ertragen.
Ulieden heeft geen verzoeking bevangen dan menselijke; doch God is getrouw, Die u niet zal laten verzocht worden boven hetgeen gij vermoogt; maar Hij zal met de verzoeking ook de uitkomst geven, opdat gij ze kunt verdragen.
Niuna tentazione vi ha còlti, che non sia stata umana; or Iddio è fedele e non permetterà che siate tentati al di là delle vostre forze; ma con la tentazione vi darà anche la via d’uscirne, onde la possiate sopportare.
Pokuszenie się was nie jęło, tylko ludzkie; ale wiernyć jest Bóg, który nie dopuści, abyście byli kuszeni nad możność waszę, ale uczyni z pokuszeniem i wyjście, abyście znosić mogli.
Вас постигло искушение не иное, как человеческое; и верен Бог, Который не попустит вам быть искушаемыми сверх сил, но при искушении даст и облегчение, так чтобы вы могли перенести.
你們 所 遇見的試探，無非 是人 所能受的。 神 是 信實的， 必不 叫 你們 受試探 過於 所能 受的； 在 受試探的時候，總 要給你們開 一條出路，叫你們能 忍受得住。
You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Corinthians 10:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree Paul offers this verse as consolation after the stark warning in verse 12. Calvin sees it as comfort to prevent despair; Barnes emphasizes that the temptations are not beyond what human strength, with divine aid, can resist. The Greek adjective anthrōpinos (human) is the hinge. Clarke, citing Chrysostom, reads it as “small, short, moderate”, temptations proportioned to human strength. Others take it as “common to man,” meaning these trials are normal, not unique. On the “way of escape” (ekbasis), Vincent notes the word means an egress or way out, and in context it is not necessarily removal of the trial but the ability to endure it. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown connect “God is faithful” to the covenant, echoing Deuteronomy 7:9. The shared conviction: God limits temptation and provides a path through it.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Common to humanity (ordinary): The literal meaning of anthrōpinos as 'human'; supported by translations (KJV, ASV) and the idea that trials are not unique.
- Moderate/proportioned to strength: Chrysostom and Clarke read anthrōpinos as 'small, short, moderate'; fits with the promise that God will not test beyond ability.
What is clear: God is faithful, limits temptation to what one can bear, and provides a way — either by removing the trial or strengthening to endure it.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of anthrōpinos | The temptation is human in nature, something that belongs to human experience. | Some interpreters emphasize 'common to all people' (ordinary), while others, following Chrysostom, take it as 'moderate, proportioned to human strength.' |
| Way of escape | God provides a way out of every temptation. | Does the 'escape' mean removal of the trial, or strength to endure it? Vincent notes that often the only escape is through endurance, while others see a literal exit from the situation. |
| Role of human ability | God gives the strength needed to resist temptation. | Barnes emphasizes natural human ability to resist with divine aid; other traditions (e.g., Reformed) stress that all ability is a gift of grace. |
| Purpose of the verse | Intended as comfort and encouragement after the warning of verse 12. | A few interpreters (Calvin mentions this view) read a mild reproof for cowardice, but most see pure consolation. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits in the middle of Paul's argument about Israel's wilderness failures and the Corinthian danger of idolatry. In verses 1, 11, Paul recounts how the Israelites, despite experiencing the cloud, the sea, manna, and water from the rock, fell into lust, idolatry, sexual immorality, and grumbling. Their sins were directly linked to idolatry (Cambridge Bible). Paul warns that the Corinthians, who also enjoy spiritual privileges (baptism, the Lord’s Supper), are at risk of the same fate. “Let him who thinks he stands take heed,” he says in verse 12.
Verse 13 is the pivot. Having warned, Paul now comforts. The Corinthians lived in a pagan city where meat sacrificed to idols was everywhere, and social pressure to join temple feasts was strong. They may have felt that their situation was exceptional, that the temptation to compromise was uniquely powerful. Paul counters: no temptation has seized you except what is “common to man” (anthrōpinos). The word could mean either “ordinary, typical of human experience” or “moderate, within human capacity.” For a church tempted to despair over its own weakness, the point is that their trials are not beyond what others have faced and overcome.
The background of the wilderness narrative also shapes the promise. God provided for Israel, even when they failed, and He is still faithful. Paul’s phrase “God is faithful” echoes Deuteronomy 7:9 and the covenant keeping of Yahweh. The Corinthians, like the Israelites, are called to trust that the same God who led His people through the sea will also lead them through temptation, providing a way out that may be endurance rather than escape.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Greek text is stable across the major manuscript traditions.
Reception History
This verse has been a cornerstone of pastoral counsel since the early church. Chrysostom, cited by Clarke, interpreted anthrōpinos as “small, short, moderate,” offering strong reassurance to struggling believers. The Reformed tradition (Calvin, Geneva Bible) emphasized God's faithfulness as the ground of hope. The Wesleyan tradition (Wesley, Clarke) highlighted the promise of strength proportioned to the trial. Throughout church history, the verse has been used in sermons and writings to comfort those facing difficult temptations, reminding them that God is both sovereign and compassionate.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Temptation is universal and human. The word anthrōpinos assures us that no trial is unique. Others have faced this and survived. You are not alone.
- God is faithful and sets limits. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. The boundary is real, and it is set by love.
- The way of escape is the strength to endure. The Greek ekbasis means an exit, but often the exit is through the trial, not around it. God gives patience to bear up under it.
Five-point outline
- The reality of temptation: it has taken you, but you are not defeated.
- The nature of temptation: it is common to man, ordinary, not extraordinary.
- The character of God: He is faithful to His promises and His people.
- The restriction: He will not let you be tested above your ability.
- The provision: He supplies both the way of escape and the power to endure it.
Illustration hooks
- A weight lifter with a spotter: you will never be asked to lift more than you and your spotter together can handle.
- A GPS that reroutes you around a roadblock: you do not avoid the journey, but you find an alternate path forward.
- The realization that others share your struggle: a friend admits the same fear, and suddenly you feel less alone.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God allow temptation at all if He is faithful?
- How do I know whether a temptation is beyond my ability or just feels that way?
- What if I cannot see any way of escape, does that mean God has failed me?
- Does this verse mean I should never feel overwhelmed by temptation?
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits at the heart of Paul's argument: after warning the Corinthians with Israel's failures, he assures them of God's faithfulness. It invites us to reflect on our own struggles with temptation and how we experience God's provision.
Discussion questions
- Read 1 Corinthians 10:1, 13. How does Paul's review of Israel's history set up the promise in verse 13?
- The word translated “common to man” is anthrōpinos. Does it mean “ordinary” or “moderate” to you? How does each reading affect your understanding of your own trials?
- When have you experienced God's faithfulness in the middle of a difficult situation or temptation?
- The “way of escape” is not always immediate removal. Share a time when God gave you strength to endure rather than a quick exit.
- How do you balance the warning “let him who thinks he stands take heed” with the comfort of this verse? Are they in tension?
- How can this verse encourage someone who feels they have already fallen into sin? Does it still apply?
- What practical steps can your group take to remind each other of God's faithfulness when facing temptation?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 19:20 | See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there (isn’t it a little one?), and my soul will live.” |
| Genesis 19:21 | He said to him, “Behold, I have granted your request concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. |
| Exodus 3:17 | I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ |
| Deuteronomy 7:9 | Know therefore that Yahweh your God himself is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness to a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commandments, |
| Psalms 36:5 | Your loving kindness, Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. |
| Psalms 89:33 | But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail. |
| Psalms 124:7 | Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped. |
| Psalms 125:3 | For the scepter of wickedness won’t remain over the allotment of the righteous, so that the righteous won’t use their hands to do evil. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes insists that every temptation believers face is within human ability to resist with God's help. He argues that people are fully responsible when they fall, since God provides a way of escape and never allows temptations beyond their strength. This promise of divine faithfulness requires active resistance, not passive reliance.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin leans toward the consoling interpretation: Paul is assuring the Corinthians that their trials are not unusual or beyond what others face, so they should not despair. This view fits the context better than reading it as a rebuke for giving way under light temptations. Calvin then links God's faithfulness to the promise that future testing will also be limited.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator draws a sharp distinction between the emptiness of idols and the deadliness of idolatry. Though an idol is nothing and meat offered to it is nothing, the sin of idolatry itself is deadly, and so is anything that encourages it. Privileges offer no protection from this danger.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes stress that no temptation is unique to believers; all are common human trials. God's faithfulness guarantees that He limits every trial to what the believer can bear. He always provides a way out at the same time as the temptation, enabling endurance.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads this as a word of comfort, not a rebuke. He notes that the temptations believers face are human—coming from people, not from Satan or God directly—and therefore bearable. God's faithfulness guarantees He will proportion the trial to the strength He supplies and always provide a way through.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB focuses on the covenant side of God's faithfulness: He keeps His promise to His called people by providing a specific escape route for each temptation, not immediate relief but one timed after patience has done its work. He makes the way out at the same moment He permits the trial.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry stresses that the Old Testament record of Israel's sins and punishments is preserved not as mere history but as a deliberate warning for Christians. We must not follow their example of lust, idolatry, or murmuring, or we can expect the same judgment.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent explains that the phrase "common to man" can mean either a temptation that naturally occurs in human life or one that is scaled to human strength. He stresses that God tailors both the temptation and the way out to each specific case, and that sometimes the only escape is to endure the trial.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley emphasizes that no temptation exceeds what is ordinary for human strength to bear, because God faithfully measures every trial. The same God who allows the testing also provides the way of escape, guaranteeing deliverance along with the pressure.