1 Corinthians 10:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He uses human instead of slight, as in the words, "I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh" (Rom 6:19). Do not exalt yourselves, he says, as though you had stood firm against the storm. You have not yet seen a danger that threatens death, nor a temptation capable of destroying. He says the same to the Hebrews: "You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin" (Heb 12:4). Having frightened them and inspired humility of mind, see how he next encourages them again. "God is faithful," he says, "who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able" (1 Cor 10:13). Therefore there are temptations that cannot be borne. Which are these? One may say, all of them. For the ability to bear them depends on God’s help, which we obtain through our own disposition. To convince you fully that without help from above we cannot bear not only temptations beyond our strength, but even human ones, he adds this. "But with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." Even moderate temptations, as I have said, we cannot bear by our own strength. In this too we need God’s help, both to overcome them and, before we overcome, to endure them. God gives both patience and swift deliverance, so that the temptation becomes bearable. This is what the Apostle means when he says, "He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." He ascribes everything to Him.

Yet every temptation will be beyond your strength if He does not help. He must make the relief of the temptation together with the temptation, that is, relief quick and simultaneous with the temptation’s arrival to you. Thus, through swift relief, it becomes bearable for you. For he said, "He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." That is, the temptation will appear light and within your power.

"And all ate the same spiritual food," that is, the manna, wondrously sent (1 Cor 10:3). "And all drank the same spiritual drink," wondrously drawn from the rock. For they drank, in figure, "of the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ" (1 Cor 10:4). "But with many of them," the Apostle observes, "God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (1 Cor 10:5). In the history of Jews first saved and then destroyed for murmuring, idolatry, and fornication with the heathen, the Apostle points to figures for times to come. He notes that in them is hidden "instruction for us," Christians, "upon whom the ends of the ages have come" (1 Cor 10:11). Therefore he entreats the Corinthians to flee heathen temptations, which abound at festivals, and to abandon all self-confidence. They must not think that they cannot be compared with the Jews. Nor must they suppose that they will not yield to corrupt temptations at the heathen feasts of things sacrificed to idols. "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall! Therefore, my beloved, flee idolatry" (1 Cor 10:14).

They acted through heathen relatives and acquaintances, who drew Christians to eat things sacrificed to idols, now by caresses, now by mockery. This is why the Apostle says that the temptation which befell them was only from men, a human temptation, and not the diabolical one of which Jesus Christ Himself had foretold to the Apostles (Lk 22:31). This stronger temptation of Christians came later, when universal persecutions against them began. In order not to frighten the Corinthians by setting these persecutions before them, the Apostle consoles them with hope in God’s help. Yet, as Chrysostom observes, this help is always necessary. "Not only temptations beyond our strength, but even human temptations, we cannot bear without help from above." What, then, is to be done? The same thing a man does when he feels no strength to oppose an enemy. He flees from him. So the first Christians had to flee everything connected with idolatry, as a supremely destructive matter and as dangerous snares of the devil.

Alienation from these things aroused suspicion. Then, when it was discovered where this alienation came from, persecution followed. The clever, covering themselves with knowledge, fearlessly sat down at idolatrous tables and thereby escaped every unpleasantness. Others could not bring themselves to do this. For that reason they were subjected to insults, mockery, and oppression. The Apostle had already given strong admonitions to the former, and he will give more. Here he says a few words to the latter: do not lose heart and do not murmur. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is human,” that is, “small, brief, and moderate. You have not yet seen danger threatening you with death, or a temptation that could destroy you. He says the same to the Hebrews: ‘You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin’ (Heb 12:4)” (St. Chrysostom). But such a word, instead of consolation, could also bring greater fear. A human temptation has overtaken us, and it is small. Yet it is still heavy, and who knows whether tomorrow it will become heavier. To forestall such thoughts, which could bring despondency, the Apostle inspires and encourages them, saying, “God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able.” It is as though he says: what you fear is possible, but be assured that God will not permit you to fall into temptations exceeding your strength. Entrust yourselves to His will and do not trouble yourselves with dark thoughts. Rather, be strengthened by good courage, believing in the immutability of the promises of Him Who said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). God is faithful. Everything is from Him, and everything is in His hands. He knows how to measure the burden according to the strength of the one on whom He lays it. When a man casts himself into temptation, it is no wonder if he encounters something beyond his strength and falls beneath it. But God will never tempt you beyond what you are able. Rather, He will “with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Let the temptation sent or permitted by God seem unbearable. He will either soon deliver from it, so that once you show firmness, the trial will pass. Thus He will make the escape together with the temptation. Or, if it is necessary to prolong it, He will give strength to endure everything, and you will bear it as though not noticing it (Photius in Oecumenius). “God grants both endurance and swift deliverance, so that the temptation becomes bearable” (St. Chrysostom). St. Chrysostom draws the following conclusion from this. “Then there are temptations that cannot be endured? There are. Which ones? One may say, all of them. For the ability to endure them depends on God’s help, which we acquire by our own disposition. We cannot endure not only temptations that exceed our strength, but even human temptations without help from above. Even moderate temptations we cannot endure by our own strength. In this also we need God’s help, in order to overcome them, and before we overcome, to endure them.”