πειρασμός

G3986 names a trial, test, or temptation. Some contexts emphasize pressure that tests fidelity, while others emphasize circumstances in which a person may be enticed to sin. The noun itself does not identify the source, moral purpose, severity, or faithful response. Those judgments come from the agent, object, verbs, and argument around it. The lexical range must not be flattened into the claim that every hardship is sent by God or that every temptation is merely an opportunity for growth.

James 1:2 speaks of varied trials and describes the testing of faith producing endurance. James 1:12 promises the crown of life to the person who endures trial. The noun G3986 does not occur in James 1:13, where related verbs state that God is not tempted by evil and tempts no one. That nearby teaching governs theology, but it must not be misreported as another noun occurrence. James does not require emotional cheerfulness about pain, deny lament, or tell victims to remain in preventable danger.

The Lord's Prayer asks not to be led into temptation, and Jesus tells the disciples in Gethsemane to watch and pray so that they do not enter it. First Corinthians 10:13 names two governed forms and emphasizes common human temptation, God's faithfulness, limits, and a way to endure. The verse must not be used to claim that every trauma, illness, abuse, suicidal crisis, disability, or crushing burden is within a person's unaided capacity. A faithful way out may include leaving danger, reporting crime, receiving medical or mental-health care, accepting communal help, and refusing access to an offender.

Twenty-one governed forms in twenty verses cover prayer for protection, Jesus' temptation, disciples under pressure, apostolic trials, wealth's trap, tested faith, rescue, and apocalyptic testing.