What can 1 Corinthians 10:13 mean when it talks about making an escape from temptation so that you can bear that temptation? If you manage to get out of the temptation, you don’t actually bear it.

This text is from a transcript of a talk by David Gooding, entitled ‘An Abundant Entrance into the Eternal Kingdom’ (1985).

And I see the point of the question. Some people, of course, would want to say that the translation here given should be otherwise. I, myself, accept it for the moment as it stands. I think that what Paul is saying is that God puts us through trial, but before we enter the trial he has measured how much we can stand. On his part, he is faithful. He will not permit us to be tested beyond our point of endurance. When that point of endurance is reached, God, in his faithfulness, promises that the pressure of the temptations will be removed. There will be a way out of it so that now we can see that we have borne the temptation to its end, and not broken down under it but have been able to bear it.

Why have we been able to bear it? Because God didn't allow it to go beyond the point where it would have been impossible for us to bear it, in that sense. Whereas if God had allowed it to go on further we would have broken down under it. He makes the way out, therefore, so that we can, if we will, bear it while it lasts.

You say, 'But not all Christians do bear it. Some of us break down.'

We do, alas. But then this verse suggests to me that, if we do break down, then we can't say, 'Oh, but that's not fair of God. God gave me a test that was far too big. I couldn't have been expected to bear that.'

Oh, yes, you could. If God allows it, he has measured it, and we could bear it. That is not to say that we always do. Sometimes we break down so very soon. That must be regarded as our fault. There is, of course, mercy for those that fall.