Probation, in a biblical context, refers to a period of testing or trial in which individuals or groups are given the opportunity to demonstrate faithfulness, obedience, and commitment to God's commands. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating God's desire for His people to choose righteousness and align their lives with His will.

Old Testament Examples

1. Adam and Eve: The first instance of probation is found in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were placed in a perfect environment and given the command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). Their failure to obey resulted in the fall of humanity, demonstrating the consequences of failing a divine test.

2. The Israelites in the Wilderness: After the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites underwent a period of probation in the wilderness. God tested their faith and obedience through various trials, such as the provision of manna (Exodus 16:4) and the command to trust Him for water (Exodus 17:1-7). Deuteronomy 8:2 states, "Remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments."

3. King Saul: Saul's reign as the first king of Israel serves as another example of probation. God gave Saul opportunities to demonstrate his obedience, but Saul repeatedly failed, leading to his rejection as king (1 Samuel 13:13-14; 15:22-23).

New Testament Examples

1. Jesus' Temptation: Jesus underwent a period of probation during His forty days in the wilderness, where He was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). Unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus successfully resisted temptation, affirming His role as the sinless Savior.

2. The Parable of the Talents: In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the parable of the talents, illustrating the concept of probation. Servants are entrusted with resources and are expected to use them wisely. Their faithfulness during this period determines their reward or punishment.

3. The Church in Revelation: The letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 highlight periods of probation for early Christian communities. Each church is evaluated based on its faithfulness, with promises of reward for those who overcome and warnings for those who do not.

Theological Implications

Probation underscores the biblical theme of free will and moral responsibility. God provides opportunities for individuals to choose obedience and faithfulness, but He also respects human agency. The concept of probation emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the reality of divine judgment.

Eschatological Perspective

In eschatology, probation is often associated with the final judgment. Believers are called to live in a state of readiness, aware that their earthly lives are a period of probation before the return of Christ. Revelation 22:12 states, "Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done."

Practical Application

For Christians today, the concept of probation serves as a reminder to live faithfully and obediently, recognizing that life is a temporary period of testing. Believers are encouraged to remain steadfast in their faith, trusting in God's grace and seeking to align their lives with His will.1. (n.) The act of proving; a period of time during which one's character or fitness is tested.

2. (n.) Any proceeding designed to ascertain truth, to determine character, qualification, etc.; examination; trial; as, to engage a person on probation.

3. (n.) The novitiate which a person must pass in a convent, to probe his or her virtue and ability to bear the severities of the rule.

4. (n.) The trial of a ministerial candidate's qualifications prior to his ordination, or to his settlement as a pastor.

5. (n.) Moral trial; the state of man in the present life, in which he has the opportunity of proving his character, and becoming qualified for a happier state.

PROBATION, SECOND

pro-ba'-shun, sek'-und.

See ESCHATOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

4263a. probation -- a little sheep
... 4263, 4263a. probation. 4263b . a little sheep. Transliteration: probation
Short Definition: sheep. Word Origin dim. ... 4263, 4263a. probation. 4263b . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4263a.htm - 5k

3986. peirasmos -- an experiment, a trial, temptation
... Transliteration: peirasmos Phonetic Spelling: (pi-ras-mos') Short Definition: trial,
testing, temptation Definition: (a) trial, probation, testing, being tried ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3986.htm - 7k

Probation.
... Book X. Chapter I."Probation. But in the morning, after sunrise, I Clement,
and Niceta and Aquila, along with Peter, came to the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter i probation.htm

Introductory. Heresies must Exist, and Even Abound; they are a ...
... The Prescription Against Heretics. Chapter I."Introductory. Heresies Must Exist,
and Even Abound; They are a Probation to Faith. [1850] ...
/.../chapter i introductory heresies must exist.htm

Whether one Ought to be Bound by Vow to Enter Religion?
... Now before profession a year of probation is allowed, according to the rule of the
Blessed Benedict (lviii) and according to the decree of Innocent IV [*Sext. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether one ought to be.htm

"Lo, I Come": Application
... should come. You will find it in the early chapters of Genesis. Jesus said,
"Lo, I come" when man's probation was a failure. Man in ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/lo i come application.htm

Appendix C.
... APPENDIX C. (p.71.) [The Bible an instrument of Man's probation.]. "MULTA enim propter
exercendas rationales mentes figurata et obscure posita.""Aug. De Unit. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/burgon/inspiration and interpretation/appendix c.htm

Whether Children Can Bind Themselves by Vow to Enter Religion?
... Objection 3: Further, according to the rule of Blessed Benedict [*Ch.58] and a statute
of Innocent IV, a year's probation is granted to those who enter religion ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether children can bind themselves.htm

Christ as Light; How He, and How his Disciples are the Light of ...
... And if the boasting of the saints is in their tribulations, since [4590] "tribulation
worketh patience, and patience probation, and probation hope, and hope ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/24 christ as light how.htm

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
... The world, and the communities into which it is divided, have their probation no
less than persons; and there are reasons in which God enters into judgment ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxix the sins of.htm

Entire Sanctification a Necessity.
... The Roman Catholic and the Restorationist answer, in purgatorial fire,
or in some kind of a second probation after death. But the ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter i entire sanctification a.htm

Appendix 2 the Case of Adam
... Adam was placed on probation. His obligations to God were put to the test. ... From God's
standpoint the result of Adam's probation was not left in uncertainty. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the sovereignty of god/appendix 2 the case of.htm

Probation
... 2. (n.) Any proceeding designed to ascertain truth, to determine character,
qualification, etc.; examination; trial; as, to engage a person on probation. ...
/p/probation.htm - 7k

Sin (782 Occurrences)
... 12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:22-45). His probation was their probation, and
his fall their fall. Because of Adam's first sin all his ...
/s/sin.htm - 82k

Punishment (417 Occurrences)
... Analogy III. DIFFICULTIES AND OBJECTIONS-RIVAL HYPOTHESES 1. Universal Salvation
2. Annihilation 3. Second Probation IV. NATURE, CONDITIONS ...
/p/punishment.htm - 62k

Probe (6 Occurrences)

/p/probe.htm - 8k

Everlasting (192 Occurrences)
... Analogy III. DIFFICULTIES AND OBJECTIONS-RIVAL HYPOTHESES 1. Universal Salvation
2. Annihilation 3. Second Probation IV. NATURE, CONDITIONS ...
/e/everlasting.htm - 68k

Prison (131 Occurrences)
... but live according to God in the spirit." On this basis is now often reared a mass
of doctrine or conjecture respecting "second probation," "restoration," etc ...
/p/prison.htm - 52k

Probably (1 Occurrence)

/p/probably.htm - 6k

Spirits (129 Occurrences)
... but live according to God in the spirit." On this basis is now often reared a mass
of doctrine or conjecture respecting "second probation," "restoration," etc ...
/s/spirits.htm - 42k

James (40 Occurrences)
... This version of Luke is regarded by some as an amalgamation of the earlier accounts
with John 21:1-8. 3. Probation and Ordination: As the above incident took ...
/j/james.htm - 78k

Immortal (3 Occurrences)
... The world, as we know it, is certainly a scene of moral administration-of probation,
of discipline, of reward and penalty-but as obviously a scene of ...
/i/immortal.htm - 33k

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