Topical Bible: Testing

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Definition and Overview:
In the biblical context, "testing" refers to the trials and challenges that God allows or orchestrates in the lives of individuals to prove, refine, and strengthen their faith and character. Testing is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, serving as a means for God to reveal the hearts of His people and to prepare them for greater purposes.

Old Testament Instances:
Testing is evident from the early narratives of the Bible. One of the most notable examples is the testing of Abraham. In Genesis 22:1-2 , God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac: "Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.'" This test was designed to assess Abraham's obedience and faith.

The Israelites also experienced testing during their journey in the wilderness. In Deuteronomy 8:2 , Moses reminds them, "Remember that the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." The wilderness period was a time of testing to teach reliance on God and adherence to His commandments.

New Testament Insights:
In the New Testament, testing continues to play a significant role in the life of believers. Jesus Himself was tested in the wilderness by Satan, as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. This period of testing affirmed Jesus' identity and mission, demonstrating His reliance on Scripture and His obedience to the Father.

The Apostle James speaks to the purpose and benefit of testing in the life of a believer. James 1:2-4 states, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Testing is portrayed as a process that leads to spiritual maturity and completeness.

Theological Significance:
Testing is not merely a demonstration of God's authority but is deeply rooted in His love and desire for His people to grow in faith and holiness. It is a tool used by God to refine believers, much like a refiner's fire purifies gold. In 1 Peter 1:6-7 , the apostle Peter writes, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials, so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to view testing as an opportunity for growth and to trust in God's sovereign plan. Romans 5:3-4 reminds Christians that "we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Through testing, believers are drawn closer to God, learning to depend on His strength and wisdom.

Conclusion:
While testing can be challenging, it is an integral part of the Christian journey, designed to deepen faith and cultivate a closer relationship with God. Through testing, believers are equipped to fulfill their God-given purposes and to reflect His glory in the world.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Test.

2. (n.) The act of testing or proving; trial; proof.

3. (n.) The operation of refining gold or silver in a test, or cupel; cupellation.

Greek

1383. dokimion -- a testing
... a testing. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: dokimion Phonetic Spelling:
(dok-im'-ee-on) Short Definition: a test, trial, what is genuine Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1383.htm - 6k

1381b. dokimasia -- a testing, a proving
... 1381a, 1381b. dokimasia. 1382 . a testing, a proving. Transliteration:
dokimasia Short Definition: testing. Word Origin from dokimazo ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1381b.htm - 5k

931. basanos -- a touchstone (a dark stone used in testing metals) ...
... 930, 931. basanos. 932 . a touchstone (a dark stone used in testing metals),
hence examination by torture, torture. Part of Speech ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/931.htm - 7k

1381. dokimazo -- to test, by impl. to approve
... dok-im-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I put to the test, prove, examine Definition: I
put to the test, prove, examine; I distinguish by testing, approve after ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1381.htm - 8k

3986. peirasmos -- an experiment, a trial, temptation
... temptation. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: peirasmos Phonetic
Spelling: (pi-ras-mos') Short Definition: trial, testing, temptation Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3986.htm - 7k

593. apodokimazo -- to reject
... to reject. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apodokimazo Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-od-ok-ee-mad'-zo) Short Definition: I reject after testing, I disqualify ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/593.htm - 7k

1382. dokime -- (the process or result of) trial, proving ...
... Cognate: 1382 (a feminine noun derived from 1384 ) -- proof of genuineness ("approval,
through testing"), a brand of what is "tested and true." See 1381 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1382.htm - 7k

1384. dokimos -- tested, approved
... 1383 (). 1384 () was used for the proving (testing) of coins, ie confirming
they were (not counterfeit, corrupted).]. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1384.htm - 7k

1598. ekpeirazo -- to test thoroughly, tempt
... 1598 (from 1537 , " and " and 3985 , "tempt") -- properly, test , ie with the of
testing to an (unwarranted) degree; "hyper-test," going to improper measures ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1598.htm - 7k

3985. peirazo -- to make proof of, to attempt, test, tempt
... to attempt, test, tempt NASB Word Usage did (1), put (1), put to the test (2), tempt
(2), tempted (13), tempter (2), test (6), tested (2), testing (7), tried (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3985.htm - 9k

Strong's Hebrew

976. bochan -- a testing
... 975, 976. bochan. 977 . a testing. Transliteration: bochan Phonetic Spelling:
(bo'-khan) Short Definition: tested. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/976.htm - 6k

5254. nasah -- to test, try
... root Definition to test, try NASB Word Usage make a test (1), proved (1), put (1),
put to the test (2), tempted (3), test (13), tested (9), testing (3), tried ...
/hebrew/5254.htm - 6k

4531. maccah -- despair
... temptation, trial From nacah; a testing, of men (judicial) or of God (querulous) --
temptation, trial. see HEBREW nacah. 4530, 4531. maccah. 4531a . ...
/hebrew/4531.htm - 5k

Library

The Testing
... JUDGEMENT. L. THE TESTING. . Daw dydd o brysur bwyso. 6,6,7,6,6,6,7,6. A day for
solemn trial. Of men is drawing near,. Who has the hidden substance,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/morris/favourite welsh hymns/l the testing.htm

The True Gold and Its Testing
... THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER THE TRUE GOLD AND ITS TESTING. 'That the trial ...
later. II. Note, again, the testing of the wealth. I need ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the true gold and its.htm

The Testing of Joseph's Brothers
... THE OLD TESTAMENT THE TESTING OF JOSEPH'S BROTHERS. When Jacob learned that
there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the testing of josephs brothers.htm

The Foundation of God
... stone. There are two kinds of testing"the testing from the assaults of enemies,
and the testing by the building upon it of friends. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the foundation of god.htm

For the Candid and Thoughtful
... Put the mildest sense you like on the word "tempt" and it will retain the idea of
an unfriendly testing; yet nothing could be more hearty in the end than the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/for the candid and thoughtful.htm

Approbation and Blessing.
... The Testing Present is another part of the reason for this prayer. The Church
of Thessalonica was suffering persecutions and afflictions ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/iii approbation and blessing.htm

God's Promises Tests
... The word which it employs to designate the manner of testing or trying, is one drawn
from the smelting operations of the goldsmith, by which, heat being applied ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/gods promises tests.htm

D. The Temptation of Jesus. Ch. 4:1-13
... world. This was a fitting climax to the testing of the King. Luke ... trust.
It forms a true climax in the testing of the ideal Man. The ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/d the temptation of jesus.htm

God's Fellow-Workers
... THE TESTING FIRE. ... There are three things here that I wish to say a word about"the
patchwork building, the testing fire, the fate of the builders. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/gods fellow-workers.htm

The Character of Christ's People
... Let me tell you, there are always certain testing moments when you can tell of what
kind of stuff a man is made. Two men are walking. ... They are testing moments. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the character of christs people.htm

Thesaurus

Testing (46 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Test. 2. (n.) The act of testing
or proving; trial; proof. ... Multi-Version Concordance Testing (46 Occurrences). ...
/t/testing.htm - 19k

Proof (38 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Any effort, process, or operation designed to
establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial. ...
/p/proof.htm - 18k

Test (105 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him
to show them a sign from heaven. (Root in WEB BBE NAS RSV NIV). ...
/t/test.htm - 35k

Tested (80 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Matthew 16:1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came and, testing him, made
a request to him to give them a sign from heaven. (See NIV). ...
/t/tested.htm - 28k

Trial (45 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of trying or testing in any manner. ...
3. (n.) The act of testing by experience; proof; test. ...
/t/trial.htm - 52k

Cleaning (8 Occurrences)
... Zechariah 13:9 And I will make the third part go through the fire, cleaning them
as silver is made clean, and testing them as gold is tested: and they will ...
/c/cleaning.htm - 9k

Asking (111 Occurrences)
... Matthew 19:3 Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful
for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" (See NAS RSV). ...
/a/asking.htm - 34k

Lawful (38 Occurrences)
... Matthew 19:3 Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a
man to divorce his wife for any reason?" (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/l/lawful.htm - 20k

Sign (181 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees
came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. ...
/s/sign.htm - 46k

Question (153 Occurrences)
... Matthew 22:35 One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him. ... John 8:6
They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. ...
/q/question.htm - 37k

Resources

What does the Bible have to say that would apply to animal testing? | GotQuestions.org

Why does God test us? | GotQuestions.org

Is carbon dating a reliable method for determining the age of things? | GotQuestions.org

Testing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Testing (46 Occurrences)

Matthew 16:1
The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.
(WEB BBE NAS)

Matthew 19:3
Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"
(WEB BBE NAS)

Matthew 22:18
And Jesus having known their wickedness, said, 'Why me do ye tempt, hypocrites?
(See NAS)

Matthew 22:35
One of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him.
(WEB BBE NAS)

Mark 8:11
The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him.
(WEB BBE)

Mark 10:2
Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
(WEB BBE NAS)

Mark 12:15
Are we to give or not to give? But he, conscious of their false hearts, said to them, Why do you put me to the test? give me a penny, so that I may see it.
(See NAS)

Luke 8:13
And those on the rock are those who with joy give hearing to the word; but having no root, they have faith for a time, and when the test comes they give up.
(See NIV)

Luke 11:16
Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven.
(WEB BBE)

John 6:6
This he said, testing him: for he had no doubt what he himself would do.
(BBE)

John 8:6
They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.
(WEB BBE NAS)

Acts 15:10
Why then are you testing God, by putting on the neck of the disciples a yoke so hard that not even our fathers or we were strong enough for it?
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 11:28
But let no man take of the bread and the cup without testing himself.
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 12:10
And to another the power of working wonders; and to another the prophet's word; and to another the power of testing spirits; to another different sorts of tongues; and to another the power of making clear the sense of the tongues:
(BBE)

Ephesians 5:10
Testing by experience what is well-pleasing to the Lord;
(BBE)

Philippians 1:9
And it is my prayer that your love may be more and more accompanied by clear knowledge and keen perception, for testing things that differ,
(WEY)

Hebrews 3:8
Be not hard of heart, as when you made me angry, on the day of testing in the waste land,
(BBE RSV NIV)

Hebrews 3:9
When your fathers put me to the test, and saw my works for forty years.
(See NAS)

James 1:3
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
(WEB WEY BBE NAS RSV NIV)

James 1:12
There is a blessing on the man who undergoes testing; because, if he has God's approval, he will be given the crown of life, which the Lord has said he will give to those who have love for him.
(BBE)

1 Peter 4:12
Dear brothers, do not be surprised, as if it was something strange, if your faith is tested as by fire:
(See NAS)

2 Peter 2:9
The Lord is able to keep the upright safe in the time of testing, and to keep evil-doers under punishment till the day of judging;
(BBE)

Revelation 3:10
Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
(WEB BBE NAS)

Revelation 7:14
And I said to him, My lord, you have knowledge. And he said to me, These are they who came through the great testing, and their robes have been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.
(BBE)

Exodus 15:25
And in answer to his prayer, the Lord made him see a tree, and when he put it into the water, the water was made sweet. There he gave them a law and an order, testing them;
(BBE)

Numbers 5:29
This is the law for testing a wife who goes with another in place of her husband and becomes unclean;
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 8:2
And keep in mind the way by which the Lord your God has taken you through the waste land these forty years, so that he might make low your pride and put you to the test, to see what was in your heart and if you would keep his orders or not.
(See NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 13:3
Then give no attention to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God is testing you, to see if all the love of your heart and soul is given to him.
(BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 3:1
Now these are the nations which the Lord kept in the land for the purpose of testing Israel by them, all those who had had no experience of all the wars of Canaan;
(BBE)

Judges 3:4
For the purpose of testing Israel by them, to see if they would give ear to the orders of the Lord, which he had given to their fathers by the hand of Moses.
(BBE DBY NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 32:31
However, in the business of the representatives sent by the rulers of Babylon to get news of the wonder which had taken place in the land, God gave up guiding him, testing him to see what was in his heart.
(BBE)

Job 7:18
And that your hand is on him every morning, and that you are testing him every minute?
(BBE)

Psalms 11:4
The Lord is in his holy Temple, the Lord's seat is in heaven; his eyes are watching and testing the children of men.
(BBE)

Psalms 66:10
For you, O God, have put us to the test: testing us by fire like silver.
(BBE)

Psalms 78:18
Testing God in their hearts, requesting meat for their desire.
(BBE)

Psalms 78:56
But they were bitter against the Most High God, testing him, and not keeping his laws;
(BBE)

Ecclesiastes 3:18
I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, so that God may put them to the test and that they may see themselves as beasts.
(See RSV)

Ecclesiastes 12:9
And because the Preacher was wise he still gave the people knowledge; searching out, testing, and putting in order a great number of wise sayings.
(BBE)

Isaiah 48:10
See, I have been testing you for myself like silver; I have put you through the fire of trouble.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 11:20
But, O Lord of armies, judging in righteousness, testing the thoughts and the heart, let me see your punishment come on them: for I have put my cause before you.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 12:3
But you, O Lord, have knowledge of me; you see me, searching and testing how my heart is with you: let them be pulled out like sheep to be put to death, make them ready for the day of death.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 20:12
But, O Lord of armies, testing the upright and seeing the thoughts and the heart, let me see your punishment come on them; for I have put my cause before you.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 21:13
For there is a trial; and what if even the rod that condemns shall be no more? says the Lord Yahweh.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 11:35
And some of those who are wise will have wisdom in testing themselves and making themselves clean, till the time of the end: for it is still for the fixed time.
(BBE)

Zechariah 13:9
And I will make the third part go through the fire, cleaning them as silver is made clean, and testing them as gold is tested: and they will make their prayer to me and I will give them an answer: I will say, It is my people; and they will say, The Lord is my God.
(BBE)

Malachi 3:3
He will take his seat, testing and cleaning the sons of Levi, burning away the evil from them as from gold and silver; so that they may make offerings to the Lord in righteousness.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Testing

Related Terms

Tests (10 Occurrences)

Testing (46 Occurrences)