13. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man : but God (is) faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able ; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear (it).
N'o temptation^ i. e. no trial, whether in the form of seduc- tions or of afflictions, has taken you but such as is common to rtian ; literally human, accommodated to human strength, such as men are able to bear. 'You have been subjected to no superhuman or extraordinary temptations. Your trials hitherto have been moderate ; and God will not suffer you to be unduly tried.' This is the ordinary interpretation of this passage, and one which gives a simple and natural sense. It may, however, mean, 'Take heed lest ye fall. The tempta- tions which you have hitherto experienced are moderate com- pared to those to which you are hereafter to be subjected.' In this view, it is not so much an encouragement, as a warning that all danger was not over. The apostle is supposed to re- fer to those peculiar trials which were to attend " the last times." As these times were at hand, the Corinthians were in circumstances which demanded peculiar care. They should not run into temptation, for the days were approaching when, if it were possible, even the elect would be deceived. As, however, there is no contrast between the present and the fu- ture intimated in the passage, the common interpretation is the more natural one.
But God is faithful. He has promised to preserve his people, and therefore his fidelity is concerned in not allowing them to be unduly tempted. Here, as in 1, 9, and every where else in Scripture, the security of believers is referred neither to the strength of the principle of grace infused into them by regeneration, nor to their own firmness, but to the fidelity of God. He has promised that those given to the Son as his in- heritance, should never perish. They are kept, therefore, by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation, 1 Peter 1, 4. This promise of security, however, is a promise of security from sin, and therefore those who fall into wilful and habitual sin are not the subjects of the promise. Should they fall, it is after a severe struggle, and they are soon renewed again unto repentance. The absolute security of believers, and the ne- cessity of constant watchfulness, are perfectly consistent.