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4 Types of Trouble “With a Capital T”

4 Types of Trouble “With a Capital T”

Last updated on: February 28, 2025 at 10:10 pm by Ken Shelton

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4 Types of Trouble “With a Capital T” 2025-02-28T22:10:17-05:00 Ken Shelton

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“4 Types of Trouble ‘With a Capital T’“**** is not about the Broadway musical song Ya Got Trouble from The Music Man (© 1957, Meredith Wilson). Instead, it’s about the 4 main categories of Trouble found in the Bible. Since we’ve all faced them, we know that they certainly DO begin with a “capital, T!” They are: Trials, Tests, Temptations, and Tribulation, and Victory theough Jesus Christ.

#1 – Trials – “Peirasmon”

Types of Trouble – Trials

Image Credit: StockSnap.io

The text I’ve chosen to describe these 4 words is James 1:2-4. It reads,”Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (NLT)“ It is clear that trials have a purpose; to produce perseverance or endurance. The Bible is full of stories about people facing trials. It can seem that everything is going great, and suddenly, theres’s a trial.

Where Do Trials Come From?

Trials aren’t mystical, they are simply a test

of our faith, and whenever we have a test, the goal is to pass it. In school, college, work, the military, and in faith, passing the test results in growth. So, a trial is a difficult situation or experience that is used by God for our growth, and to draw us closer to Him. But there is also more to the story. Anytime we face a trial, you can bet that the enemy of your soul is nearby. Trials have the potential to bring us closer to God, but they also have the capacity to be used by Satan. It is absolutely true that God is with you to help you persevere and grow spiritually. However, at the same time, the enemy wants you to fail the test. Consider Romans 7:21 (NIV), “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.“ Satan’s purpose is that you will be confused, doubtful, and anxious so that you’ll give up. The good news is that God has promised to give you His strength to pass the test (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

#2 – Test – “Peirazete” and “Dokimazo”

As we just read, a trial is a test. But when facing a test, it’s helpful to understand what exactly the the Bible means. There are 2 Greek words for the term “test:” For clarity thoroughness, I present both.

“Peirazete”

“This term often has the connotation of examination for the purpose of fault finding or rejection. It is used in connection to Satan’s tempting Jesus in the wilderness (cf. Matthew 4; Luke 4).

It conveys the attempt to trap Jesus (cf. Matt. 4:1; 16:1; 19:3; 22:18, 35; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2; Heb. 2:18).
This term (peirazōn) is used as a title for Satan in Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5 (i.e., “the tempter”);
Usage
1. It was used by Jesus warning humans not to test God (cf. Matt. 4:7; Luke 4:12, [or Christ cf. 1 Cor 10:9]).
2. It also denotes the attempt to do something that has failed (cf. Heb.11:29).
3. It is used in connection with the temptation and trials of believers (cf. 1 Cor. 7:5; 10:9, 13; Gal. 6:1; 1 Thess. 3:5; Heb. 2:18; James. 1:2, 13, 14; 1 Pet. 4:12; 2 Pet 2:9).”

“Dokimazo”

**“**This term is a metallurgist’s term for testing the genuineness of something (i.e., metaphorically someone) by fire. The fire reveals the true metal and burns off (i.e., impurities) the dross. This physical process became a powerful idiom for God and/or Satan and/or humans testing others. This term is only used in a positive sense of testing with a view towards acceptance It is used in the NT of testing the following:

oxen ‒ Luke 14:19
one’s life ‒ 1 Cor. 3:13
ourselves ‒ 1 Cor. 11:28
believers approved by God ‒ 2 Cor. 10:18; 1 Thess. 2:4
even God ‒ Heb. 3:9; 1 Pet. 1:7
our faith ‒ James. 1:3
spiritual messengers or prophets ‒ 1 John 4:1

The outcomes of these tests were assumed to be positive (cf. Rom. 2:18; 16:10; 2 Cor. 10:18; 13:3,7), therefore, the term conveys the idea of someone examined and approved to be worthwhile, good, genuine, valuable, and to be honored “Bible Lessons International, Copyright © 2014 SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK TERMS FOR TESTING AND THEIR CONNOTATIONS,

#3 Temptation – “Peirasmos”

An experiment, attempt, trial, proving
1. trial, proving
1. the trial of man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy
  1. an enticement to sin, temptation, whether arising from the desires or from the outward circumstances
  2. an internal temptation to sin 1b
2. of the temptation by which the devil sought to divert Jesus the Messiah from his divine errand
  1. of the condition of things, or a mental state, by which we are enticed to sin, or to a lapse from the faith and holiness
  2. adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or prove one’s character, faith, holiness
3. temptation (i.e. trial) of God by men
  1. rebellion against God, by which his ower and justice are, as it were, put to the proof and challenged to show themselves. https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/peirasmos.html

3 Words Share 1 Greek Root

You have probably noticed that these 3 Greek words – “Peirasmon” (Trials), “Peirazete” (Tests), and “Peirasmos” (Temptation), share the same Greek noun πειρα (peira) – which means a piercing or probing and described a sharp point, but came to be used to describe a trial or probe (in the sense of a test).( Abarim Publications Online Biblical Greek Dictionary) While it is helpful to understand what these words mean, the fact is that they are sometimes used interchangeably (James 1:2-4, 12). But hold on, there is 1 more “T” – word.

“T” – Tribulation

This article is named “4 Types of Trouble ‘With a Capital T'” However, when reading a parallel Bible or different versions on your computer, you will notice that the words “tribulation” and “trouble” are sometimes used interchangeably. Specifically**,** tribulation is thlipsis from thlibo in Greek. It means to crush, press together, squash, hem in, compress, squeeze in turn derived from thláo = to break) originally expressed sheer, physical pressure on a man. Thlipsis is a strong term which does not refer to minor inconveniences, but to real hardships. “Tribulation-Thlipsis (Greek Word Study),” Bruce Hurt, 2016. Also translated affliction or burdened.

What Jesus Said About It

Whether it is trials, tests, temptation, or tribulation, Jesus told us that down here there would be plenty of it. John 16:33 recounts the words of our Lord, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (NKJV). Christianity.com In the Bible, tribulation refers to the hardships, trials, and suffering that believers may encounter in their lives. It is a recurring theme in both the Old and New Testaments. According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Tribulation is trouble or affliction of any kind (Deuteronomy 4:30; Matthew 13:21). The New Testament expands on the concept of tribulation, emphasizing its role in shaping the character of believers. In the teachings of Jesus Christ, tribulation is mentioned as a part of the Christian journey. In John 16:33, Jesus states, “In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” This verse assures believers that, despite life’s trials, they can find peace and hope in Christ.“What Is Tribulation? Bible Meaning and Significance,” Christianity.com Editorial Staff, October 6 2023.

Victory

But no matter what type of trouble: Trials, Tests, Temptation, or Tribulation, we have this promise, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:57, NIV).

About Ken Shelton

Ken Shelton is a writer, songwriter, and recording artist. His latest album, 'Legacy-Songs For My Family' is his eighth studio album and is available on all music streaming services. In addition, he is an ordained bishop with Evangel Association of Churches and Ministries, and with the Church of God (Cleveland, TN). Ken attended Lee University, Trinity Theological Seminary, and Destiny Christian University and holds a Doctor of Divinity Degree. In 2001, he founded Shelton Covenant Ministries, a church ministry committed to planting churches, and mentoring pastors and church leaders with emphasis on five-fold ministry. He is a frequent conference speaker, worship leader, and soloist. Bishop Shelton has written two books: Covenant Talk - Words That Set Us Free (Author House, 2005) and Discover Your Worship Learning Style (SCM, 2010). In 1974, Ken married the former Kitty Patterson, who since 1997 has been a public-school English and history teacher. They have three daughters and ten grandchildren and reside in Brighton, Michigan. You can read more about the author here.

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