The word “test” is not found in the Bible, so we will only consider the words temptation and trial. The word “trial” and the word “temptation” in Scripture is often the same word in the Greek (which is PEIRASMOS). I will give the different definitions of these two words from “VINE’S Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words” and then I want to give well-known examples from Scripture to illustrate when a temptation/trial is “from God” or “from Satan.”

TEMPTATION: Mr. Vine defines this word (which is always the Greek word “peirasmos”) as (1) “trials with a beneficial purpose and effect” (Divinely permitted or sent), and (2) “of trials definitely designed to lead to wrongdoing” (Obviously this would be a temptation from Satan to lead one to sin).

TRIAL: This word is translated into English from 4 Greek words. 1) DOKIME means “experience or experiment”. See 2 Corinthians 8:2 where believers were “in a great TRIAL of afflictions” to “test their faith.” 2) PEIRA also means “an experiment”. 3) PEIRASMOS means “temptation”. 4) PUROSIS means “to set on fire, a burning” which Peter calls a “fiery trial” in 1 Peter 4:12.

With each of these Greek words that are rendered temptation or trial, it is either God testing one’s faith for the purpose of approving them and bringing glory to His name, or it is Satan putting them through trying experiences to cause them to stumble and sin, thus bringing dishonor to God. We see these two things clearly in James chapter one. In 1:2-4 we read, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various TRIALS (the KJV version says TEMPTATIONS), knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, having nothing.” These are what we call HOLY TRIALS that God sends our way to prove our faith and to cause spiritual growth. Verse 12 says of these: “Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” A good example of this is when Abraham was TESTED by God and faithfully “passed the test” and was then blessed by God (Genesis 22:1-18).

Verses 13-15 goes on to say, “Let no man say when he is TEMPTED, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” This is speaking of our UNHOLY TRIALS where Satan seeks to lead us into sin by using something in the world to attract the FLESH (our old, sinful nature…Romans 7:15-20). A perfect example of this is when King David saw a beautiful woman (Bathsheba) bathing from His rooftop and it led to committing adultery with her (2 Samuel 11:1-5). God would never have tempted David in this trial; it was Satan who led David to first LOOK ON HER and then to CONTINUE TO LOOK ON HER until he DESIRED TO HAVE HER which GAVE BIRTH TO SIN.

I would encourage you to read of two more trials where Satan was involved in the temptations, but God permitted him to do these to “prove their faith.” Satan tested Job by taking away his property, his servants, and his children, yet Job remained faithful to God (Job 1:6-22). Satan gave the Apostle Paul a “thorn in the flesh to buffet him” (to hinder Paul’s labors in the gospel) yet God used this to keep Paul humble and to rely on Christ to strengthen him (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). These show us that Satan can’t do anything without God’s permission and that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  (DO)  (718.5)