ἀπείραστος

untried, inexperienced, incapable of being tempted

Definition

The adjective ἀπείραστος describes something or someone that is 'untried,' 'untempted,' or 'incapable of being tempted.' In its most basic sense, it can refer to a person who is inexperienced or has not undergone testing. However, its primary and most significant meaning in the New Testament is the inherent quality of being unable to be tempted by evil. This is the sense used in James 1:13, where it describes God's nature. The word does not imply that God is merely choosing not to sin, but that His very character is fundamentally untouched by and impervious to evil solicitation.

Biblical Usage

ἀπείραστος is used only once in the New Testament, in James 1:13. Here, it is applied directly to God: 'Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.' The context is a discussion on the origin of temptation and trials, making this a crucial theological statement about God's nature in relation to evil.

Etymology

Derived from the alpha-privative prefix ἀ- (a-, meaning 'not' or 'without') and the verbal adjective πειραστός (peirastos), which comes from the verb πειράζω (peirazō, 'to test,' 'to try,' or 'to tempt'). Literally, it means 'not tempted' or 'untempted.' The root πειρ- relates to experience, trial, or experiment, so the compound negates that entire concept, resulting in a state of being unassailable by temptation.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically profound as it provides a definitive statement about God's holiness and moral perfection. In James 1:13, ἀπείραστος assures believers that God is not the author of evil temptation; His nature is entirely separate from and invulnerable to it. This enriches our understanding of God's absolute goodness and the source of human sin, which James clarifies lies in our own desires. It underscores the doctrine of God's immutability in His holy character.

In the Greco-Roman world, the gods of mythology were often depicted as capricious and subject to human-like passions, including envy, lust, and malice. The biblical assertion that God is ἀπείραστος (incapable of being tempted by evil) presented a radical contrast, portraying the God of the Bible as morally pure, consistent, and fundamentally different from pagan deities. This would have been a striking and distinctive claim to the original audience.

ἄμαχος (amachos, G269) — describes being 'not contentious' or 'peaceable,' focusing on interpersonal strife rather than temptation. ἅγιος (hagios, G40) — means 'holy' or 'set apart,' a broader term for God's sacred purity, of which being untemptable is one aspect.

Word Details

Scripture References