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A temptation or an adversity, the enduring of which proves the merit of an individual's faith. For the Christian, to encounter adversity is to undergo a trial in which his faith is proved either true or false before God, the highest judge. Since many positive things come about through such trials, Christians are urged to rejoice at their occurrence <James 1:2; 1 Pet. 4:13>. Christ Himself set the example in how trials should be endured when He defeated Satan's temptations by appealing to the word and will of God <Luke 4:1-13>.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)