At the Feet of the Fathers: Dionysius of Alexandria - Testing is God’s Training for You

At the Feet of the Fathers

Monday, October 3, 2022

St. Dionysius of Alexandria

St. Dionysius the Great (b. late 2nd/early 3rd c. AD) was the Patriarch of Alexandria from December 28, AD 248, until his death on March 22, AD 264. Most of what we know about him comes from a large surviving number of copies of his letters. Only one original letter survives today; the remaining letters are excerpted in the works of the church historian, Eusebius.

Dionysius was born to a wealthy pagan family. He spent most of his life reading books and carefully studying the traditions of the pagans. He converted to Christianity as an adult. After his conversion, he began vigorously studying the heresies facing the Church so that he could refute them through dedicated study.

Testing & Temptation—God’s Training for You

In general, it seems true that it’s not possible for anyone to keep from experiencing evil completely. As someone says, “the whole world is in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), and again, “their span is but toil and trouble” (Psalm 90:10).

But, you might ask, what’s the difference between being tempted and falling or entering into temptation?

Well, if you're overcome by evil—and you will be overcome unless you struggle against it yourself, and unless God protects you with his shield—then you have entered into temptation. You're in it; you're under its power like a prisoner. But if you hold up and endure, then you are certainly tempted, but you haven't entered into temptation or fallen into it.

Thus Jesus was led by the Spirit, certainly not to enter into temptation but to be tempted by the devil. And again, Abraham did not enter into temptation, nor did God lead him into temptation, but he did [test] him; yet he did not drive him into temptation. Moreover, the Lord himself [tested] the disciples.

This the evil one, when he tempts us, pulls us into the temptations because he deals himself with the temptations of evil. But God, when he tests us, brings trials as one who is not tempted by evil. For God, as it says, "cannot be tempted with evil" (James 1:13). So the devil drives us on by force, pulling us toward destruction; but God leads us by the hand, training us for our salvation.

St. Dionysius of Alexandria, Gospel According to Luke (fragment), 22:45-46