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1 Thessalonians 3:5

in 1 Thessalonians 3

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.

KJV

For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 3

Commentary

12 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians · Written before 1107.

I, he says, did not suppose that you were shaken, except perhaps because you were subjected to temptations. Do you see that disturbance in afflictions is the work of the devil, and especially when some are scandalized as a result of others experiencing misfortune? So …

This site's exposition

for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you

Paul names his fear directly, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you, the title the devil bears at Matthew 4:3. The danger feared is suffering put to use, persecution prying converts loose from a faith only weeks old.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on 1 Thessalonians 4 · Written before 407.

proposed

"For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain." A Question lies before us to-day, which is much disputed, and which is gathered from many sources. But what is this question? "For this cause," he says, "when I could no longer forbear, I sent Timothy that I might know your faith." What sayest thou? He, who knew so many things, who heard unutterable words, who ascended even to the third heaven, doth not he know, even when he is in Athens? And yet the distance is not great, nor has he been long parted from them. For he says, "Being bereaved of you for a short season." He does not know the affairs of the Thessalonians, but is compelled to send Timothy to know their faith, "lest," he says, "the tempter had tempted you, and our labors should be in vain." What then is one to say? That the Saints knew not all things. And this one might learn from many instances, both of the early ones, and of those who came after them. And this comes to pass out of great care on God's part. How, and in what way? For the sake both of the Saints themselves, and of those who believe in them. For as He permits that there should be persecutions, so He permits that they should also be ignorant of many things, that they may be kept humble. What means, "Lest by any means the tempter had tempted you"? Dost thou see that to be shaken in afflictions proceeds from the devil, and from his seduction? For when he cannot shake us ourselves, he takes another way, and shakes the weaker sort through our means. "And our labor," he says, "should be in vain." Wherefore! for even if they were turned aside, it was not through thy fault, not through thy negligence. […]

The Medieval Church4 voices

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians · Written before 1107.

proposed

Here some ask: why did he who was caught up to the third heaven, who heard inexpressible words (2 Cor. 12:6), not know what was happening with the Thessalonians, but sent Timothy "to learn about their faith"? One may say that not everything was known …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians · Written before 1107.

proposed

If they had gone astray, O Paul, what is that to you? Your labor will not remain without full reward from God. However, he says, on account of my strong love, I would have considered my labor lost.

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians · Written before 1274.

proposed

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent that I might know your faith, how firm you are in your faith: "Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds" (Prov. 27:23); for fear that somehow the …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians · Written before 1107.

proposed

O Paul! If you predicted to them that you would endure affliction, and that they should not be troubled by this affliction, then why do you send again? It turns out that you do not yet fully trust them. Out of great love, he says, …
5 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Note, It is the devil's design to hinder the good fruit and effect of the preaching of the gospel. If he cannot hinder ministers from labouring in the word and doctrine, he will, if he be able, hinder them of the success of their labours. Note also, Faithful ministers are much concerned about the success of their labours.
For this cause, when I could no longer forbear,.... Or "bear" the above vehement desire of seeing them, or of hearing from them.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

For this cause - Since I knew that you were so liable to be persecuted, and since I feared that some might be turned from the truth by this opposition. When I could no longer forbear - See the notes at 1Th 3:1. I sent to know your faith - That is, your fidelity. or your steadfastness in the gospel. Lest by some means - Either by allurements to apostasy, set before you by your former pagan friends; or by the arts of false teachers; or by the severity of suffering.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Translate therefore, "To know . . . whether haply the tempter have tempted you (the indicative implying that he supposed such was the case), and lest (in that case) our labor may prove to be in vain" (compare Ga 4:11). Our labor in preaching would in that case be vain, so far as ye are concerned, but not as concerns us in so far as we have sincerely labored (Isa 49:4;

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

For this cause - Knowing that you would be persecuted, and knowing that your apostasy was possible, I sent to know your faith - whether you continued steadfast in the truth, lest you might have been tempted by Satan to consult your present ease, and abandon the Gospel, for which you suffered persecution.

The words behind it

25 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.24 worksMatthew 4:3The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”10 worksColossians 1:23if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.8 worksJames 1:13–14When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.7 worksGalatians 4:11I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.7 worksGalatians 2:2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.6 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Thessalonians 3:1So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.6 worksPhilippians 2:16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.6 works2 Corinthians 11:3I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.5 works2 Corinthians 2:11in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.4 worksJohn 15:4Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.4 worksIsaiah 49:4But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength in futility and vanity; yet My vindication is with the LORD, and My reward is with My God.”3 worksGalatians 1:6–9I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—3 worksEphesians 4:14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.3 worksDaniel 6:19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions.3 worksPhilippians 3:11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.3 works1 Thessalonians 2:1You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.3 works2 Corinthians 7:5For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 2:11

    in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

    it leads to

    • 1 Peter 5:8

      Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

    • Ephesians 6:11–12

      Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.

    • 2 Corinthians 11:3

      I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

    • 2 Corinthians 4:4

      The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

    • Luke 22:31

      Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.

  • Through

    Philippians 2:16

    as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 9:26

      Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.

    • Galatians 2:2

      I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running…

  • Through

    Matthew 4:3

    The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

    it leads to

    • Genesis 3:1–5

      Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any…

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies1

About 1 Thessalonians

St Paul Preaching at Athens, Raphael, about 1515 to 1516, Royal Collection. Public domain.
St Paul Preaching at Athens, Raphael, about 1515 to 1516, Royal Collection. Public domain.
1 Thessalonians: the study guide →Read 1 Thessalonians 3 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 4; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.

Read on in 1 Thessalonians 3 →