English Standard Version
1 Thessalonians 3:5
5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
1 Thessalonians 3:5 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
- New Living Translation (NLT)That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.
Context of 1 Thessalonians 3:5
3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. 6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.
Read all of 1 Thessalonians 31 Thessalonians 3:5 word by word
διὰ τοῦτο κἀγὼ μηκέτι στέγων ἔπεμψα εἰς τὸ γνῶναι τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν, μή πως ἐπείρασεν ὑμᾶς ὁ πειράζων καὶ εἰς κενὸν γένηται ὁ κόπος ἡμῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- when Iκἀγώkagō kamoi kame · and IG2504
- couldστέγωstegō · to endureG4722
- no longerμηκέτιmēketi · never againG3371
- I sentπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
- toεἰςeis · towardG1519
- knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
- yourσύsu · youG4771
- faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- lest by some meansμήπωςmēpōs mē pōs · so thatG3381
- the tempterπειράζωpeirazō · to test/tempt: temptG3985
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- labourκόποςkopos · laborG2873
- beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- vainκενόςkenos · emptyG2756
Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 3:5
- 1 Thessalonians 3:1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone,
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,
- Acts 15:36And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."
- 2 Corinthians 7:5For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within.
- Matthew 4:3And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."
- 1 Corinthians 7:5Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
- 2 Corinthians 2:11so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
- 2 Corinthians 11:2For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
- Galatians 1:6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
- Ephesians 4:14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
- James 1:13Let 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.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.
- Isaiah 49:4But I said, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God."
- Galatians 2:2I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
- Galatians 4:11I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
- Philippians 2:16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 3:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5For 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.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5For 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 1 Thessalonians 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5Paul had concern that Satan, the tempter, had weakened the Thessalonians’ faith (Mark 1:13; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 6, 8). He was checking to make sure his efforts among them were not useless (Galatians 2:2; Philippians 2:16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. For this cause--Because I know of your "tribulation" having actually begun (1Th 3:4). when I--Greek, "when I also (as well as Timothy, who, Paul delicately implies, was equally anxious respecting them, compare "we," 1Th 3:1), could no longer contain myself (endure the suspense)." I sent--Paul was the actual sender; hence the "I" here: Paul, Silas, and Timothy himself had agreed on the mission already, before Paul went to Athens: hence the "we," (see on…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Thessalonians 3:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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