1 Thessalonians 3:5

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of 1 Thessalonians 3:5

3and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. 4Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. 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. 6But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. 7So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith.

1 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 3:1Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens,
• 1 Thessalonians 3:2and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith,
• Acts 15:36After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.”
• 2 Corinthians 7:5When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.
• Matthew 4:3During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
• 1 Corinthians 7:5Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
• 2 Corinthians 2:11so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.
• 2 Corinthians 11:2For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.
• Galatians 1:6I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News
• Ephesians 4:14Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
• James 1:13And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:1You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure.
• Isaiah 49:4I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”
• Galatians 2:2I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing.
• Galatians 4:11I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing.
• Philippians 2:16Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

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

• Love
• Satan
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

• Increase
• Live
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Forbear
• Satan
• Thessalonians, the First Epistle of Paul to the
• Thessalonica
• Timothy
• Thessalonians, First Epistle to the
• tempt, temptation

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