1 Thessalonians 3:5
New International Version
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 Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Berean Literal Bible
Because of this I also, enduring no longer, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow the one tempting had tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

King James Bible
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 King James Version
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 American Standard Bible
For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be for nothing.

NASB 1995
For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

NASB 1977
For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.

Legacy Standard Bible
For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to know about your faith, lest somehow the tempter has tempted you, and our labor be in vain.

Amplified Bible
For this reason, when I could no longer endure the suspense, I sent someone to find out about your faith [how you were holding up under pressure], for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our work [among you] would prove to be ineffective.

Christian Standard Bible
For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because of this I also did not resist until I sent to know your faith, lest the tempter would tempt you and our labor would be worthless.

Contemporary English Version
At last, when I could not wait any longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I hoped Satan had not tempted you and made all our work useless.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For this cause also, I, forbearing no longer, sent to know your faith: lest perhaps he that tempteth should have tempted you, and our labour should be made vain.

English Revised Version
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 labour should be in vain.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But when I couldn't wait any longer, I sent [Timothy] to find out about your faith. I wanted to see whether the tempter had in some way tempted you, making our work meaningless.

Good News Translation
That is why I had to send Timothy. I could not bear it any longer, so I sent him to find out about your faith. Surely it could not be that the Devil had tempted you and all our work had been for nothing!

International Standard Version
But when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that the tempter had tempted you in some way, and that our work had been a waste of time.

Literal Standard Version
because of this also, I, no longer enduring, sent to know your faith, lest he who is tempting tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
For this reason, when I too could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had put you to the test and our toil might come to nothing.

NET Bible
So when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless.

New Revised Standard Version
For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor had been in vain.

New Heart English Bible
For this cause I also, when I could not stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

Webster's Bible Translation
For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter may have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.

Weymouth New Testament
For this reason I also, when I could no longer endure the uncertainty, sent to know the condition of your faith, lest perchance the Tempter might have tempted you and our labour have been lost.

World English Bible
For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

Young's Literal Translation
because of this also, I, no longer forbearing, did send to know your faith, lest he who is tempting did tempt you, and in vain might be our labour.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Timothy's Visit
4Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass. 5For 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. 6But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.…

Cross References
Matthew 4:3
The tempter came to Him and said, "If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

2 Corinthians 6:1
As God's fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.

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.

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.

Philippians 2:19
Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 3:1
So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.

1 Thessalonians 3:2
We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,


Treasury of Scripture

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 labor be in vain.

when.

1 Thessalonians 3:1
Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

I sent.

1 Thessalonians 3:2,6
And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: …

Acts 15:36
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

2 Corinthians 7:5-7
For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears…

lest.

Matthew 4:3
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

1 Corinthians 7:5
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

2 Corinthians 2:11
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

and our.

1 Thessalonians 2:1
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

Isaiah 49:4
Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.

Galatians 2:2
And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

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Able Afraid Cause Condition Couldn't Efforts Endure Evil Faith Fear Fearing Find Forbear Labour Longer Means News Perchance Perhaps Quiet Reason Refrain Stand Tempted Tempter Tested Uncertainty Useless Vain Way Work
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Able Afraid Cause Condition Couldn't Efforts Endure Evil Faith Fear Fearing Find Forbear Labour Longer Means News Perchance Perhaps Quiet Reason Refrain Stand Tempted Tempter Tested Uncertainty Useless Vain Way Work
1 Thessalonians 3
1. Paul testifies his great love to the Thessalonians,
5. partly by sending Timothy unto them to strengthen and comfort them;
7. partly by rejoicing in their well-doing;
10. and partly by praying for them, and desiring a safe coming unto them.














(5) For this cause.--"Because I knew that temptation was sure to overtake you, I sent to see whether our work still lived, and was likely to live, in spite of it."

To know your faith.--"To ascertain whether you still believed:" only the form courteously implies that the faith was certainly there, and St. Paul only sent to "make assurance doubly sure."

The tempter.--See Matthew 4:3. The word and the tense in the Greek imply, not only that it is his character to tempt, but that it is his constant occupation.

Have tempted you . . . .--The original implies no doubt on the writer's part that the Thessalonians had been tempted; the only doubt was, how they had borne it. The striking out of the comma after "tempted you," and reading the clauses quickly together, will give a fair notion of the purport. It might be paraphrased, "Lest, in consequence of the temptations which the tempter brought against you, our toil should prove in vain." The "temptations" were those of persecution, and the time at which they befell, the same as in 1Thessalonians 3:4, "it came to pass."

Verse 5. - For this cause, when I could no longer forbear; no longer repress my anxiety, and endure my want of information concerning you. I sent to know your faith; to receive information concerning your spiritual condition. Lest by some means the tempter; a designation of Satan, used also by Matthew 4:3. Have tempted you, and our labor be in vain; that is, useless, without result (see on 1 Thessalonians 2:1; comp. also Galatians 4:11, "I am afraid, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain"). The temptation to which the Thessalonians were exposed was that of apostasy from Christianity, through the fear or endurance of persecution. That the tempter had tempted them is probable - it was almost unavoidable; that he had succeeded in his temptation, and had thus rendered the apostle's labors among them useless, was uncertain - a contingency which might possibly have taken place.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For this reason,
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

[when] I could bear [it]
στέγων (stegōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4722: To cover, conceal, ward off, bear with, endure patiently. From stege; to roof over, i.e. to cover with silence.

no longer,
μηκέτι (mēketi)
Adverb
Strong's 3371: No longer, no more. From me and eti; no further.

I
κἀγὼ (kagō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2504: To also, I too, but I. From kai and ego; so also the dative case kamoi, and accusative case kame and I, me.

sent
ἔπεμψα (epempsa)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3992: To send, transmit, permit to go, put forth.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

find out about
γνῶναι (gnōnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

faith,
πίστιν (pistin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

[for fear that]
μή (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

tempter
πειράζων (peirazōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3985: To try, tempt, test. From peira; to test, i.e. Endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline.

{had} somehow
πως (pōs)
Adverb
Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

tempted
ἐπείρασεν (epeirasen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3985: To try, tempt, test. From peira; to test, i.e. Endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

and [caused]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

labor
κόπος (kopos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2873: From kopto; a cut, i.e. toil, literally or figuratively; by implication, pains.

to be
γένηται (genētai)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

in
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

vain.
κενὸν (kenon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2756: Apparently a primary word; empty.


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NT Letters: 1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause I also when (1 Thess. 1 Thes. 1Th iTh i Th)
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