1 Thessalonians 3 · Verse 5

1 Thessalonians 3:5

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.
1 Thessalonians 3:5, King James Version

1 Thessalonians 3:5 in other translations

BSBFor 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.
WEBFor 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.
ASVFor 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.
YLTbecause 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.
DARBYFor this reason I also, no longer able to refrain myself, sent to know your faith, lest perhaps the tempter had tempted you and our labour should be come to nothing.
BBEFor this reason, when I was no longer able to keep quiet, I sent to get news of your faith, fearing that you might be tested by the Evil One and that our work might come to nothing.
WebsterFor 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.

What does 1 Thessalonians 3:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. 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 1Th 3:1). to know--to learn the state of your faith, whether it stood the trial (Col 4:8). lest ... have tempted ... and ... be--The indicative is used in the former sentence, the subjunctive in the latter. 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 (Is 49:4; 1Co 3:8).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. 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. 1Thes 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 heathen friends; or by the arts of false teachers; or by the severity of suffering. Satan has many methods of seducing men from the truth, and Paul was fearful that by some of his arts he might be successful there.

The tempter. Satan; for though the Jews were the immediate actors in those transactions, yet the apostle regarded them as being under the direction of Satan, and as accomplishing his purposes. He was, therefore, the real author of the persecutions which had been excited. He is here called the "Tempter," as he is often, (comp. Mt 4,) and the truths taught are;

(1.) that Satan is the great author of persecution; and

(2.) that in a time of persecution--or of trial of any kind--he endeavours to tempt men to swerve from the truth, and to abandon their religion. In persecution, men are tempted to apostatize from God, in order to avoid suffering. In afflictions of other kinds, Satan often tempts the sufferer to murmur and complain; to charge God with harshness, partiality, and severity, and to give vent to expressions that will show that religion has none of its boasted power support the soul in the day of trial. Comp. Job 1:9-11. In all times of affliction, as well as in prosperity, we may be sure that the Tempter" is not far off, and should be on our guard against his wiles.

And our labour be in vain. By your being turned from the faith. Gal 4:11.

(a) "when I could" 1Thes 3:1 (*) "forbear" "bear" (b) "lest by" 2Cor 11:2,3 (c) "labour be in vain" Gal 4:11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

The more we find pleasure in the ways of God, the more we shall desire to persevere therein. The apostle's design was to establish and comfort the Thessalonians as to the object of their faith, that Jesus Christ was the Saviour of the world; and as to the recompence of faith, which was more than enough to make up all their losses, and to reward all their labours. But he feared his labours would be in vain. If the…

Read the full comment on 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 →

1 Thessalonians 3:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

διὰdiaBecause ofG1223
τοῦτοtoutothisG3778
κἀγὼkagōI myself alsoG1473
μηκέτιmēketino longerG3371
στέγωνstegōnenduringG4722
ἔπεμψαepempsaI sentG3992
εἰςeisin orderG1519
τὸto<the>G3588
γνῶναιgnōnaito knowG1097
τὴνtēntheG3588
πίστινpistinfaithG4102
ὑμῶν,humōnof you,G4771
μήmēlestG3361
πωςpōsperhapsG4458
ἐπείρασενepeirasentemptedG3985
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
ὁhothe [one]G3588
πειράζωνpeirazōntemptingG3985
καὶkaiandG2532
εἰςeisinG1519
κενὸνkenonvainG2756
γένηταιgenētaimay beG1096
ὁhotheG3588
κόποςkoposlaborG2873
ἡμῶν.hēmōnof us.G3165

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Thessalonians 3:5

  • James 1:13-14

    Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

  • 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.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:11

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

  • Galatians 1:6-9

    I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

  • Philippians 2:16

    Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

  • Ephesians 4:14

    That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

  • 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.

  • 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. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

    For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:2-3

    For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

  • 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.

  • Galatians 4:11

    I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when.
1
I sent.
2,6; Ac 15:36; 2Co 7:5-7
lest.
Mt 4:3; 1Co 7:5; 2Co 2:11; 11:2,3,13-15; Ga 1:6-9; Eph 4:14
Jas 1:13,14
and our.
2:1; Isa 49:4; Ga 2:2; 4:11; Php 2:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:4

    For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:5

    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.

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:6

    But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

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1 Thessalonians 3:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por lo cual, también yo, no esperando más, he enviado á reconocer vuestra fe, no sea que os haya tentado el tentador, y que nuestro trabajo haya sido en vano.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		C’est pourquoi moi aussi, n’y tenant plus, j’ai envoyé afin de connaître ce qui en était de votre foi, de peur que le tentateur ne vous ait tentés, et que notre travail ne soit rendu vain.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Darum auch, da ich es nicht länger aushalten konnte, sandte ich, um euren Glauben zu erfahren, ob nicht etwa der Versucher euch versucht habe und unsere Arbeit vergeblich gewesen sei.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Propterea et ego amplius non sustinens, misi ad cognoscendam fidem vestram: ne forte tentaverit vos is qui tentat, et inanis fiat labor noster.