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Selected Verse: 1 Thessalonians 3:5 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
1Th 3:5 |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
For this cause--Because I know of your "tribulation" having actually begun (Th1 3:4).
when I--Greek, "when I also (as well as Timothy, who, Paul delicately implies, was equally anxious respecting them, compare "we," Th1 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 Th1 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 Gal 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; Co1 3:8). |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
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 Th1 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. Satan has many methods of seducing people 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 (compare Matt. iv.), 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 endeavors to tempt people to swerve from the truth, and to abandon their religion. In persecution, people 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 to support the soul in the day of trial; compare 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; notes, Gal 4:11. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
The tempter (ὁ πειράζων)
Only here and Mat 4:3. lxx. See on Mat 6:13.
In vain (εἰς κενον)
The phrase only in Paul. See Co2 6:1; Gal 2:2; Phi 2:16. The force of the preposition is fairly represented by to in the phrase to no purpose. lxx has εἰς κενὸν, εἰς τὸ κενὸν, and εἰς κενὰ. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
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. |
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
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.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
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.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
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.
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.
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.