1 TH 3:5 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) So again when I could no longer endure it, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith, just in case you’d been tempted by the tempter and then our work there would have been wasted.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Because of this, I also, no longer enduring it, sent to know about your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might have been in vain.

UST Because others have hurt us believers, and because I felt like I could not possibly wait any longer, I had Timothy visit you. I wanted to learn if you were still trusting in God. I was concerned that the devil might have succeeded in tempting you to stop trusting in God. If that were true, how hard we had worked among you would have accomplished nothing!

BLB 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.

AICNT For this reason, I could no longer bear it and sent to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

OEB Therefore, since I could no longer endure the uncertainty, I sent to make inquiries about your faith, fearing that the Tempter had tempted you, and that our toil might prove to have been in vain.

WEBBE 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 labour would have been in vain.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET 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.

LSV 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.

FBV This is why, when I couldn't stand it anymore, I sent to find out whether you were still trusting in God. I was concerned that the Devil[fn] had successfully tempted you and that all our work had been for nothing![fn]

3:5 “The Devil,” Literally, “the tempter.”

3:5 “Successfully tempted”—the original is actually just “tempted” but in English this doesn't imply what Paul fears—that the temptation has succeeded. The issue here is not being tempted, but falling into sin as a result of temptation.

TCNT For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor had been in vain.

T4T I was afraid that Satan, the one who tempts us, had caused you to stop trusting in Christ. If that had happened, we would have worked uselessly while we were present with you! So I sent Timothy to you in order to find out whether or not you were still trusting in Christ. I sent him because I could no longer endure not knowing ◄about your spiritual condition/whether or not you were still trusting in Christ►.

LEB Because of this, I also, when I[fn] could endure it no longer, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter tempted you and our labor should be in vain.

3:5 *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“could endure”) which is understood as temporal

BBE For 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.

Moff Well then, unable to bear it any longer, I sent to find out about your faith, in case the Tempter had tempted you and our labour had been thrown away.

Wymth 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.

ASV 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.

DRA 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.

YLT 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.

Drby For 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.

RV 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.

SLT For this I also, no more concealing, sent to know your faith, lest some way he tempting have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.

Wbstr 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.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 For this cause when I could no longer forbeare, I sent to know your faith, lest by some meanes the tempter haue tempted you, and our labor be in vaine.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps For this cause, when I coulde no longer forbeare, I sent to knowe your fayth, lest by some meanes the tempter had tempted you, and our labour had ben vayne.
(For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labour had been vain.)

Gnva Euen for this cause, when I could no longer forbeare, I sent him that I might knowe of your faith, lest the tempter had tempted you in any sort, and that our labour had bene in vaine.
(Even for this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent him that I might know of your faith, lest the tempter had tempted you in any sort, and that our labour had been in vain. )

Cvdl For this cause seynge I coulde no longer forbeare, I sent, that I mighte haue knowlege of youre faith, lest happly the tempter had tempted you, and lest oure laboure had bene in vayne.
(For this cause seeing I could no longer forbear, I sent, that I might have knowledge of your(pl) faith, lest happily the tempter had tempted you, and lest our labour had been in vain.)

TNT For this cause when I coulde no lenger forbeare I sent that I myght have knowledge of youre fayth lest haply the tempter had tempted you and that oure laboure had bene bestowed in vayne.
(For this cause when I could no lenger forbear I sent that I might have knowledge of your(pl) faith lest happily the tempter had tempted you and that our labour had been bestowed in vain. )

Wycl Therfor Y Poul, no lenger abidinge, sente to knowe youre feith, lest perauenture he that temptith tempte you, and youre trauel be maad veyn.
(Therefore I Poul, no lenger abiding, sent to know your(pl) faith, lest peradventure/perhaps he that temptith tempt you, and your(pl) travel be made vain.)

Luth Darum ich‘s auch nicht länger vertragen, hab‘ ich ausgesandt, daß ich erführe euren Glauben, auf daß nicht euch vielleicht versucht hätte der Versucher, und unsere Arbeit vergeblich würde.
(Therefore I...it also not longer vertragen, have I sent, that I erführe your(s)(pl) faith, on/in/to that not you perhaps tried would_have the/of_the Versucher, and our work/job vain would.)

ClVg Propterea et ego amplius non sustinens, misi ad cognoscendam fidem vestram: ne forte tentaverit vos is qui tentat, et inanis fiat labor noster.
(That's_why and I more not/no hold_onns, I_sent to cognoscendam faith your: not perhaps tentaverit you(pl) is who/which tentat, and inanis fiat work our. )

UGNT 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.
(dia touto kagō maʸketi stegōn, epempsa eis to gnōnai taʸn pistin humōn, maʸ pōs epeirasen humas ho peirazōn, kai eis kenon genaʸtai ho kopos haʸmōn.)

SBL-GNT 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.
(dia touto kagō maʸketi stegōn epempsa eis to gnōnai taʸn pistin humōn, maʸ pōs epeirasen humas ho peirazōn kai eis kenon genaʸtai ho kopos haʸmōn.)

RP-GNT Διὰ τοῦτο κἀγώ, μηκέτι στέγων, ἔπεμψα εἰς τὸ γνῶναι τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν, μήπως ἐπείρασεν ὑμᾶς ὁ πειράζων, καὶ εἰς κενὸν γένηται ὁ κόπος ἡμῶν.
(Dia touto kagō, maʸketi stegōn, epempsa eis to gnōnai taʸn pistin humōn, maʸpōs epeirasen humas ho peirazōn, kai eis kenon genaʸtai ho kopos haʸmōn.)

TC-GNT Διὰ τοῦτο κἀγώ, μηκέτι στέγων, ἔπεμψα εἰς τὸ γνῶναι τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν, μήπως ἐπείρασεν ὑμᾶς ὁ πειράζων, καὶ εἰς κενὸν γένηται ὁ κόπος ἡμῶν.
(Dia touto kagō, maʸketi stegōn, epempsa eis to gnōnai taʸn pistin humōn, maʸpōs epeirasen humas ho peirazōn, kai eis kenon genaʸtai ho kopos haʸmōn. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:17–3:5: Paul explained that he wanted very much to visit the Thessalonians again

Paragraph 3:1–5

Since Paul and his companions were not all able to return to Thessalonica, they decided to send Timothy alone. The purpose of Timothy’s visit was to strengthen and encourage the Thessalonians to continue believing in Christ even when people persecuted them. As Christians, they should expect that other people would cause them to suffer. Paul was very concerned about them, because he feared that the Thessalonians had been persecuted so severely that the devil had been able to tempt them to stop following Christ.

3:5a

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer,

That is why, when I could no longer bear not knowing whether or not you still believed in Christ,
Because I knew that you were being persecuted and when I could not tolerate/bear any longer not knowing how you were doing,

For this reason: Commentators do not agree about what this refers to. There are two possibilities:

It refers back to 3:4. Paul was saying that, because he knew that the Thessalonians were being persecuted, he was anxious about them. (GNT, NLT, REB, NJB, SSA)
It refers forward to the rest of 3:5. Paul was saying that, because he could no longer stand not knowing how the Thessalonians were, he had sent Timothy. In this case, this verse repeats 3:1a, which contains a similar phrase in Greek.

Many English versions are ambiguous, and it may be possible for you to translate this in a way that leaves both possibilities open. However, if that is not possible, it is recommended that you follow the first option (1), along with the majority of English versions that are not ambiguous.

3:5b

I sent to find out about your faith,

I sent Timothy to find out whether or not you still firmly believed in Christ.

I sent: The Greek text does not explicitly say whom Paul sent, but from the context it is clear that he was referring to Timothy. You may need to make this explicit in your translation. For example:

I sent Timothy (CEV)

to find out about your faith: Paul was not spying, nor did he want to know what facts the Thessalonians believed. He wanted to know whether they still firmly believed in Jesus Christ.

3:5c

for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you

I did this because I was afraid that perhaps the one who tempts people might have tempted you and might have caused you to stop believing in Christ,

for fear that: These words translate the Greek phrase mē pōs, which means “lest.” Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians might have stopped believing in Christ.

the tempter: This refers to Satan, the devil. The same expression is also used in Matthew 4:3. If your readers would not understand that this term refers to Satan, you could:

make explicit that it refers to Satan, for example, use an expression such as “Satan, the one who tempts people.”
replace the term “the tempter” with “Satan” or “the devil”. For example:
Satan (CEV)
devil (NCV)
use a footnote or a note in the glossary.

had somehow tempted you: In some languages the same word is used for “tempting” and “testing” and it is necessary to specify what someone is tempting people to do. In this context, Paul meant that he was afraid that the devil might have successfully tempted the Thessalonians to stop believing in Jesus.

3:5d

and caused our labor to be in vain.

and that the hard work that we^(excl) had done among you to help you believe in Christ would turn out to be useless.
and because I was afraid that the effort that we^(excl) had made among you had been wasted.

our labor: This refers to the effort Paul and his companions had made as they worked and preached so that the Thessalonians would follow Christ.

to be in vain: However, if Satan had succeeded in tempting the Thessalonians to stop following Christ, all that effort would have been worthless.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

διὰ τοῦτο κἀγὼ μηκέτι στέγων, ἔπεμψα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο κἀγώ μηκέτι στέγων ἔπεμψα εἰς τό γνῶναι τήν πίστιν ὑμῶν μή πώς ἐπείρασεν ὑμᾶς ὁ πειράζων καί εἰς κενόν γένηται ὁ κόπος ἡμῶν)

Here, the word this could refer to: (1) what Paul said in the previous verse about how the believers have experienced affliction (See: [3:4](../03/04.md)). Alternate translation: [Because of those afflictions, I also, no longer enduring it, sent] (2) what Paul says in this verse about how he could no longer endure. Alternate translation: [Because I could no longer endure it, I also sent]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

μηκέτι στέγων

no_longer enduring

Here, much as in [3:1](../03/01.md), the word enduring could introduce: (1) the reason why Paul sent Timothy. Alternate translation: [since I could no longer endure it] (2) the time when Paul sent Timothy. Alternate translation: [when I could no longer endure it]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μηκέτι στέγων

no_longer enduring

Here, much as in [3:1](../03/01.md) Paul implies that he could no longer endure being separated from the Thessalonians and not knowing how they were doing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [enduring my separation from you no longer] or [no longer enduring how I long to see you]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἔπεμψα

˱I˲_sent

Here Paul implies that he sent Timothy to the Thessalonians. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [sent Timothy to you]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of faith, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [whether you continue to believe]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μή πως

lest (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο κἀγώ μηκέτι στέγων ἔπεμψα εἰς τό γνῶναι τήν πίστιν ὑμῶν μή πώς ἐπείρασεν ὑμᾶς ὁ πειράζων καί εἰς κενόν γένηται ὁ κόπος ἡμῶν)

Here, the phrase lest somehow introduces something that Paul was worried about. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [fearing that somehow] or [worrying that somehow]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ πειράζων

the_‹one› tempting

Here Paul uses the phrase the tempter to refer to the devil, Satan. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [the tempter, Satan,]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐπείρασεν ὑμᾶς

tempted you_all

Here Paul implies that he was worried not only that they would be tempted but also that they would stop believing when they were tempted. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [had somehow successfully tempted you] or [had tempted you with the result that you stopped believing]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ὁ κόπος ἡμῶν

the_‹one› the labor ˱of˲_us

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of labor, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [what we had done among you]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

εἰς κενὸν

in_order in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τοῦτο κἀγώ μηκέτι στέγων ἔπεμψα εἰς τό γνῶναι τήν πίστιν ὑμῶν μή πώς ἐπείρασεν ὑμᾶς ὁ πειράζων καί εἰς κενόν γένηται ὁ κόπος ἡμῶν)

Here, the phrase in vain identifies a cause that does not have its intended effect. In this case, Paul’s labor will not help the Thessalonians if the tempter successfully tempts them. If it would be helpful in your language, you use a word or phrase that identifies a cause that does not have its intended effect. Alternate translation: [for nothing] or [to no purpose]