SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:5
Por lo cual, tambin yo, no esperando ms, he enviado a reconocer vuestra fe, no sea que os haya tentado el Tentador, y que nuestro trabajo haya sido en vano.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 3:5
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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear , etc.] Or bear the above vehement desire of seeing them, or of hearing from them. Here the apostle speaks in the singular number, and seems to intimate, as if what was said before of the like kind is to be understood singly of him; for these words are a repetition and summary of the foregoing, with some diversity: I sent to know your faith; how it stood, whether it was staggering through these afflictions, or firm; whether it was weak or strong, what was wanting in it; and whether it grew and increased. The Arabic version adds, and charity; for of this, as well as of faith, Timothy brought an account, as appears from the following verse. Lest by some means the tempter ; Satan, so called from his common and constant employ in tempting men to sin; (see Matthew 4:3) have tempted you with success , and got an advantage over them, improving these afflictions to such a purpose as to move them from the hope of the Gospel, and relinquish the profession of it; for otherwise there was no question to be made but he had tempted them, or solicited them to it; for none of the saints are free from his temptations; the apostle himself was not, nor indeed our Lord Jesus Christ: but the apostle's fears were, lest he should so have tempted them as to have gained upon them, and have persuaded them to have turned their backs upon the Gospel, and not expose their name and credit, and hazard the toss of worldly substance, and even life itself, for the sake of it. And our labour be in vain : in preaching the Gospel among them; not with respect to God, to whom the word never returns void and empty; nor with regard to the apostles, whose judgment was with the Lord, and their work with their God, who will of his own grace reward them; but with respect to the Thessalonians, to whom, should Satan gain his point, it would be of no use and service, for which the concern was. The Ethiopic version reads, and your labour be in vain: in receiving the apostles, embracing and professing the Gospel, and suffering for it; (see Galatians 3:4) but the common reading is best, and agrees with what the apostle elsewhere says, ( Galatians 4:11 Phi 2:16).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - The more we find pleasure in the ways of God, the more we shall desir to persevere therein. The apostle's design was to establish and comfor the Thessalonians as to the object of their faith, that Jesus Chris was the Saviour of the world; and as to the recompence of faith, whic 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 devi cannot hinder ministers from labouring in the word and doctrine, he will, if possible, hinder the success of their labours. No one woul willingly labour in vain. It is the will and purpose of God, that we enter into his kingdom through many afflictions. And the apostles, fa from flattering people with the expectation of worldly prosperity i religion, told them plainly they must count upon trouble in the flesh Herein they followed the example of their great Master, the Author of our faith. Christians were in danger, and they should be forewarned they will thus be kept from being improved by any devices of the tempter.
Greek Textus Receptus
δια 1223 τουτο 5124 καγω 2504 μηκετι 3371 στεγων 4722 5723 επεμψα 3992 5656 εις 1519 το 3588 γνωναι 1097 5629 την 3588 πιστιν 4102 υμων 5216 μηπως 3381 επειρασεν 3985 5707 υμας 5209 ο 3588 πειραζων 3985 5723 και 2532 εις 1519 κενον 2756 γενηται 1096 5638 ο 3588 κοπος 2873 ημων 2257
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. The tempter (o peirazwn). Only here and Matt. iv. 3. LXX. See on Matt. vi. 13.
In vain (eiv kenon). The phrase only in Paul. See 2 Cor. vi. 1; Gal. ii. 2; Philip. ii. 16. The force of the preposition is fairly represented by to in the phrase to no purpose. LXX has eijv kenon, eijv to kenon, and eijv kena.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:5 {That I might know} (eis to gnwnai). Paul's common idiom (verse #2), eis to and the infinitive of purpose (second aorist ingressive active of ginwskw, come to know). {Lest by any means the tempter had tempted you} (me pws epeirasen humas ho peirazwn). Findlay takes this as a question with negative answer, but most likely negative final clause with me pws about a past action with aorist indicative according to the classic idiom as in #Ga 2:2 (me pws--edramon) and #Ga 4:11 after verb of fearing (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 988). It is a fear that the thing may turn out to be so about the past. {Should be} (genetai). Here the usual construction appears (aorist subjunctive with me pws) about the future.
