1 Thessalonians 3:5

Anxious about their faith, Paul sent Timothy lest the tempter had derailed them and his work prove vain. His concern reveals genuine pastoral love.

Cross-references · 17

• Jas 1:13–14When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
• Matt 4:3The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
• 2 Cor 2:11in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
• Phil 2:16as 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.
• Gal 1:6–9I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
• Eph 4:14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
• Isa 49:4But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength in futility and vanity; yet My vindication is with the LORD, and My reward is with My God.”
• Gal 2:2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.
• 2 Cor 11:13–15For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
• 1 Cor 7:5Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
• 2 Cor 11:2–3I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
• Gal 4:11I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.
• 2 Cor 7:5–7For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.
• 1 Th 3:1–2So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.
• 1 Th 3:6But 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.
• 1 Th 2:1You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
• Acts 15:36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.