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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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 labor would have been in vain.
- BSB For 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.
- NKJV For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
- NASB For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be for nothing.
- NLT That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Anxious about their faith, Paul sent Timothy lest the tempter had derailed them and his work prove vain. His concern reveals genuine pastoral love.
Overview
Paul again explains his sending of Timothy, this time from his own perspective: he feared that Satan, "the tempter," might have shaken their faith. His worry that his labor could be "in vain" reflects deep investment, not doubt about God's keeping power, but the real possibility of testing. Pastoral care includes anxious love that seeks evidence of persevering faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Jas 1:13–14Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
- Matt 4:3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
- 2 Cor 2:11Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
- Phil 2:16Holding 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.
- Gal 1:6–9I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
- Eph 4:14That 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;
- Isa 49:4Then 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.
- Gal 2:2And 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.
- 2 Cor 11:13–15For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
- 1 Cor 7:5Defraud 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.
- 2 Cor 11:2–3For 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.
- Gal 4:11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
- 2 Cor 7:5–7For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
- 1 Th 3:1–2Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
- 1 Th 3:6But 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:
- 1 Th 2:1For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
- Acts 15:36And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
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The believer waits for God's Son from heaven, Jesus who delivers from the wrath to come and who will return to gather his people to himself.
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Original language
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