1 Thessalonians 3:5

For this cause. Although Paul knew that the Thessalonians would be persecuted, he did not callously accept such a certainty. He loved his spiritual children and was affectionately anxious for their welfare. For this reason he dispatched a personal messenger to bring him firsthand news concerning their condition. He does not here name the person sent, since he had already given that information (v. 2). He simply states the reason for sending Timothy. He has already made a similar statement in vs. 1,2 but here makes it more personal by speaking in the first person singular employing “I,” not “we.”

Forbear. See on v. 1.

Know your faith. The state of his converts’ spiritual health was Paul’s main concern.

The tempter have tempted. Paul knew the frailties of human flesh, and feared that some of the believers might have fallen from the purity of the faith. His concern could be dispelled only by having direct news from Thessalonica. The apostle reveals his understanding of the workings of temptation. God had permitted trials to assail the Thessalonian Christians, but temptation did not come from Him. Paul recognizes that incitement to evil comes from the tempter, Satan himself (cf. on Matt. 4:1; James 1:13, 14). He realizes that a personal devil, working through wicked men, is attacking God’s people with the purpose of discouraging them and causing them to abandon their faith. If the devil should succeed, then the labor expended upon the believers would have been in vain, for Paul considers his efforts fruitless unless they result in the salvation of those for whom he works.