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1 Thessalonians 3 · a question people ask

"for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you" (3:5). Who is the tempter?

In the text

The verse says, "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." (3:5). The letter doesn't name the tempter, and these notes don't either. They say no more of the tempter than the verse says.

The verses

“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.”
1 Thessalonians 3:5 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 3: Glad news

When Timothy came, he "brought us glad news of your faith and love" (3:6): behind brought us glad news is the verb the WEB gives as preach the Good News in Romans 1:15, the only time 1 Thessalonians has it. And he had been sent "to comfort you" (3:2); now the letter says, "we were comforted over you" (3:7), with the same verb.

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Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions