Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Thessalonians 3:5

5 For this cause when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you , and our labour be in vain .

The Apostle here gives a further account of the reason why he sent Timotheus to them, which was to know their Faith, whether it continued stedfast under all their sufferings and temptations. He feared Satan whom he calls the Tempter, might have some way or other tempted them, either by false Teachers to seduce them, or by sufferings to affright them. He was more concerned about the inward State of their Souls, than their outward Condition; and commonly temptations go along with persecutions:

And the Apostle having bestowed great labour upon them, feared, lest it might be in vain, that the Tempter had prevailed. Satans first work is to keep men from believing, his next is to destroy their Faith; young Converts are commonly most assaulted. Pauls heart was therefore very solicitous for them, so that (as he said before) he could not any longer forbear sending to know how it was with them.

Marginal references: Phil. 2.1[illegible: 1 letter].