Paul loved his fellow brethren dearly. He prayed for them constantly; he encouraged them repeatedly; he was concerned for them daily. He longed deeply for each of his brothers and sisters in Christ to be “in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming” (1 Thess. 2:19). There was nothing he desired more.
In his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, Paul stated twice that he “could no longer endure” (3:1, 5) not knowing how his brethren were doing, knowing that they needed someone to “establish” them and “encourage” them concerning their “faith” (3:2). So, he sent Timothy to them, “that no one should be shaken” (3:3). Paul did not want his fellow Christians to be “shaken” (NKJV), “disturbed” (NASB) or “moved” (ASV) by the sufferings and afflictions which were coming upon them (3:3-4; cf. 2:14). There was nothing more important to Paul than to “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28), and, if there was any possibility that any of his fellow brethren were being rooted up and moved from the faith, he could not “endure” the thought!
Well, how could these brethren possibly be “removed from” the truth in which Paul had rooted their faith (cf. Gal. 1:6-9)? What could possibly lead them astray? Look at verse 5 (of 1 Thess. 3). “I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you.” Paul knew the stealth-like persistence of the evil one, and he was apprehensive about the constant barrage of evil that Satan would bring into the lives of Christians (especially babes in Christ).
It is interesting how God chooses to emphasize certain things. In the New Testament, when God is described as “the living God,” the word “living” is actually a present tense verb (not an adjective) to emphasize “the God who ever lives.” A similar emphasis is used here. Paul feared that “the tempter might have tempted you.” The same Greek verb is used twice in this statement. It is used in the obvious past tense of “might have tempted you” (at some point in the past). But, “the tempter” is not a noun (as might be expected) but a present tense verb. Satan is “the one who ever tempts.” His efforts are continual; while he may “depart for a season” (cf. Luke 4:13), he will be back.
Paul knew this, and, rather than take the “hands off” and “wish for the best” approach with his brethren, he was ever vigilant and diligent to check on them and do whatever he could in “strengthening the souls of the disciples” (Acts 14:22). What approach do we take when we see our brethren fighting the tempter? Can we endure the thought?