1 Thessalonians 3:1
in 1 Thessalonians 3So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone;
KJV
Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 3
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Wherefore - See 1Th 2:18. This particle (διὸ dio) is designed here to refer to another proof of his affection for them. One evidence had been referred to in his strong desire to visit them, which he had been unable to accomplish 1Th 2:18, and he here refers to another - to wit, the fact that he had sent Timothy to them. We could no longer forbear - That is, when I could not 1Th 3:5, for there is every evidence that Paul refers to himself only though he uses the plural form of the word.
This site's exposition
left at Athens alone
on 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2
Wherefore signals a decision forced by concern, when we could no longer forbear, the ache of not knowing the young church's condition growing too great to bear. Paul thought it good to be left at Athens alone, giving up his own companion in a hostile philosophical city so that Timotheus could go instead, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, three titles stacked to establish his authority to speak for Paul. The purpose was pastoral rather than merely informational, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith, strengthening and consoling named as one errand.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone. And sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister and our fellow-worker in the Gospel of Christ." Instead of saying, "we chose." And this he says, not as extolling Timothy, but honoring them, that he sent them the fellow-worker, and minister of the Gospel. As if he had said, Having withdrawn him from his labors we have sent to you the minister of God, and our fellow-laborer in the Gospel of Christ. "To establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith."
A commentator
John ChrysostomHomily on the Acts of the Apostles 42 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
Seest thou how God permits trials, and by them stirs up and awakens the disciples, and makes them more energetic? Then let us not sink down under trials: for He Himself will "also make the way of escape, that we may be able to bear them." Nothing so makes friends, and rivets them so firmly, as affliction: nothing so fastens and compacts the souls of believers: nothing is so seasonable for us teachers in order that the things said by us may be heard. For the hearer when he is in ease is listless and indolent, and seems to suffer annoyance from the speaker: but when he is in affliction and distress, he falls into a great longing for the hearing. For when distressed in his soul, he seeks on all sides to find comfort for his affliction: and the preaching brings no small comfort.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Paul mentioned the trials they had endured and the relief he intended to supply for them. Here he recalls how he came to their assistance through the visit of Timothy. First, Paul deals with the task of his messenger; secondly, Paul talks about the contact …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Wherefore when we could no longer forbear,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The word "left behind" (Greek) implies that Timothy had been with him at Athens. It was an act of self-denial for their sakes that Paul deprived himself of the presence of Timothy at Athens, which would have been so cheering to him in the midst of philosophic cavillers; but from love to the Thessalonians, he is well content to be left all "alone" in the great city.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Wherefore, when we could no longer, etc. - The apostle was anxious to hear of their state, and as he could obtain no information without sending a messenger express, he therefore sent Timothy from Athens; choosing rather to be left alone, than to continue any longer in uncertainty relative to their state.
The words behind it
8 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Διὸ | dio | Therefore | G1352 → | |
| μηκέτι | meketi | no longer | G3371 → | |
| στέγοντες | stegontes | enduring | G4722 → | |
| εὐδοκήσαμεν | eudokesamen | we thought it best | G2106 → | |
| καταλειφθῆναι | kataleiphthenai | to be left behind | G2641 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Ἀθήναις | athenais | Athens | G116 → | |
| μόνοι | monoi | alone | G3441 → | 110 times |
ΔιὸTherefore
dioG1352 →
μηκέτιno longer
meketiG3371 →
στέγοντεςenduring
stegontesG4722 →
εὐδοκήσαμενwe thought it best
eudokesamenG2106 →
καταλειφθῆναιto be left behind
kataleiphthenaiG2641 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἈθήναιςAthens
athenaisG116 →
μόνοιalone
monoiG3441 →110 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jeremiah 20:9If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of…
it leads to
- Psalms 39:3
My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
- Job 32:18–20
For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me.
- Acts 4:20
For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
- 1 Corinthians 9:16–17
Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
- Acts 17:16
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.
- Psalms 39:3
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:17Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
it leads to
- Colossians 2:5
For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 5:3
Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
- Colossians 2:5
Through
1 Thessalonians 3:5For 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…
it leads to
- James 1:13–14
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
- James 1:13–14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 1 Thessalonians
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 3; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Acts of the Apostles 42; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.