1 Thessalonians 3:1
New International Version
So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.

New Living Translation
Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens,

English Standard Version
Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone,

Berean Standard Bible
So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore, enduring no longer, we thought it best to be left in Athens alone,

King James Bible
Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

New King James Version
Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it best to be left behind, alone at Athens,

NASB 1995
Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone,

NASB 1977
Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone;

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we were pleased to be left behind at Athens alone,

Amplified Bible
Therefore, when we could no longer endure our separation [from you], we thought it best to be left behind, alone at Athens,

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens.

American Standard Version
Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And because we did not resist, we chose to remain in Athens by ourselves,

Contemporary English Version
Finally, we couldn't stand it any longer. We decided to stay in Athens by ourselves

Douay-Rheims Bible
For which cause, forbearing no longer, we thought it good to remain at Athens alone:

English Revised Version
Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We thought it best to remain in Athens by ourselves. But, because we couldn't wait any longer [for news about you],

Good News Translation
Finally, we could not bear it any longer. So we decided to stay on alone in Athens

International Standard Version
Therefore, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to remain alone in Athens

Literal Standard Version
For this reason, enduring no longer, we thought good to be left in Athens alone,

Majority Standard Bible
So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.

New American Bible
That is why, when we could bear it no longer, we decided to remain alone in Athens

NET Bible
So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to stay on in Athens alone.

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens;

New Heart English Bible
Therefore, when we could not stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

Weymouth New Testament
So when we could endure it no longer, we decided to remain behind in Athens alone;

World English Bible
Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,

Young's Literal Translation
Wherefore no longer forbearing, we thought good to be left in Athens alone,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Timothy's Visit
1So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens. 2We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,…

Cross References
Acts 17:15
Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

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.

1 Thessalonians 3:5
For 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 vain.


Treasury of Scripture

Why when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

when.

1 Thessalonians 3:5
For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

1 Thessalonians 2:17
But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

Jeremiah 20:9
Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

we thought.

Acts 17:15
And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

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Able Alone Athens Bear Best Couldn't Decided Desire Endure Forbear Forbearing Good Longer News Ourselves Refrain Stand Strong Thought Wherefore Willing
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Able Alone Athens Bear Best Couldn't Decided Desire Endure Forbear Forbearing Good Longer News Ourselves Refrain Stand Strong Thought Wherefore Willing
1 Thessalonians 3
1. Paul testifies his great love to the Thessalonians,
5. partly by sending Timothy unto them to strengthen and comfort them;
7. partly by rejoicing in their well-doing;
10. and partly by praying for them, and desiring a safe coming unto them.














III.

(1) We could no longer forbear.--The Greek word contains the metaphor of a vessel over-full and bursting with its contents. "We" must be understood here by the limitation of 1Thessalonians 2:18, and by the direct singular of 1Thessalonians 3:5, to mean St. Paul alone, not him and Silas.

To be left at Athens alone.--The difficulty of interpreting this passage so as to agree with Acts 17:15-16; Acts 18:5, is not a light one. From those passages it would appear that immediately upon reaching Athens, St. Paul sent word back to Macedonia, by the friends who had escorted him, that St. Silas and St. Timothy should join him at once; but that some delay took place, and that St. Paul had arrived at Corinth before his companions reached him; that they consequently never were with him at Athens. In that case, "to be left alone" must mean, "We resolved not to keep with us the brethren who escorted us;" and the "sent" of 1Thessalonians 3:2 will mean that he gave them a message to Timothy that he should go back to Thessalonica (presumably from Ber?a), before joining St. Paul at Athens; for the tense of the Greek verb "to be left" absolutely necessitates an act of parting with some one: it cannot mean, "We were willing to endure loneliness a little longer." But such an interpretation suits ill with Acts 17:15; it is hard to identify an urgent message to "come with all speed" with a command to make such a detour. It seems, therefore, most reasonable to suppose that Silas and Timothy joined St. Paul forthwith at Athens, and were almost as soon sent back into Macedonia,--Silas to Ber?a or Philippi, and Timothy to Thessalonica. This would explain St. Paul's being left alone, an expression which would hardly have been used had Silas remained with him at Athens, as some (misled by the word "we") have supposed; and also it explains how in Acts 18:5 both Timothy and Silas come from Macedonia to Corinth. The despatching of Silas from Athens is not mentioned here, simply because it had no particular interest for the Thessalonians. If the two men did not reach St. Paul at all during the time he was at Athens, after receiving so imperative a message, they must have been very slow, for a week would have allowed ample time for their journey from Ber?a, and Acts 17:17; Acts 18:1 certainly imply a much longer period of residence there. "To be left alone" was a great trial to St. Paul's affectionate nature: such a sacrifice may well impress the Thessalonians with the strength of his love for them. . . .

Verse 1. - This verse is closely connected with the concluding verses of the last chapter, from which it should not be separated. Wherefore; on account of my affection toward you and my repeated vain attempts to see you. When we. Some refer the plural to Paul, Silas, and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 1:1); others to Paul and Silas, as Timothy had been sent to Thessalonica; but it is to be restricted to Paul, as is evident from 1 Thessalonians 2:38 and 1 Thessalonians 3:5, and inasmuch as Paul was left alone at Athens; the plural being here used for the singular. Could no longer forbear; could no longer restrain our longing and anxiety to know your condition. We thought it good; a happy translation of the original, expressing both "we were pleased and resolved." To be left at Athens alone; an expression of solitude. Alone in Athens, in the very metropolis of idolatry. Compare with this the common saying, "Alone in London." In the Acts of the Apostles we are informed that Paul came to Athens alone, and that there he waited for Silas and Timothy (Acts 17:14, ]5), and that these fellow-workers rejoined him at Corinth (Acts 18:5). Many expositors, however, from this and the next verse, infer that Timothy at least joined Paul at Athens, but was sent back by him to Thessalonica, to inquire into the condition of his converts in that city. Such is the opinion of Olshausen, Neander, De Wette, Lunemann, Hofmann, Koch, and Schott; and, among English expositors, of Macknight, Paley, Eadie, Jowett, Ellicott, and Wordsworth. There is no contradiction between this view and the narrative of the Acts. Luke merely omits to mention Timothy's short visit to Athens and departure from it, and relates only the final reunion of these three fellow-workers at Corinth. Indeed, Paley gives this coming of Timothy to Athens as one of the undesigned coincidences between this Epistle and the Acts of the Apostles. Still, however, we are not necessitated to suppose that Timothy joined the apostle at Athens. The words admit of the opinion that he was sent by Paul direct from Beraea, and not from Athens; and that he and Silas did not join Paul until they came from Macedonia to Corinth. Such is the opinion of Hug, Wieseler, Koppe, Alford, and Vaughan.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
Διὸ (Dio)
Conjunction
Strong's 1352: Wherefore, on which account, therefore. From dia and hos; through which thing, i.e. Consequently.

[when] we could bear [it]
στέγοντες (stegontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4722: To cover, conceal, ward off, bear with, endure patiently. From stege; to roof over, i.e. to cover with silence.

no longer,
μηκέτι (mēketi)
Adverb
Strong's 3371: No longer, no more. From me and eti; no further.

we were willing
εὐδοκήσαμεν (eudokēsamen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 2106: To be well-pleased, think it good, be resolved. From eu and dokeo; to think well of, i.e. Approve; specially, to approbate.

to be left
καταλειφθῆναι (kataleiphthēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 2641: From kata and leipo; to leave down, i.e. Behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining.

on our own
μόνοι (monoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3441: Only, solitary, desolate. Probably from meno; remaining, i.e. Sole or single; by implication, mere.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

Athens.
Ἀθήναις (Athēnais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 116: Athens, the intellectual capital of Greece. Plural of Athene; Athenoe, the capitol of Greece.


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NT Letters: 1 Thessalonians 3:1 Therefore when we couldn't stand it any (1 Thess. 1 Thes. 1Th iTh i Th)
1 Thessalonians 2:20
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