Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
Wherefore - because of our earnest love to you (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20), and our having been "hindered"; going to you, we sent Timothy.
Forbear - `endure' the suspense. х Stegontes (G4722) is said of a water-tight vessel.] When we could no longer restrain our yearning, at least to hear of you.
Left at Athens alone. See 'Introduction.' This implies that he sent Timothy from Athens, where the latter had followed him. The determination to send Timothy was that of Paul, Silas, and Timothy, before Paul's leaving Berea (Alford): it was carried into effect when Paul reached Athens. Thus the "I" 1 Thessalonians 3:5, will express that the act of sending Timothy was Paul's, while the determination that Paul should be left alone at Athens was that of the brethren as well as himself, whence he uses, 1 Thessalonians 3:1, "we." The non-mention of Silas at Athens implies that he did not follow Paul to Athens, as was at first intended; but Timothy did. Thus the history, Acts 17:14-15, accords with the letter. 'Left behind' [kataleiphtheenai] implies, that Timothy had been with him at Athens. It was an act of self-denial for their sakes that Paul deprived himself of Timothy's presence at Athens, being "left" all "alone" in the midst of philosophic cavillers. But 'we thought good to be left alone х monoi (G3441)]. We sent Timothy' may mean Paul had another, namely, Silas, with him at Athens. If so, Paul probably sent Silas from Athens on some other mission afterward, not recorded in the Acts or this letter; and Silas and Timothy together returned from Macedon to Paul at Corinth (Acts 18:1; Acts 18:5).