Verse 1 To be left at Athens. It would seem from 1 Thessalonians 3:1-8, that Timothy came to Paul at Athens, as Paul had directed, (Acts 17:15,) and that Paul sent him back from that city to Thessalonica for the purposes mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 3:2 of this chapter. His returning to Paul again, as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 3:6, was probably at Corinth, as stated Acts 18:5.