This subsection can be divided into three parts:
Timothy’s mission to Thessalonica: its nature and purpose (1 Thessalonians 3:1–3a)
The inevitability of Christian suffering (1 Thessalonians 3:3b-1 Thessalonians 3:4)
Timothy’s mission to Thessalonica: Paul’s personal concern (1 Thessalonians 3:5)
Notice that there is significant overlap between the first and third subsections in both content and terminology. Both subsections speak of Paul’s inner turmoil, his sending of Timothy, and the Thessalonians’ faith. The words bear
(στέγω/stegō), send
(πέμπω/pempō), and faith
(πίστις/pistis) are found in both. This kind of literary device, where words and ideas are repeated at the beginning and end of a section, is called an inclusio, and its use here shows that these verses form a unit.
1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone,