The Greek word for bear
(ESV; NIV stand,
Greek: στέγω), simply has the sense of enduring something difficult or unpleasant. The experience Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 2:17–20 created a sense of internal conflict for him. On the one hand, he was profoundly concerned about the spiritual condition of the Thessalonians. He was unsure whether they had been able to withstand the pressure of persecution and feared that they might have abandoned their faith in Christ. On the other hand, he was prevented from returning to them to find out how they were and to encourage them in their faith. This internal conflict eventually reached a point where they could stand it no longer, and Paul was compelled to take action.
1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone,