For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
Parallel translations
- WEB because we wanted to come to you — indeed, I, Paul, once and again — but Satan hindered us.
- KJV Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
- NKJV Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.
- NASB For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and Satan hindered us.
- NLT We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul repeatedly wanted to visit but Satan hindered him. Real spiritual opposition can obstruct good plans.
Overview
Paul personally affirms his repeated desire to come, attributing the obstacle to satanic hindrance. While Scripture teaches God's sovereign rule over all things, it also recognizes the devil as a genuine adversary who opposes gospel work. The verse soberly acknowledges spiritual conflict without crediting Satan with ultimate control.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Rom 15:22That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
- Rom 1:13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
- Rev 2:10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- 2 Cor 11:12–14But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
- Zech 3:1–2Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
- Job 33:14For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.
- Matt 4:10“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
- Rev 12:9–12And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
- Col 4:18This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
- Phlm 1:9I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
- Phil 4:16For even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.
- 1 Cor 16:21This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.
- 2 Th 3:17This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The believer waits for God's Son from heaven, Jesus who delivers from the wrath to come and who will return to gather his people to himself.
How 1 Thessalonians 2:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.