Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
Parallel translations
- WEB because we wanted to come to you — indeed, I, Paul, once and again — but Satan hindered us.
- BSB For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed 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 15:22For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
- Rom 1:13Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
- Rev 2:10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
- 2 Cor 11:12–14But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
- Zech 3:1–2And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
- Job 33:14For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
- Matt 4:10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
- Rev 12:9–12And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
- Col 4:18The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
- Phlm 1:9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
- Phil 4:16For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
- 1 Cor 16:21The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
- 2 Th 3:17The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so 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
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