For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and Satan hindered 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.
- 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.
- 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 15:22Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you,
- Rom 1:13Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.
- Rev 2:10Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- 2 Cor 11:12–14But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.
- Zech 3:1–2He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before Yahweh’s angel, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.
- Job 33:14For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
- Matt 4:10Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
- Rev 12:9–12The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
- Col 4:18The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
- Phlm 1:9yet for love’s sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
- Phil 4:16For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.
- 1 Cor 16:21This greeting is by me, Paul, with my own hand.
- 2 Th 3:17The greeting of me, Paul, with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter: this is how 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.