1 Thessalonians 2:18

1 Thessalonians 2:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
• New International Version (NIV)For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.
• English Standard Version (ESV)because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.

Context of 1 Thessalonians 2:18

16because they try to stop us speaking to Gentiles. They do not want God to save anyone from another nation. In this way, they continue to do more and more bad things. When their sins become too many, God has to stop them. He has become so angry that he has punished them completely. 17Our friends, we have had to go away from you for a short time. But we have not stopped thinking about you. We have wanted more and more to come to see you again. Yes, we really wanted to return to you. Certainly, I, Paul, tried again and again to come to you, but Satan stopped us. 19You are the people that make us very happy! We know that you will continue to trust God. So, when our Lord Jesus returns, we will be proud of you. You will be like a crown that he gives us when we stand in front of him. 20You show the great results of our work. Yes, it is because of you that we are very happy.

1 Thessalonians 2:18 word by word

διότι ἠθελήσαμεν ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἐγὼ μὲν Παῦλος καὶ ἅπαξ καὶ δίς, καὶ ἐνέκοψεν ἡμᾶς ὁ σατανᾶς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whereforeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
• we would haveθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• evenμένmen · on the other handG3303
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
• onceἅπαξhapax · onceG530
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• againδίςdis · twiceG1364
• Satanὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• SatanΣατανᾶςSatanas · SatanG4567
• hinderedἐγκόπτωegkoptō · to impedeG1465

Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 2:18

• 1 Corinthians 16:21I, Paul, am writing these words at the end of this letter with my own hand. I say ‘hello’ to you.
• Colossians 4:18I, Paul, am writing these words at the end of this letter with my own hand. Remember to pray for me while I am in prison. I pray that God will continue to be very kind to you.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:17I, Paul, am writing these words at the end of my letter with my own hand. I say ‘hello’ to you. That is how I write in every letter that comes from me.
• Philemon 1:9But instead, because of love, I will ask you, ‘Please do it.’ I, Paul, am an old man. Also, I am in prison now because I serve Christ Jesus.
• Job 33:14God does speak to people. He speaks to them in many different ways. But often people do not recognize his voice.
• Philippians 4:16Even when I was at Thessalonica, you helped me. More than once, you sent gifts to me because I needed things.
• Zechariah 3:1Then the angel of the Lord appeared to me, Zechariah, and he showed me Joshua, the most important priest. Joshua was standing in front of the angel of the Lord. Satan stood on the right side of Joshua. He was ready to say that Joshua had done bad things.
• Romans 1:13My Christian friends, I want you to know that I have tried often to visit you. But until now, something has always stopped me. I want to help you to serve God well, in the way that I have already helped other Gentiles.
• Romans 15:22That is why, many times, I have not had a chance to visit you.
• 2 Corinthians 11:12Yes, I will continue to work among you in the way that I am already doing. I will not take any pay from you. Then there will be no chance for those other teachers to be proud about themselves. They will not be able to say that they work in the same way that we do.
• Revelation 2:10I know that trouble will soon come to you. But do not be afraid. Listen! The Devil will cause some of you to go to prison. He wants to see whether you will continue to believe in me. As a result, you will suffer for ten days. But continue to trust me, even if you die. Then you will win against the Devil. I will give you a gift, as they give a crown to the winner of a race. You will have life with me for ever.
• Revelation 12:9Michael and his angels threw the great dragon out of heaven. The dragon is called the Devil or Satan. He is the snake who has been there since long ago. He tells lies to deceive the whole world. They threw him down to the earth, together with all his angels.

Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 2:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Even I Paul - He had already sent Timothy and Silas to them; but he himself was anxious to see them, and had purposed this once and again, but Satan hindered; i.e., some adversary, as the word means, whether the devil himself, or some of his children. There was, however, such a storm of persecution raised up against him, that his friends did not think it prudent to permit him to go till the storm had been somewhat allayed.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul - The phrase “even I Paul,” seems to be used by way of emphasis. He had a special desire to go himself. He had sent Timothy to them 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 3:5, and perhaps, some might have been disposed to allege that Paul was afraid to go himself, or that he did not feel interest enough in them to go, though he was willing to send one to visit them. Paul, therefore, is at much pains to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-20Verses 17-20 This world is not a place where we are to be always, or long together. In heaven holy souls shall meet, and never part more. And though the apostle could not come to them yet, and thought he might never be able to come, yet our Lord Jesus Christ will come; nothing shall hinder that. May God give faithful ministers to all who serve him with their spirit in the gospel of his Son, and send them to all who are in darknessRead the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Paul tried to return to the Thessalonian church many times. Despite Satan's opposition, both Timothy and Paul eventually visited the church again (see Romans 16:20; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:10–12; 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 5; Acts 20:1–3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Wherefore--The oldest manuscripts read, "Because," or "Inasmuch as." we would--Greek, "we wished to come"; we intended to come. even I Paul--My fellow missionaries as well as myself wished to come; I can answer for myself that I intended it more than once. His slightly distinguishing himself here from his fellow missionaries, whom throughout this Epistle he associates with himself in the plural, accords with the fact that Silvanus and Timothy stayed…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Thessalonians 2:18

• Love
• Satan

In the dictionaries

• Paul
• Satan
• Paul, Saul
• Satan, devil, evil one
• Affectionately
• Bold
• Chargeable
• Cherish
• Desire
• Joy

Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings