1 Thessalonians 2:18

¹⁶ hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.

¹⁷ Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.

For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.

¹⁹ After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

²⁰ You are indeed our glory and our joy.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
KJV: Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
WEB: because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us.
ASV: because we would fain have come unto you, I Paul once and again; and Satan hindered us.
DARBY: wherefore we have desired to come to you, even I Paul, both once and twice, and Satan has hindered us.
BLB: Therefore we wanted to come to you⁺—indeed I, Paul, both once and twice—and Satan obstructed us.

ÅB: fordi vi gjerne ville komme til dere - jeg, Paulus, både én gang og to ganger - men Satan hindret oss.
OTB: For vi ønsket å komme til dere—jeg, Paulus, mer enn én gang—og likevel hindret Satan oss.
B1930: fordi vi gjerne vilde komme til eder - jeg, Paulus, både én gang og to ganger - men Satan hindret oss.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Romans 15:22
That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
Read in context
Romans 1:13
I 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.
Read in context
Revelation 2:10
Do 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.
Read in context
Zechariah 3:1–2
Then 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.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 11:12–14
But 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.
Read in context
Matthew 4:10
“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Read in context
Job 33:14
For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.
Read in context
Revelation 12:9–12
And 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.
Read in context