1 Thessalonians 2:18 – Satan Hindered Us

18 because we want to come to you, indeed, I, Paul, once — even twice — and Satan hinders us.

The longing expressed in the previous verse did not remain merely a feeling. Paul truly wanted to return to the Thessalonians. He even emphasizes this personally: “I, Paul,” and not merely once, but twice. Evidently, he had repeatedly tried to put his desire for a reunion into practice. So the fact that it did not happen was certainly not due to any lack of effort.

Paul attributes the hindrance to “Satan.” The Hebrew satan literally means adversary, but here Paul speaks of him specifically: “Satan.” This agrees with “the ancient serpent,” who is also called Adversary and Satan (Rev. 12:9). At the same time, we do not need to draw a contrast between this adversary and the people who opposed Paul. The book of Acts shows precisely how concretely that opposition took shape through people. In Thessalonica, such an uproar arose that Paul and Silas had to leave during the night. Their opponents even followed them to Berea (Acts 17:5–13).

Thus Satan can be recognized behind human opposition, while that opposition takes shape through people. Paul knew who ultimately blocked his way, but that did not make his longing for the Thessalonians disappear. On the contrary, he had endeavored all the more to see them again. The adversary could hinder Paul’s way, but not the bond that God had brought about through the evangel!

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