1 Thessalonians 2:18

Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. WHEREFORE. ['Aleph (') A B Delta G f g, Vulgate read, dioti (G1360) for dio (G1352); Ellicott, "Wherefore;" but Vulgate 'quoniam,' seeing that.] WE WOULD, [ etheleesamen (G2309)] - 'we wished' to come. EVEN I PAUL. My fellow-missionaries as well as myself intended it. I can answer for myself that I intended it more than once. His distinguishing himself here from his fellow-missionaries, whom throughout he associates with himself in the plural, accords with the fact that Silvanus and Timothy stayed at Berea when Paul went on to Athens, where subsequently Timothy joined hi...

18_Satan hindered us_. Luke relates that Paul was in one instance hindered, (Acts 20:3) inasmuch as the Jews laid an ambush for him in the way. The same thing, or something similar, may have occurred frequently. It is not without good reason, however, that Paul ascribes the whole of this to Satan, for, as he teaches elsewhere, (Ephesians 6:12) we have to wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with principalities of the air, and spiritual wickednesses, _etc. _ For, whenever the wicked molest us, they fight under Satan’s banner, and are his instruments for harassing us. More especially, when our endeavors are directed to the work of the Lord, it is certain that everything that hinders proceeds from Satan; and would to God that this sentiment were deeply impressed upon the minds of all pious persons — that Satan

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 darkness...

Verse 18. _EVEN 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....

WHEREFORE 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 assure them that his long separation from them was unavoidable. BUT SATAN HINDERED US - Compare the notes on 2 Corinthians 12:7. In what way this was done is unknown, a

EXPOSITION CONTENTS.—Paul turns from the reports of others to the experience of the readers. They themselves knew that his entrance was not powerless; although maltreated in Philippi, he was emboldened to preach the gospel at Thessalonica. His preaching did not proceed either from delusion on his part or from a desire to delude others. He felt approved by God, and was actuated by no improper motives: he sought neither their praise nor their money; so far from insisting on his apostolic rights, he was gentle among them, and conducted himself with the tenderness of a nursing mother toward her children; and so far from his ministry being a pretext for covetousness, he had labored for his own support; and thus he could confidently appeal to the Thessalonians as witnesses of the blamelessness of his conduct And as his entrance among them was not powerless, so he thanked God that it resulted i...

WHEREFORE WE WOULD HAVE COME UNTO YOU,.... They not only had a will, and purposed in themselves, and entered into some resolutions to come unto them, but endeavoured to put them into execution: EVEN I PAUL: as well as Silas and Timothy; the latter of which had been with them, and the others had as good a will, and especially Paul: and that ONCE AND AGAIN: or "once and twice" so the Jews used h to speak פעם ראשונה ושנייח, "one time and a second"; that is, several times: BUT SATAN HINDERED US. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, "hindered me"; by moving the mob which rose at Thessalonica, to go to Berea, and disturb the apostle there; which obliged him, contrary to his will, to go to Athens instead of returning to Thessalonica, as he intended; and when at Athens, from whence also he might purpose to return thither, he was hindered by the disputes the Jews and the Stoics, and Epicure...

II. TRUE SERVICE, AS MANIFESTED IN APOSTOLIC MINISTRY CHAPTER 2 _ 1. Apostolic conduct and service 1 Thessalonians 2:1)_ 2. Thanksgiving for the reception of the message and the opposition 1 Thessalonians 2:13) 3. Looking forward to His coming 1 Thessalonians 2:17) 1 Thessalonians 2:1 The apostle now enlarges upon the brief statement in the previous chapter “Ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes.” His conduct and character, as well as that of his fellow laborers, corresponded fully with the holy character

PAUL AND THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH. The next two paragraphs describe (_a)_ the effect of Paul's preaching at Thessalonica, (_b)_ his anxiety with regard to the fate of the Church under stress of persecution. 1 THESSALONIANS 2:14. JUDÆ A: _ i.e._ Palestine. We have no details regarding the persecution of the Palestinian Churches apart from the account of the recurring attacks made upon the Church at Jerusalem. 1 Thessalonians 2:16. the wrath is come upon them: this seems to have been a stock phrase, and was probably borrowed by Paul from The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs (Levi 6:11). We need not assume, as some scholars do, a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem....

PAUL ON HIS DEFENSE (1 Thessalonians 2:1-12)...