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1 Thessalonians 2:18
ESV because we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, again and again — but Satan hindered us.
NIV For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.
NASB For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and Satan hindered us.
CSB So 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.
KJV Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
NKJV Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.

What does 1 Thessalonians 2:18 mean?

Popular culture portrays the Devil as a fictional character in a red suit, with a pointy tail and horns, and who carries a pitchfork. On the contrary, the Devil, called Satan in this verse, is a real person. God created him as an angel of light and allowed him to occupy a place near God's throne, but Satan tried to usurp God and led a rebellion of angels against Him. Subsequently, God cast him out of heaven, where throughout human history he has tried to thwart God's purposes and destroy God's people (see Isaiah 14:12–15; Ezekiel 28:11–19).

In this verse Paul blames Satan for hindering him from returning to Thessalonica. Every time he tried to visit his Thessalonian brothers, circumstances opposed his doing so. Paul attributes this interference to the work of the Devil. In Ephesians 6:11–12 Paul speaks of Satan as a powerful adversary. Clearly, because God was working in Paul's life and ministry, Satan targeted Paul as someone he wanted to destroy.
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