20160904 Sunday, September 4 2016
1 Thessalonians 02: When Satan Cuts You Off On The Highway

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us"

The English-language word "hind" originated from an Anglo-Saxon word, hindan, that meant backward, or back side i.e. "behind." From that came the word "hinder" which means to interfere with going forward, or to pull backward.

"Hinder" is used to translate a number of Hebrew and Greek words in the Holy Scriptures. Examples:

The Hebrew word, pronounced aw-khar, that means to delay. Example:

"24:56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master." (Genesis 24:56 KJV; see also The Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah)

The Hebrew word, pronounced maw-naw, that means to restrain. Example:

"22:16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:" (Numbers 22:16 KJV; see also Balak and Balaam)

The Hebrew word, pronounced shoob, that means to force back. Example:

"9:9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. 9:10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. 9:11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. 9:12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?" (Job 9:9-12 KJV; see also What Are The Hunter and The Seven Sisters Doing In Heaven?)

The Greek word, pronounced koh-loo-oh, that means to prevent. Example:

"11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered." (Luke 11:52 KJV; see Enter While The Way Is Open and Strait And Straight)

The Greek word, pronounced eng-cop-toh, that means to cut in. Example:

"15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: 15:21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. 15:22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. 15:23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; 15:24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company." (Romans 15:20 KJV; see also Paul, The Apostle To The World)

It was the Greek word above, eng-cop-toh, that means to cut in, that Paul also used in "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us" (verse 18 below). The applied meaning is the same as when someone "cuts someone off" in traffic, thereby making them stop, slow down or change direction - even more appropriate when one considers that the Christian life is Biblically called "the Way," which literally means a road (see the Fact Finder question below).

"2:1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 2:3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 2:6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

2:7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

2:10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 2:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 2:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 2:16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

2:17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 2:20 For ye are our glory and joy." (1 Thessalonians 2:1-20 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does "Way" mean in the Bible? Why does Satan want to "drive" you off of it?
See 2 Corinthians: The Devil's Fight Along The Way