1 Thessalonians 2:18

Because (dioti). As in 2 Corinthians 2:8 . We would fain have come to you (hqelhsamen elqein pro uma). First aorist active indicative of qelw. Literally, we desired to come to you. I Paul (egw men Paulo). Clear example of literary plural hqelesamen with singular pronoun egw. Paul uses his own name elsewhere also as in 2 Corinthians 10:1 ; Galatians 5:2 ; Colossians 1:23 ; Ephesians 3:1 ; Philemon 1:19 . Once and again (kai apax kai di). Both once and twice as in Philippians 4:16 . Old idiom in Plato. And Satan hindered us (kai enekopsen hma o Satana). Adversative use of kai= but or and yet. First aorist active indicative of enkoptw, late word to cut in, to hinder. Milligan quotes papyrus example of third century, B.C. Verb used to cut in a road, to make a road impassable. So Paul charges Satan with cutting in on his path. Used by Paul in Acts 24:4 ; Galatians 5:7 and passive enekoptomhn in Romans 15:22 ; 1 Peter 3:7 . This hindrance may have been illness, opposition of the Jews in Corinth, what not.