Unlike the previous four clauses, this clause is not introduced by the conjunction and
(Greek: καί/kai). This shows that the clause is not a fifth, parallel statement about the Jews, but rather a qualification of the fourth statement: it indicates how the Jews displease God and oppose all men.1
The NIV’s translation in their effort to keep us from speaking
reads into the Greek text a little. The words in their effort
are not found in Greek, and the first verb (κωλυόντων/kōluontōn) means to cause something not to happen.
2,3 As recorded in the book of Acts, there were many occasions on which the Jews not only attempted, but also succeeded in preventing Paul from preaching to the Gentiles (Acts 13:48–51; Acts 14:2, Acts 14:19). In Thessalonica itself, opposition from the Jews forced Paul to leave the city (Acts 17:5–10; 1 Thessalonians 2:17). We might, therefore, translate the phrase as by preventing us from speaking.
4 The participle κωλυόντων (kōluontōn) is in the present tense, indicating that the Jews’ opposition to Paul was not a once-off event, but something that continued over an extended period of time.5 The speaking that is referred to here is, of course, the preaching of the gospel.
16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!