Did Satan Give Paul the Thorn?

[righteousdude2]

"I will say this: because these experiences I had were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up by them; so I was given a physical condition which has been a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me and prick my pride. Three different times I begged God to make me well again." 2 Corinthians 12:7-8.

I would be interested in your views of this wording! Was it from Satan? Was it from Paul's early life and sin as a persecutor of believers? I have my opinion of this, but would appreciate your views! :type:

 

[HAMel]

I'm of the opinion this thorn was but a reminder of his early life.

...wouldn't it be nice if we could just flip a switch and block any and all memories of our sinful past prior to knowing Jesus? I was never a "bad person" but do recall attitudes that certainly wasn't very nice on my part. Hardly a day goes by that my mind doesn't conjure up memories that equate to a thorn in my side.

 

[Revmitchell]

"I will say this: because these experiences I had were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up by them; so I was given a physical condition which has been a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me and prick my pride. Three different times I begged God to make me well again." 2 Corinthians 12:7-8.

I would be interested in your views of this wording! Was it from Satan? Was it from Paul's early life and sin as a persecutor of believers? I have my opinion of this, but would appreciate your views! :type:

What version is that? "God was afraid"

The worst possible and most incorrect translation of that passage I have ever seen.

 

[HAMel]

What version is that? "God was afraid"

Rev..., I'm quite sure rd2 is quite capable of defending his use of the word "afraid" but I seriously doubt he intended to alter the scripture as such.

I for one, understood the intent of his comment. So, from the KJV I provide the following for clairity;

2 Corinthians 12:7-8

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

Now, back to the original.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Looked it up on biblestudytools.com. It's not a translation. It's "The Living Bible." Figures.

 

[Yeshua1]

"I will say this: because these experiences I had were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up by them; so I was given a physical condition which has been a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me and prick my pride. Three different times I begged God to make me well again." 2 Corinthians 12:7-8.

I would be interested in your views of this wording! Was it from Satan? Was it from Paul's early life and sin as a persecutor of believers? I have my opinion of this, but would appreciate your views! :type:

Seems that God peermitted satan to give him whatever it was, just as God allowed satan to test Job!

God wanted to use that to keep paul from becoming a "Super saint", pity that many well known TV/radio christian ministries seem to have forgotten humilty!

 

[JeremyV]

"I will say this: because these experiences I had were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up by them; so I was given a physical condition which has been a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me and prick my pride. Three different times I begged God to make me well again." 2 Corinthians 12:7-8.

I would be interested in your views of this wording! Was it from Satan? Was it from Paul's early life and sin as a persecutor of believers? I have my opinion of this, but would appreciate your views! :type:

I have never thought of this aspect of it. On first glance I am inclined to agree with Yeshua1, that it is like the situation with Job where God allowed Satan to hurt Job. While Satan did it for his own reasons, God used it for good.

As a side note, some commentators think the thorn was an eye problem. They get this from verses like:

"Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me."
(Gal 4:15)

 

[Yeshua1]

I have never thought of this aspect of it. On first glance I am inclined to agree with Yeshua1, that it is like the situation with Job where God allowed Satan to hurt Job. While Satan did it for his own reasons, God used it for good.

As a side note, some commentators think the thorn was an eye problem. They get this from verses like:

"Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me."
(Gal 4:15)

Think that Goid used this to keep Pau; humble and able to get and use those revelations from Him!

a Christian ought never say the Devil "got me", as whatever happenbs to us had to go thru the Lord Jesus first!

 

[righteousdude2]

What version is that? "God was afraid"

The worst possible and most incorrect translation of that passage I have ever seen.

Rev. I apologize to you if the version I used caused you to stumble and not be able to respond to the question! You are not the only one on this board that has a problem with the version I use, but the version used doesn't change the question, does it? This version was from the Living Bible. You see, I am an RSV person, but love the side by side on line software that allows me to read the text in several settings and put up the version I can most identify with in my heart!

You and others are always welcome to put up you own version and comment on it!

Please don't let the version I use keep you from commenting, after all I didn't ask if you agreed with the version, but rather if you felt, "Satan gave Paul the thorn?" :smilewinkgrin:

 

[righteousdude2]

Thanks HAMel ....

What version is that? "God was afraid"

Rev..., I'm quite sure rd2 is quite capable of defending his use of the word "afraid" but I seriously doubt he intended to alter the scripture as such.

I for one, understood the intent of his comment. So, from the KJV I provide the following for clairity;

2 Corinthians 12:7-8

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

Now, back to the original.

.... I needed that, and so did the Rev! :thumbsup: :smilewinkgrin:

 

[righteousdude2]

Agreed

Seems that God peermitted satan to give him whatever it was, just as God allowed satan to test Job!

God wanted to use that to keep paul from becoming a "Super saint", pity that many well known TV/radio christian ministries seem to have forgotten humilty!

Maybe the TV people need a thorn too, but even if they had one, they would name it and claim it gone! If not, they'd have the money to remove it! :smilewinkgrin:

 

[righteousdude2]

Great insight (forgive me, no pun intended)

I have never thought of this aspect of it. On first glance I am inclined to agree with Yeshua1, that it is like the situation with Job where God allowed Satan to hurt Job. While Satan did it for his own reasons, God used it for good.

As a side note, some commentators think the thorn was an eye problem. They get this from verses like:

"Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me."
(Gal 4:15)

Never thought of the eye problem. It could also be that God wanted to keep this ex=PHarisee from developing an "I" problem.

A lot of scholars say it had to do with a mother-in-law, but other say he was never married!

I appreciate you view and scripture to back it up!

 

[Yeshua1]

Never thought of the eye problem. It could also be that God wanted to keep this ex=PHarisee from developing an "I" problem.

A lot of scholars say it had to do with a mother-in-law, but other say he was never married!

I appreciate you view and scripture to back it up!

MANY conservative scholars have seen it as either being the fale Judaizers that keep following paul around and accusing him of teaching a false Gospel!, or else some kind of eye disease

 

[Deacon]

...from the KJV I provide the following for clairity;

2 Corinthians 12:7-8

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

I'm offended by the word "buffet"!
Isn't he a singer who sings drinking songs??? :laugh:

********

Concerning the OP, where did the "thorn" come from?

Choices:
1) God
2) Satan
3) other

I'm inclined to think (3)... it probably was a natural weakness (many suggest poor vision) that either God or Satan might exploit for their glory.

God was able to use Paul in his weakness and in his strength.
It makes me hopeful that even in my weakness, God might use me.

On the other hand, sometimes weaknesses are exploited by Satan to convince us we are worthless and ill-fit to be used by God.

Just my thoughts.

Rob

 

[HAMel]

I'm offended by the word "buffet"!

Deacon, I always though a "buffet" was a restaurant where you could eat all you wanted. :tonofbricks::tonofbricks: Like a Golden Corral?

 

[pinoybaptist]

Paul posted on the BB and met Satan and that experience got him a thorn ? My,my. Horrible.

 

[Yeshua1]

I'm offended by the word "buffet"!
Isn't he a singer who sings drinking songs??? :laugh:

********

Concerning the OP, where did the "thorn" come from?

Choices:
1) God
2) Satan
3) other

I'm inclined to think (3)... it probably was a natural weakness (many suggest poor vision) that either God or Satan might exploit for their glory.

God was able to use Paul in his weakness and in his strength.
It makes me hopeful that even in my weakness, God might use me.

On the other hand, sometimes weaknesses are exploited by Satan to convince us we are worthless and ill-fit to be used by God.

Just my thoughts.

Rob

God permitted paul to have it, as he refused to give him a "yes, I shall remove it now!"

 

[righteousdude2]

Now....

God permitted paul to have it, as he refused to give him a "yes, I shall remove it now!"

.... that is the way I see it!