Paul's Thorn

[plain_n_simple]

2 Corinthians 12
7And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
8Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
9And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


I've heard Christians say all kinds of things about Paul's thorn, like he had an eye problem, or another illness, or even sinful lusts. Many say that God gave him this affliction to test him or to keep him humble. What is your understanding?

 

[kyredneck]

There is scriptural support for the notion that this 'thorn in the flesh' was most likely a speech impediment (like Moses), and not bad eyesight.

And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. 2 Cor 12:7

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void. 1 Cor 1:17

1 And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man`s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words. 1 Cor 2

For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account. 2 Cor 10:10

But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things. 2 Cor 11:6

 

[Scarlett O.]

2
I've heard Christians say all kinds of things about Paul's thorn, like he had an eye problem, or another illness, or even sinful lusts. Many say that God gave him this affliction to test him or to keep him humble. What is your understanding?

My understanding?

I think that trying to pinpoint the exactness of the thorn is moot. The importance of the passage to you and I today doesn't lie in the nature of the thorn, but in it's cause and purpose. Its nature is purposefully ambiguous. Are there some hints? Yes. But vague.

kyredneck made some valid points, but points could also be made for vision problems and struggles with opponents to his ministry.

My understanding is that there is a reason for this being in the Bible. It's for us to emulate Paul's reaction to the thorn. According to the passage you cited -

• Paul recognized that this was an attack from the devil and that God allowed it in His permissive will.
• He understood that God allowed it to keep him humble and from behaving in a conceited manner.
• He didn't try to combat the devil, but went to God because ultimately it was all part of God's permissive will.
• He came to accept God's will even though it was painful and actually got to the point where he could BOAST in that thorn because he understood that in his (Paul's) weaknesses, Christ rested His power there and God's grace sustained him there.
• He finally came to the mature spiritual understanding of what true strength was and what true weakness was.

Here's a good commentary from gotquestions.org

Question: "What was Paul's thorn in the flesh?"

Answer: Countless explanations concerning the nature of Paul’s thorn in the flesh have been offered. They range from incessant temptation, dogged opponents, chronic maladies (such as eye problems, malaria, migraine headaches, and epilepsy), to a speech disability. No one can say for sure what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was, but it probably was a physical affliction.

What we do know about this thorn in the flesh comes from Paul himself in 2 Corinthians 12:7: “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” First, the purpose of the thorn in the flesh was to keep Paul humble. Anyone who had encountered Jesus and was spoken to and commissioned by Him (Acts 9:2-8) would, in his natural state, become “puffed up.” Add to that the fact of being moved by the Holy Spirit to write much of the New Testament, and it is easy to see how Paul could become “haughty” (KJV) or “exalted above measure” (NKJV) or “too proud” (NCV). Second, we know that the affliction came from or by a messenger of Satan. Just as God allowed Satan to torment Job (Job 1:1-12), God allowed Satan to torment Paul for God’s own good purposes and always within God’s perfect will.

It is understandable that Paul would consider this thorn a hindrance to wider or more effective ministry (Galatians 5:14-16) and that he would three times petition God for its removal (2 Corinthians 12:8). But Paul learned from this experience the lesson that dominates his writings: divine power is best displayed against the backdrop of human weakness (2 Corinthians 4:7) so that God alone is praised (2 Corinthians 10:17). Rather than removing the problem, God gave him grace and strength through it, and He declared that grace to be “sufficient.”

Recommended Resource: Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit by Charles Swindoll.

 

[plain_n_simple]

We should point out that in 12:7 where the NKJ reads, “lest I should be exalted above measure,” the NIV curiously reads, “To keep me from becoming conceited.…” Huh? Given the definition of that word, wouldn’t Satan be the one who would want Paul to become “conceited”? Yes, so why would he send a “messenger” to stop that from happening?

 

[The Biblicist]

We should point out that in 12:7 where the NKJ reads, “lest I should be exalted above measure,” the NIV curiously reads, “To keep me from becoming conceited.…” Huh? Given the definition of that word, wouldn’t Satan be the one who would want Paul to become “conceited”? Yes, so why would he send a “messenger” to stop that from happening?

Satan did not send the messenger but God did. Just as God permitted Satan to attack Job in the Old Testament. Satan is on a leash and serves God even though he consciously refuses to serve God. God uses Satan in sanctifying and chastening his children and in carrying out justice upon the nations of the world.

 

[kyredneck]

Satan did not send the messenger but God did. Just as God permitted Satan to attack Job in the Old Testament. Satan is on a leash and serves God even though he consciously refuses to serve God. God uses Satan in sanctifying and chastening his children and in carrying out justice upon the nations of the world.

Good answer.

Even Peter was turned over to Satan that so that he could 'sift him as wheat'.

Satan and the spirits were used a lot.

 

[Amy.G]

My opinion, which amounts to.....pretty much nothin' :tongue3:, is that the thorn was Satan's constant reminder to Paul that he had imprisoned and killed many of God's saints in the church, making him feel constant remorse and keeping him humble. He probably never understood why God would choose a man like him to spread the gospel. In fact he wrote about his unworthiness more than once.

I know from my own experience, that Satan brings up my past sins and it makes me feel worthless and unworthy, even though I know God has forgiven me. It's one of Satan's tools to try to make a Christian an ineffective witness.

 

[plain_n_simple]

"...the thorn was Satan's constant reminder to Paul that he had imprisoned and killed many of God's saints in the church, making him feel constant remorse and keeping him humble."

I would struggle with that reason because it would indicate he did not fully grasp that when God forgives, He also totally forgets. Their is no need for prior sin awareness if we are set free with the truth. Paul wrote about remembering sin. He said it would lead to death.

Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

 

[exscentric]

Have been reading on I Cor. 2.3 and some commentaries suggest the "trembling" relates to epileptic problems, also they point out his Acts meeting on the road and your passage of the thorn.

Not that I buy it, just thought it might catch your interest

 

[billwald]

My understanding is that no one knows and anyone who claims they know is blowing smoke.

 

[Amy.G]

Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

?????? So if a believer has sorrow over a past sin he will die?

Everyone feel sorrow over past sins. God forgets but we don't.

 

[plain_n_simple]

?????? So if a believer has sorrow over a past sin he will die?

Everyone feel sorrow over past sins. God forgets but we don't.

It will lead to death. Regret once, then repent. You should forget your sins. If you are forgiven, and God erased the sin, then the devil is reminding you. Take captive every thought.

 

[Salty]

... about Paul's thorn, like he had an eye problem, or another illness, or even sinful lusts. ...What is your understanding?

...anyone who claims they know is blowing smoke.

I know for a fact what the problem was - Liberal Democrats!

 

[Tom Butler]

I wouldn't blow off the eyesight problem so quickly.

Paul used an emanuensis for more than one of his letters.

In one of them, at the end, Paul said he was writing some words in his own hand. The rest he had obviously dictated.

We really don't know for sure, but it's interesting to speculate, using what evidence we can glean from the scriptures.

 

[billwald]

That's the problem! Half of Christian doctrine is derived from Paul's sloppy writings.