Q: #8. What was Paul's "thorn in the flesh?"
A: This is spoken of in (2 Cor 12:7) when Paul says, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” The preceding verses tell us that 14 years earlier (most likely when they stoned Paul in Lystra and dragged him out of the city believing he was dead in Acts 14:19-20) Paul had been caught up to the third heaven or paradise, and heard things he was not even allowed to discuss. In order to keep Paul from being proud of these revelations, he was given this “thorn.” Paul asked the Lord to remove it three times, and the Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor 12:8-9).
We cannot know for certain what this “thorn” was, but we know that the Greek word used for “thorn” was “skolops,” which means a “bodily annoyance or disability” (Strong’s). I believe that this physical (“bodily”) disability was an affliction of the eyes. Why?
#1. (Gal 4:13-15) Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at first. (14) And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. (15) Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear record, that, if it had been possible, YE WOULD HAVE PLUCKED OUT YOUR OWN EYES, AND HAVE GIVEN THEM TO ME. (Caps emphasis mine)
#2. Paul apparently had others writing for him at times, signing the end of the letter with his own hand to show he had dictated it (1 Cor 16:21)(2 Th 3:17)(Col 4:18), and when he did write, he used large letters (Gal 6:11).
#3. (Acts 23:1-5) The High Priest had Paul slapped while he was speaking, and Paul condemned him for ordering it. When Paul was told that he had spoken out against the High Priest, he apologized saying he didn’t know it was the High Priest. The High Priest dressed in distinctive clothing that was easily recognizable.
#4. In (Acts 28:1-5), Paul was gathering sticks to lay on a fire and apparently grabbed a snake thinking it was a stick, and when he threw it in the fire, it bit him. (It was poisonous, but amazingly, Paul was not hurt.)
#5. History tells us that the region of Laodicea was known for advancements in medicine, and one of the things it was most famous for was an eye salve lotion called “collyrium,” which was made there. It is interesting to note that Paul made a circular trip to go through Laodicea. It is also fascinating to see that in (Rev 3:18), when the Lord is speaking to the church of Laodicea, He says, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; AND ANOINT THINE EYES WITH EYESALVE, THAT THOU MAYEST SEE). (caps emphasis mine)
While these things seem to show that Paul’s “thorn” was indeed an affliction of the eyes, others suggest it could have been malaria, epilepsy, or migraines.
Whatever it was, the verses which follow (2 Cor 12:7) also bolster the theory that the “thorn” was a “physical disability.”
In (2 Cor 12:9), Paul says, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,” and in (2 Cor 12:10) he follows with, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities.” The Greek word used for “infirmities” is “astheneia.” It means “feebleness (of body or mind); by impl. malady” (Strong’s). It is translated 24 times in the New Testament as either “infirmity, weakness, diseases, or sickness.” In other words, because God would not take away the “thorn” (after Paul asked 3 different times), Paul decided he would “glory in his sickness / disease / infirmity” (“infirmity” is tied to sickness in verses like: Lk 5:15, Lk 7:21, Lk 13:11-12, 1 Tim 5:23).
Some believe Paul’s “thorn” could have been suffering over his past persecution of Christians, or possibly he struggled with emotional pain because of attacks against the “church” he helped to build. Based on what we have said above though, this seems very unlikely.
Suggest you study the word “thorn” in the Hebrew – and you will find that (I think other than relating to an actual plant) always refers to enemies of God or God’s people as “pricks” or “hooks” – as a metaphor for people – not sickness. The word used in 2Cor means a “bodily annoyance” of which Paul certainly had from being berated to beaten to imprisonment – from evil… Read more »
Hi Sharon. As you can see, I disagree with your view :-). Yes, “thorn” or “thorns” in the OT did mean “at times” enemies of God, but these were allowed by God as a result of “disobedience.” In Paul’s case, Paul was not “disobedient,” but the “thorn” was to keep him from being “proud.” In addition, it was a “messenger from Satan.” This is never said of “thorns” in the… Read more »
God tells Israel in the OT to chase out the enemies of the land or they will become a thorn in their side. This is what the apostle Paul was pointing back to. A lot of people miss Paul’s references to OT sayings. I guess its because the church today is more like Marcion then the Apostles. When you dig into Paul’s writings from a Hebrew perspective and an understanding… Read more »
My comment to Sharon above, who is basically saying the same thing as you, also applies to you. I won’t repeat it all again. However, would I certainly take issue with you that most of the church today is practicing Marcionism…. That is a pretty broad brush that you are using to paint over the majority of Christians. In fact, I know of NO Christian who holds the views of… Read more »