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PAUL’S THORN IN THE FLESH

The Apostle Paul said he had a vexing “thorn in the flesh” that afflicted him from Satan, which the Lord did not remove even when Paul prayed three times that He would (2 Cor 12:7-8). Can we learn from the text what is Paul’s “thorn in the flesh?”

The Ryrie Study Bible notes, “This seems to have been some recurrent physical affliction. Migraine headaches, eye trouble…malaria, and epilepsy have all been seriously suggested.” With Paul comments about his bodily illness and need of the Galatians’ “eyes” (Gal 4:13-15) have prompted some to think it was very poor eyesight. However, Murray Harris in The Bible Expositor’s Commentary thinks it is impossible to identify this thorn: “The efforts to identify Paul’s `thorn’ are legion. But the paucity of information and the obscurity of Paul’s language have frustrated all attempts to solve this problem” (2 Corinthians, p. 396).

However, we can study the immediate and remove context of 2 Corinthians 12 to learn what Paul’s thorn is. In 2 Corinthians 12:10, Paul states that his “thorn” is unrelenting hardships and persecution in preaching Christ. This illustrates the practical importance of carefully reading the context to determine the meaning of words.

1. The Thorn. First, “thorn in the flesh” misleads many to think Paul must be talking about having a physical ailment. Mike Willis’ comment is typical: “The most logical explanation is that it was some bodily affliction that caused him suffering” (2 Corinthians, p. 53). Yet, God said that the pernicious influence of Canaanite idolaters, if not removed from the land, would be “thorns” in the “eyes” (or flesh) of the Israelites (Num 33:55). Here, the evil influence of bad people was considered a “thorn.” Likewise, we may say that of a troublesome person: “He’s been a throne in my side for many years.” So, when reading the Bible, we must disregard wooden preconceptions on the meaning of words that send us down a blind alley of exegesis.

2. The Context of Paul’s Hardships. The remote context is 2 Corinthians demonstrates Paul’s credentials of genuine apostleship. Just before mention of the ‘thorn in the flesh,”in 2 Corinthians 11:23, Paul begins to list the blizzard of hardships and persecutions he faced in preaching the gospel, such as beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, imprisonments, dangers, privations and suffering. All these problems and persecutions afflicted him so he felt “weakness” of his human vulnerability (2 Cor 11:29-30,32; 12:5).

Paul says his “thorn” was “a messenger of Satan” (2 Cor 12:7). The persecutions and hardships inflicted by evil men would certainly have Satan behind them. The evil men afflicting Paul would simply be Satan’s instrument or “messenger.” For example, King Herod wanted to kill baby Jesus (Matt 2:1-17), but Revelation 12:4 shows that Satan, like a great red dragon, was actually the evil force behind the attempt to murder baby Jesus. Herod was just the “messenger” of Satan’s evil design.

In 2 Corinthians 12:8, Paul prayed three times for the Lord to remove this “thorn.” Jesus’ reply was most empowering to Paul and comforting to us: "`My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Cor 12:9). Jesus said, “no,” the thorn will not be removed. In context, Paul’s “weakness” came from all his hardships and persecutions beginning in 2 Corinthians 11:23 (cf. 2 Cor 11:30,32). Yet the weakness he felt from this thorn was an opportunity to discover Christ’s strength. So, he could bear this “thorn” with Christ’s strength. Paul concludes how he will cope with his thorn of various hardships in preaching, “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10).

Practically speaking, we to will have a “thorn in the flesh” during our lifetime. When we feel our weakness, this is an opportunity to discover Christ’s strength. By faith, we are comforted that the Lord will not allow more on us than we can bear (1 Cor 10:13). We must choose whether hardships will drive us closer to the Lord in faith, or drive us away from Him in despair and self-pity.

In living for Christ, our problems aren’t a curse but a part of God’s greater curriculum. When we’re as low as a person can get, we’re never out of reach of the Lord’s help. When we feel like we can go it alone, we feel no need for the Lord. It is when we are most weak and vulnerable, that we really learn how much we need our Lord and Savior.

By W. Frank Walton