PAUL’S THORN ~ A Viewpoint
In 2 Corinthians 12:7, the Apostle Paul writes about “a
thorn in the flesh” which he struggles against. He says that he asked the
Lord three times that it might depart, but the Lord told him, “My grace is
sufficient for thee.” What exactly
was this thorn in Paul’s flesh?
The traditional explanation is that the thorn was some sort of
vision problem that Paul had, most likely as result of his conversion
experience. Paul did have a vision problem in his later years (see Galatians
Acts 9 records Paul's conversion. It also states that his
vision was restored when Ananias laid his hands on Paul. There is no indication
here or anywhere else that his eyesight was not restored to what it had been
prior to his conversion. Indeed, if it had not been so restored, it would
appear that the experience of God's grace and the miracle done would be lacking
completeness.
Where did Paul pick up the phrase "thorn in the flesh?"
It is an expression used often in the Old Testament. In Numbers 33:55,
Paul himself identifies his thorn in the flesh for us. He says
(right there in 2 Corinthians 12:7) that the thorn in the flesh is "the
messenger of Satan." The Greek term translated "messenger"
is the word "angelos," the same word elsewhere translated as "angel."
Paul uses the term "thorn in the flesh" consistently with how
it was always used in the Hebrew scripture. It always referred to a being,
either human or spirit. The thorn that bothered (buffeted) Paul was an angel of
Satan, a fallen angel, a demon.
Both the Rotherham and
Satan is now seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8) just as surely
as he sent one of his fallen angels to attack Paul. But just as it was for
Paul, God's grace is sufficient. It is totally sufficient. It is sufficient for
us to resist Satan's attacks and stand steadfast in our faith. We are
over-comers because (1 John 4:4) “greater is He that is in us than he that is
in the world!” We belong to God!
Larry Urbaniak
From William Barclay ~ If we have any sensitiveness, we should read this
passage (2 Corinthians 12:1-10) with a certain reverence, for in it Paul lays
bare his heart and shows us at one and the same time his glory and his pain.
All against his will, he is
still setting out his credentials, and he tells of an experience at which we
can only wonder and which we cannot even try to probe. In the strangest way, he seems to stand
outside himself and look within. “I know a man,” he says. The man is himself, and yet Paul can look at
this man who had such an amazing experience with a kind of wondering
detachment…
After the glory came the
pain. The KJV speaks of “the thorn in
the flesh.” The word “skolops” can mean
thorn but more likely, it means “stake.” Sometimes criminals were impaled upon a sharp
stake. It was a stake like that that
Paul felt was twisting in his body. What
was it? Many answers have been
given…whatever it was, the man who endured so many
other sufferings had this agony to contend with all the time.
Paul prayed that it might be
taken from him, but God answered that prayer as he answers many prayers ~ he
did not take the thing away but gave Paul strength to bear it. That is how God works. He does not spare us, but makes us able to
conquer them.
To Paul came the promise and
the reality of the ALL-sufficient grace.
Now let us see from his life a few of the things for which that grace
was sufficient.
(1) It
was sufficient for physical weariness.
(2)
It was sufficient for physical
pain.
(3) It
was sufficient for great opposition.
(4) It made him able, as all this letter shows,
to face slander
It is the glory of the Gospel
that in our weakness we may find this wondrous grace, for always man’s
extremity is God’s opportunity.”