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Ask the Pastor: What was Paul's "Thorn in the Flesh?"
Q: What exactly was Paul's 'thorn in the flesh'? (2 Corinthians 12:1-10).
A: Hi, and thanks for your question - it's a good one!
There have been countless explanations concerning the nature of Paul's "Thorn in flesh." They range from incessant temptation, troublesome opponents, chronic ailments (such as eye problems, malaria, migraine, epilepsy, even wife problems!), 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 revelation, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me."
First, the purpose of this thorn 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 full of pride. Given that in addition to this, Paul was moved by the Holy Spirit to write much of the New Testament, it would be easy to see how he could become "puffed up" or too proud. Secondly, 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 should consider this thorn a hindrance to wider and more effective ministry (Galatians 5:14-16) and that he would three times ask God for it's removal (2 Corinthians 12:8). However Paul learned from this experience, and it is this lesson that dominates his writings: divine power is best displayed against the background 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!"
Blessings,
Tony
This is a response to a question posted on our "Ask the pastor" page. To submit your own question, go to here.
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