Paul's Thorn in the Flesh
Paul’s Thorn In The Flesh
Paul’s thorn in the flesh has been a thorn in the flesh
to more people than almost any other passage in the
Word of God. Whenever someone wants to defend his
own defenseless theology regarding God’s will concerning
people’s sickness, he invariably points out Paul’s
“thorn in the flesh.”
The first prerequisite in any study that makes for an
abundant life is an accurate reading of that which is
written. Let us read exactly what is written by Paul.
II Corinthians 12:7-10:
And lest I should be exalted above measure through
the abundance of the revelations, there was given to
me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to
buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it
might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for
thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon
me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches,
in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s
sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
This Word of God has been read thousands upon thousands
of times, but many who have looked at it have
read something besides the actual words.
The first thing to notice is that nowhere in the entire
section does it mention sickness as being the “thorn in
the flesh.” However, the seventh verse states that this
thorn in the flesh was a messenger of Satan. So we
know that God did not send it, because had God sent it
the verse would read, “a thorn in the flesh the messenger
of God to buffet me.” But it says, “. . .a thorn in the
flesh, the messenger of Satan. . . .”
Let us look at the word “messenger.” Angelos is translated
“angel” or “messenger” in the English. The word
angelos is used 188 times in the Bible: 181 times it is
translated “angel”; 7 times it is translated “messenger.”
II Corinthians 12:7 is one of the seven times the word
angelos is translated “messenger.” The six other times
where the word angelos is translated “messenger” it
always refers to an individual or individuals. Why not
here?
Let us go a step further: the key to the true interpretation
of the Word of God is always in The Word itself.
II Peter 1:20:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture
is of any private interpretation.
If no Scripture is of any private interpretation, then I
dare not interpret it or you or anyone else. Then how
could it possibly be interpreted? The answer is simple;
if it is of no private interpretation, then it must of necessity
interpret itself. This it does.
The Word of God interprets itself where written or
within the context or it has been used elsewhere at some
earlier time.
Since the words “thorn in the flesh” in II Corinthians
12:7 are not explained in the verse itself or in the context,
it must have been used previously in the Bible if
the Word of God be true.
In Numbers 33 we note that God instructed Moses to
speak to the children of Israel and to inform them regarding
the inhabitants of the land into which the children
of Israel were about to enter, that they must by all means
refrain from fraternizing with the inhabitants. If not, the
consequences are told.
Numbers 33:55:
. . .then it shall come to pass, that those which ye
let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and
thorns in your sides. . . .
The people, the inhabitants, would be pricks in the
eyes of the children of Israel and thorns in their sides.
So the “thorn in the flesh” is in this passage definitely
and distinctly people. “Thorn in the flesh” then is not a
literal fact; but a figurative truth. It is similar to our
current statement about a man who would give “the
shirt off of his back.” We do not mean that he would
literally take his shirt off and give it away; we mean it
to indicate figuratively that such a man is very goodhearted
and generous. Likewise, “the thorn in the flesh,”
is a figure of speech* referring to how people hinder or
obstruct.
Again in Joshua is another record about “thorns.”
Joshua 23:13:
Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will
no more drive out any of these nations from before
you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you,
and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your
eyes. . . .
If you had a thorn in your eye, would you have it in
your flesh? Again this is a figure of speech clearly indicating
people.
Judges 2:3:
. . .I will not drive them out [referring to inhabitants
of the land] from before you; but they shall be
as thorns in your sides. . . .
Again, it is people who are referred to as thorns. A
number of times I have heard people say, “He (or she)
is sure a thorn in the flesh,” meaning an individual was
irritating to them. Then why say that Paul’s thorn in the
flesh was sickness, bad eyesight or something else when
the Word of God specifically refers to people as being
“thorns in the flesh.”
Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was the fighting and opposition
to his ministry by people. They were men trying
to inflict the law of circumcision upon the Gentile converts
and believers. These people were “messengers of
Satan” buffeting the ministry of Paul.
II Corinthians 11:24 says, “. . .five times received I
[Paul] forty stripes save one.” It takes people to inflict
whippings. That would be a “thorn in the flesh.” Verses
25 and 26 continue, “Thrice [3 times] was I beaten with
rods, once was I stoned. . .in perils by mine own countrymen.
. .in perils among false brethren.”
With all this data from the Word of God, without any
private interpretation, how can anyone say or contend
that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was sickness? Paul was
not sick, He was just sick and tired of the people who
were opposing and fighting his ministry, hindering him
from doing as much as he would like to do.
These “false brethren” were his “thorn in the flesh” and
three times he prayed for their removal but the Lord said
to him, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength
is made perfect in weakness. . . .”
A man’s true color is quickly seen when he is confronted
by his foes. The enemies bring out the true
character in a man. So it was with Paul. He did not dare
rely upon his own strength, he had to rely upon God’s
abundant supply. A weak man with God on his side is
strong, but a strong man without God is weak.
Do not disgrace yourself, God, the Bible or the great
Apostle Paul by saying Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was
sickness. It was not. It was, is, and ever will be people,
if the Word of God is true—and true it is.
People say, “Misery seeks company,” and when man
in his sickness can think of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”
as sickness, man seems to get a more comfortable feeling
about his own disease, saying, “Well, Paul had a ‘thorn
in the flesh’ so I suppose I can bear my sickness.” What
a false comfort; what an injustice to God, the Bible and
the Apostle Paul.
Paul was “afflicted” not with sickness, but with people
hindering his ministry; and the Word of God says
that they which walk godly shall suffer persecution.**
Yes, I know what a “thorn in the flesh” is, even as
the Apostle Paul knew, and as Martin Luther, John
Wesley and others including you, my reader, may have
known. The “thorns in the flesh” are people, people who
buffet the ministry of the elect of God. But when “I am
weak [in myself] then am I strong” in Him. Thank God
for His mighty power and goodness, for in Him we are
constant overcomers and in nothing are we defeated. For
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth
me,” yes, even to triumph over all my “thorns in the
flesh.”