Paul’s thorn in the flesh

[tonychanyt]

Numbers 33:

55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.

The expressions meant some troublesome spot.

Judges 2:

3 So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.

Paul used a similar expression in 2 Corinthians 12:

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,

The purpose of Paul's thorn is to keep him humble. God humbles everyone, including his prophets and servants.

a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me,

It was not literally a physical thorn. Satan used it to harass Paul constantly. God used Satan to keep Paul humble. Paul used a metaphor to describe what it was.

to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul didn't want this thorn. Nevertheless, it was to stick to him and remind him of his dependency on God.

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

That was how Paul dealt with it practically: boast in his dependency on Christ.

10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul looked to the strength of God, not to the thorn-weakness.

What was this mysterious thorn-in-the-flesh affliction?

Some think it was a physical chronic illness, possibly poor eyesight or speech impediment. I think it was 激氣" (gik hei in Cantonese).

Paul didn’t hold back when he thought Peter was off track in Galatians 2:

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

Did Paul experience gik hei? Gik hei describes an intense feeling of frustration, irritation, infuriation, or exasperation. The person is being worked up mentally, accompanied by physical high blood pressure.

I tell you my personal experience. A few years ago, I started to argue daily with people about Christianity on different online platforms. When people respond to my arguments with some illogical nonsense, my blood pressure shoots up immediately. (I have a home blood pressure measuring device.) I enjoy reading and studying the Bible. I enjoy writing up my arguments carefully to present them on the internet. I pray to God many times: please stop my high blood pressure reactions. I empathize with Paul's solution: to keep me from becoming conceited, God's grace is sufficient for me, for God's power is made perfect in weakness.

This gik hei reaction is related to my proud logic. In 2C 12, Paul used the words 'boast' 5 times and 'conceit' 3 times. There is a good chance that the thorn in the flesh had to do with Paul's pride.

In any case, whatever it was, when it happened, Paul rested in God's grace. When I experience gik hei, I am learning to rest in God's grace for my opponents and for me. Then, my blood pressure settles down, and my mental peace returns.

 

[Mark Quayle]

Numbers 33:


The expressions seem to mean some troublesome spot.

Judges 2:


Paul used a similar expression in 2 Corinthians 12:


That's the purpose of Paul's thorn: to keep him humble. God humbles everyone, including his prophets and servants.


It was not literally a thorn. Satan used it to harass Paul constantly. God used Satan to keep Paul humble. Paul wasn't being precise in describing exactly what it was.


The thorn was some kind of weakness in Paul.


This was how Paul dealt with it practically.


He looked to the strength of God, not to the thorn. I don't think it was a physical condition. It may be some mental/psychological attack that he had trouble dealing with. When it happened, he rested in God.

It is a hard pill to take, that God is more interested in a person coming to know him intimately, depending on him, than he is even in temporary faithfulness.

And this is how faithfulness and obedience is measured: Love the Lord your God with all your being.

 

[Grip Docility]

Numbers 33:


The expressions seem to mean some troublesome spot.

Judges 2:


Paul used a similar expression in 2 Corinthians 12:


That's the purpose of Paul's thorn: to keep him humble. God humbles everyone, including his prophets and servants.


It was not literally a thorn. Satan used it to harass Paul constantly. God used Satan to keep Paul humble. Paul wasn't being precise in describing exactly what it was.


The thorn was some kind of weakness in Paul.


This was how Paul dealt with it practically.


He looked to the strength of God, not to the thorn. I don't think it was a physical condition. It may be some mental/psychological attack that he had trouble dealing with. When it happened, he rested in God.

You didn't steam roll over the spiritual implications of this! Thank you! Many people try to "identify" Paul's thorn, but I firmly believe that Paul wanted it to be there for all of Christendom to personally identify, of their own needs in walk with Jesus.

Some attempt to make it a simple carnal matter of blindness. But, that removes the key insinuations of the thorn. We fail, but Jesus doesn't. That's exactly how Paul wrote about it.

Well written!