Paul's Thorn in the Flesh
We consider the apostle Paul to be one of the greatest
men of God to have ever lived. However, because of this
greatness, Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. The
subject of Paul's thorn in the flesh is a common theme
of discussion in the church--especially when people
are trying to understand why bad things, especially
sickness and disease, happen to Christians. This
teaching will address and expose some sacred
theological "cows" that are prevalent in the body of
Christ, and also bring forth what the Bible teaches
about this important subject. It is my prayer that
these truths will set you free indeed.
Let's begin in 2 Corinthians 12, where Paul writes that he had been given a thorn in his flesh.
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of 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 three times, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you. 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. [2 Corinthians 12:7-10]
I've heard and read many people's interpretations of what Paul's thorn in the flesh was, but, unfortunately most of them don't harmonize with Scripture. Here are the most common fallacies of Paul's thorn in the flesh and the verses of Scripture used to support this claim:
§
It was an infirmity or sickness of some kind [Galatians 4:13-15; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10]
§It was an eye disease [Galatians 4:13-15; Galatians 6:11]
§It was a sin or weakness of the flesh [Galatians 4:13-15; 2 Corinthians 12:9]
§It was a way for God to keep Paul humble--lest he be exalted above measure [2 Corinthians 12:7]
§God "allows" us to be sick or sometimes refuses to deliver us from sickness or disease [2 Corinthians 12:8-9]
A Disease, Sickness, Infirmity or Weakness of the Flesh
Paul wasn't suffering from an eye disease or sickness as some people believe. This theory is derived from Galatians 4:13-15 where Paul describes the care the church had given him at the beginning of his ministry there. You know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh you despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is the blessedness you spoke of? For I bear you record, that if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. People have taken this one passage and combined it with Galatians 6:11 when Paul writes: You see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand and claim that he was suffering a sickness of some kind and perhaps an infirmity in his eyes. The statement Paul made that if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, is a figure of speech comparable to me saying, "I'd cut off my right arm for you."
So what was the infirmity of the flesh Paul wrote about? And what about this temptation in his flesh? Let's turn to Acts 14:6-20 and read about the apostle Paul and his first journey into the region of Galatia. Here we are able to understand exactly what Paul meant by infirmities and temptation in his flesh. Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra and had been preaching the gospel where Paul had ministered healing to a crippled man [v.10]. After witnessing this great miracle, the people began to say that Paul and Barnabas were gods and they began to worship them, calling them Jupiter and Mercury [v.11-12]. After telling them that they were men just like they were, Jews from Antioch and Iconium came and stirred up the people, resulting in the stoning of Paul [v.19]. They dragged Paul out of the city and the Bible says that they supposed he was dead, but as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. [v.20]
If you look at a map during the time of Paul's ministry, you will see that Derbe is a city of Galatia--about 20 miles southeast of Lystra, another Galatian city. Since Paul had been stoned so that the people around him supposed that he had been dead, one could rightly conclude that he had suffered injuries as a result--probably cuts and bruises to his head. However, God raised Paul up--presumably from the dead [2 Corinthians 1:8-10] and the next day, he and Barnabas traveled twenty miles to Derbe. This was a miraculous healing of Paul, whom after being stoned and left for dead, God raised him up, making him able to continue with his mission the very next day. This is what Paul is referring to when he writes of the infirmity in his flesh. These are the injuries he'd suffered the previous day. The same is true for the word "temptation" which means any temptation or trial. He was referring to the beating he'd taken--not some disease or temptation as commonly preached.
God Gave Paul the Thorn to Keep Him Humble
There are many in the church that think God had given Paul his thorn in the flesh to keep him humble because of all the revelations he had been given. The Bible doesn't say this though. It is clear from what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:7 and also from the totality of Scripture that his thorn in the flesh was the messenger of Satan--not God--sent to buffet, torment, or hinder him, and keep Paul from being exalted by God (in the eyes of people) not himself. The NIV translation of the Bible re-words (incorrectly, I believe) the phrase lest I should be exalted above measure as To keep me from becoming conceited. The theory that Paul had a problem with humility is not revealed in Scripture as I will show below. Even if Paul had the tendency to become conceited or take himself too seriously, the belief that God would send the messenger of Satan to torment him does not harmonize with the Bible.
First of all, God does not humble people. Instead he commands that we humble ourselves. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up. [James 4:10] Peter repeats this truth: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. [1 Peter 4:6] What does it mean when the Bible says that God will lift you up? It means that he will exalt you. God exalted many people in the Bible. He exalted Joseph, Daniel, Mary, Jesus, and many others, including the apostle Paul as evidenced by all the revelations and fame he had. Only when one exalts himself will the Lord resist them. The Bible says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. [James 4:6] Paul wrote, Lest I be exalted, not "Lest I exalt myself."
Because of all the revelations and manifestations of power, God was exalting Paul where people were flocking to him as they did with the Lord Jesus. Paul did not have a humility problem, and this is supported by Scripture. Don't you think that if Paul had a problem with humility that the Lord would have revealed it to him at the time? Remember the Lord's words: My grace is sufficient for you. If Paul was exalting himself, the Lord would not have reminded Paul of His grace, but rather that He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. The Lord spoke very plainly to Paul on the road to Damascus about his persecution of the Church; [Acts 9:4-5] therefore, if Paul was falling into pride, it would make sense for the Lord to mention this to him.
To further support the truth that Paul did not have problem with humility, let's read the passages just prior to chapter 12 in 2 Corinthians. Also, remember that the Bible wasn't written in chapters or sections. Only later did the chapters and verses come along to help readers refer to passages in Scripture. In chapter 11 of 2 Corinthians, Paul writes about his sufferings for the gospel's sake. We begin in verse 23: Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which come upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knows that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city under the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me. And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell. God knows.) such a one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell. God knows.) how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for man to utter. Of such a one will I glory. Yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth. But now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or that he hears of me. [2 Corinthians 11:23-2 Corinthians 12:6]
These passages clearly represent the great humility of Paul as he describes his sufferings and compares them to what two men had experienced (one going to the third heaven, and the other going to paradise). Paul says that because of all the visions and revelations he had received, he had reason to glory, but he would rather take glory in his sufferings instead, because if he gloried in what God was doing in and through him, he would be a fool. That, my friends, is humility.
Ask yourself this question: Why, if God had given Paul this abundance of revelations and power to heal the sick and raise the dead, did He also give him a thorn to hinder Paul's work? It doesn't make sense (even in our own peanut brains) for God to do this--to, on one hand, empower Paul to preach the word, and on the other, hinder his ability to carry it out. One can assert that God is more interested in our personal character development than anything else, and while I may agree with this assertion, you must go back to the Lord's response to Paul's request: My grace is sufficient for you. If the Lord's intent was to correct Paul, He would have done it then--when He had Paul's ear. That's why it's totally incorrect when people say that God had given Paul the thorn. Again, read 2 Corinthians 12:7, the thorn was the messenger of Satan--sent to buffet him.
God Refused to Deliver Paul from Sickness
Many people have been taught that Paul's thorn in the flesh was a sickness because of this verse from 2 Corinthians 12:10: Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities. In modern English, the word infirmity commonly refers to a sickness. However, in 17th century English, the word infirmity meant any physical, moral or mental weakness or flaw. In fact, this truth is illustrated in Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit helps our infirmities. For know not what we should pray for as we ought. Here an infirmity refers to our limitations in knowledge concerning prayer. Paul also uses the word "infirmities" in chapter 11 v. 30 when referring to all the persecution he'd suffered [vv. 23-27]. If you continue reading the passage from 2 Corinthians 12:10, you'll learn that Paul is again referring all the attacks leveled against him for the gospel's sake. 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. The context of Scripture--especially when you take Paul's own description of what had happened to him during the course of his ministry as written in chapter 11--does not state or even infer that Paul had suffered from sickness of any kind.
I'll address another point because it reflects a mindset in much of the body of Christ concerning healing. Another grossly errant theory poses the assertion that because the Lord told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (My grace is sufficient for you. For my strength is made perfect in weakness.) that He was refusing to heal Paul from sickness, indicating that the forgiveness of sins was sufficient. This is a flagrant indictment against the Word and nature of God. When did the Lord Jesus ever refuse to heal or minister to someone? There is no place in Scripture to support this claim. The only person Jesus ever refused to heal was the Syrophenician woman's daughter in Matthew 15 and Mark 7, but He healed her daughter nonetheless. The only time people didn't get healed or witness the mighty works of the Lord was because of their unbelief--and not because the Lord refused. The Bible says in Mark 6:5-6: And he could there do no mighty works, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. If the Word of God is true when it says that Jesus was the express image of the Father [Hebrews 1:3], and if we believe His words when He said, He that has seen me has seen the Father [John 14:9], then why would anyone accuse God of refusing to heal a person?
There are some of you who will refer back to the Old Testament when God smote the Egyptians and some people with sicknesses, saying, "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever." I agree with Hebrews 13:8, but while God is the same, His covenant with us is not. And I believe the failure of most Christians to understand the difference between the old and new covenants is what has kept much of the Church from realizing the extent of the victory we have in Christ. Brothers and sisters, the new covenant is one of peace with God, mercy, and grace. God poured out all of His wrath on the Lord Jesus so we would not have to face the punishment we rightly deserve. This not only applies to forgiveness of sins and entrance into heaven, but in total redemption from the curse of the law. In Isaiah 54:9-10, God said: For this is as the waters of Noah unto me. For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth (angry) with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, says the Lord that has mercy on you.
In the new covenant, Jesus bore all of our sicknesses and diseases [Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 2:24] and He has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. [Galatians 3:13] Sickness is part of the curse as written in Deuteronomy 28:21-22. For God to have either placed sickness on Paul or to have refused to heal him would have been in violation of His own Word. God does not violate His Word as it is written in Psalms 89:34: My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. The truth is God wants you well. The Bible makes it very clear that Paul's thorn in the flesh was not from God--but from the devil; and Satan targeted him because of the profound effect Paul's ministry was having on the world. Now, let's examine the truth of Paul's thorn in the flesh.
Do We Have a Thorn in the Flesh?
Before uncovering the truth of Paul's thorn in the flesh, let me address a prevalent thinking in the body of Christ--one born out of our own ignorance, unbelief, and religious teaching that reflects a total misunderstanding of the love and sovereignty of God, and also of the authority and responsibility the Lord has given us. I've heard many people claim that they've been given a thorn in the flesh and they liken it to a weakness or infirmity--even a sin they're having trouble overcoming. I've also heard people claim that their thorn in the flesh is a sickness or disease like cancer and through their sufferings, they are giving glory to God. I saw a book the other day entitled: The Thorn in the Flesh, and the author basically writes that all of us are given a thorn in the flesh.
This is a disturbing religious doctrine that man has developed to justify his lack of power, placing the responsibility on God for what happens in the world. That in His "sovereignty" God orchestrates or allows trials and/or sicknesses, and even sin to unfold, believing that it is all part of God's "master plan". The picture they paint is of an angry God seated at a desk with a "Rejected" stamp or "Approved" stamp in either hand, that everything that happens on earth is either ordained or "allowed" by God. This "Que será, será, whatever will be, will be" mentality is exactly why most of the Church is powerless, sick, depressed, divorced, and sinful--because they are waiting on God to move; when in truth, God is waiting on us to use the power and authority He has given us to change the world. Again, it's a convenient theology that releases us from any responsibility for what happens on earth.
Additionally, this is why the world sees Christianity as just another religion--that it has no bearing on the lives of people today. Most churches teach that salvation is simply a heaven and hell issue, when forgiveness of sins is only a part of what the Lord Jesus died to give us. I have two teachings called "Rise Up and Walk" and "Life Eternal" available on this web site. "Rise Up and Walk" addresses the state of much of the body of Christ today and how it is our responsibility to use God's power to bring revival to the world. "Life Eternal" spells out the true meaning of John 3:16.
Truthfully, neither you nor I have a thorn in the flesh--especially when you consider that the apostle Paul is the only person in the New Testament that was given a thorn in the flesh. Not Peter, not John, not James, nor any of the original disciples--only Paul, because during his time, Paul posed the greatest threat to Satan and his kingdom. So, unless you're walking in the same power and revelation as the apostle Paul--enough to write over half the New Testament--I don't think that you have a thorn in your flesh. I know that what I'm saying may be pulling the rug out from under a lot of people because you've been taught that everyone has been given a thorn in the flesh. I don't say this to criticize anyone, but the body of Christ needs to throw this crutch of having a thorn in the flesh into the fire. Your problem isn't a thorn in the flesh--it's a problem of incorrect teaching, an unrenewed mind, unbelief, and stinkin' thinkin'. And all these problems can be resolved by knowing the truth. The Lord Jesus said, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. [John 8:32]
What was Paul's Thorn in the Flesh?
So, what actually was Paul's thorn in the flesh? Let's go back to what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:7: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of 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.
First of all, was Paul's thorn an actual "thorn" embedded in his flesh? I doubt it, because if it were, he could have very easily taken out a knife and cut it out of his skin. Of course, the Bible says that this thorn was the messenger of Satan sent to buffet or hinder his work. The Bible speaks of thorns in various places, and in each case, "thorns" were used to describe people that caused trouble for Israel. The Lord referred to people as thorns in Numbers 33:55: But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which you let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein you dwell. This is true also in Joshua 23:13 and Judges 2:3.
Secondly, Paul refers to his "infirmities" as trials brought about through all the persecutions he'd suffered as a result of his ministry. This was the thorn in the flesh--the messenger of Satan stirring up trouble wherever Paul went. Again, the devil worked through people who yielded to the devil's wishes to hinder and perhaps cause Paul to become frustrated and also to cause people to be reluctant and fearful of becoming a Christian. When he'd asked the Lord to remove the thorn in the flesh, I don't think the apostle Paul had fully realized the words of the Lord Jesus when He told us that we would suffer persecution for His sake. When the Lord told Paul: My grace is sufficient for you, He was telling us that although He has redeemed us from sin, sickness, delivered us from the devil, and made us prosperous, we are not immune from persecution. It is evident from 2 Corinthians 12 that Paul had finally come to this revelation, and these verses simply serve as a lesson for us all. It can be summed up in what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
Brothers and sisters, God is for us--not against us. Paul's thorn in the flesh was the messenger of Satan sent to influence people to bring persecution and other problems because of the abundance of revelations--and to hinder Paul's ministry. God didn't deliver him from it because we are not immune from persecution for the gospel's sake. If God had promised to wipe out all the people who were persecuting the church, there never would have been an apostle Paul. If you remember, Paul (then known as Saul of Tarsus) was a great persecutor of the Church of Jesus Christ. To infer that God was behind this persecution--either by sending it or allowing it--you are implying that God desires to hinder His own work. It's ridiculous when you think about it. Like I said at the beginning of this teaching, this truth will set you free. But in order to be set free, you must change the way you think. When Paul wrote this in Romans 8:31: If God be for us, who can be against us? he was confirming the truth that God would no more send us problems, trials, sickness, and hindrances than he would tempt you with sin. God loves us and there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.
