Was Paul Sick When He Met the Galatians?
This question has been coming up again in the last few weeks, and I wonder if there are more people out there thinking about this. If so, then here’s my answer.
Let’s begin with the passage:
Gal 4:13-14
You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
Some people use this verse to imply that Paul had some kind of eye disease or other sickness, and that God would not heal him. Personally, I believe that is a little far fetched. It requires you to make a lot of assumptions, and eventually you have to come to a conclusion that contradicts the life of Jesus on earth. If you have to make assumptions, then I think you should make assumptions that agree with the life of Jesus.
For the record, Jesus always healed everyone that came to Him. There is not a single exception to this in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. And He was doing God’s will all the time, so it was always God’s will to heal. If it was God’s will for Paul to have an eye disease, then the Father’s will is very different than what Jesus was demonstrating on the earth. But the Father and the Son and the Spirit all agree, all the time. God is not divided against Himself. And when Jesus ushered in the New Covenant, it included both forgiveness of sin, and healing.
So, with all of that in mind, let’s move on to something that will help us understand what is going on. Read this passage from the book of Acts, where we are given some insight into the events that preceded Paul’s initial visit to the people he was writing to.
Acts 14:19-22 (NET Bible)
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning the crowds over, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead. But after the disciples had surrounded him, he got up and went back into the city. On the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
After they had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch. They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.”
As far as I have been able to figure out the timeline, it looks like Paul was stoned in Lystra just before he went to other churches in the region of Galatia. Galatia is a region, not a city, so the letter to the Galatians would have been sent to churches in cities like Derbe, Iconium, Antioch, etc.
Paul was visiting these places right after he was stoned. Crowds of people had just thrown rocks at his head, face, and body until it looked like he was dead. He may have even died and been raised from the dead when the other believers gathered around him to pray. We aren’t told if he actually was dead, or if he just looked dead. Either way, he was in bad shape.
I assume that he looked pretty beat up at the time that he went to Derbe, since he had just gone through this. And since his body was all beat up at the time, it would fit the statement in Acts 14:22 “We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.” This also fits the statement Galatians 4 that we are studying now, except that most translations use the phrase “illness” instead of infirmity or weakness. This is a form of the same word “infirmity” that I covered in my post on Paul’s Thorn.
So, Paul was recovering from a traumatic beating. And although it was a miraculous recovery, apparently he still had some scars and bruising, and so he probably looked pretty rough. Personally, I believe this is what he is talking about when he is talking about his infirmity or his weakness or his appearance. In other words, he was beat up the first time he went there, so he is referencing that in the letter to the Galatians.
You would have to make many assumptions to go from the text in Galatians 4 to a conclusion that Paul had an incurable eye disease. Even so, there are respectable Bible teachers and commentators that make this assumption and promote it to others. I have even seen some people go as far as to give the name of the disease. I would suggest that we use greater caution before making assumptions that contradict the life of Jesus, especially when it concerns something so clear as His willingness to heal sick people.
Acts 10:38 – God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Thank you for posting this. Your point makes a lot of sense and I think you are right about wrong assumptions. When I think of all the beatings and floggings that Paul endured, the fact that he was able to do everything he did could only have been through God’s miraculous healing.
That was VERY WELL DONE! We all tend to gloss over the fact that Paul was beaten so badly he was thought to be dead. It is completely MIRACULOUS that he could get up and travel after a beating like that. He had to walk or maybe ride a donkey or other animal, all of which are rugged means of travel. Jesus healed him or he would not have been able to do that.
You know, I was reading the book of Galatians, and the Holy Spirit revealed it to me, this wasn’t illness, Paul was beaten because of my name. With that revelation, I started researching, and I found this text, perfect. It confirms what was revealed in my Heart.
See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Galatians 6:11,12
From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
Galatians 6:17
These 3 verses tell us that what he really had was no illness, but because he was beaten. He was persecuted for the cross. That makes a good link with your text. I have a fair question though. You showed a text in Acts that tells us he was beaten. But in the time of writing this letter, why was he writing with large letters? Wasn’t he covered from the beating yet? Please answer.
Hi Erick. Thanks for your comments. To answer your question about the “large letters” I can tell you that I have found two interpretations for this that sound viable to me. I don’t believe it is due to vision problems.
The first interpretation involves looking at the way it is translated in the NLT: “NOTICE WHAT LARGE LETTERS I USE AS I WRITE THESE CLOSING WORDS IN MY OWN HANDWRITING.” This gives the idea that Paul is really emphasizing the next few sentences as he sums up his letter. When read in context, it fits in very well. Nearly the entire letter is written to counter the Judaizers that were attempting to compel the people to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. He follows 6:11 with some final blunt and direct remarks contradicting the Judaizers and making the point again that believers are not under the Law of Moses.
The second interpretation involves looking at another, equally acceptable translation of the verse. If you look up the Greek words for “large” and “letter” that Paul used here, it could be translated “See what distinguished writings I use as I write to you with my own hand.” And if you read this as sarcasm, then it also fits in well with the context and the reason for the letter. It is a short letter, and it is very direct and to the point, and the point is very simple that he is trying to make.
Personally, I believe either of these could be true, but in my opinion the first one is the best fit.
Hope that helps.
Thank you for your response. It sure helped me a lot. God Bless you.
Thanks Neal. I was just researching this and came to the same conclusion based on the timeline of Paul’s ministry. The infirmity was revolting to them which is consistent with the trauma of stoning.
Thank you so much for the explaination.I am still curious about the thorn in the flesh that Apostle Paul mention.He asked Jesus to take it away but Jesus say My Grace is suffient for you in the weakness.What that mean the thorn of flesh?
Hi Karen. I have an article explaining my view on Paul’s thorn in the flesh. You can find it here: Paul’s Thorn
Paul’s stoning was not be a physical stoning at all hence Acts 14:22, where the phrase many persecutions. The casting of stones could very well be referring the rejection of the Jews against Paul carrying the ministry of the Gospel to the Gentiles..Paul’s ministry was about winning over the people. Remember they only stoned him after winning the crowd over to their ideology.The powerful opposing rabbinical priesthood, therefore, was the thorn that remained in Paul’s side.
Thank you for your comment. I agree that Paul’s thorn was persecution (see my post on Paul’s Thorn for more on that). But I still believe it was a physical stoning here because it says in Acts 14:19 “..thinking he was dead.” To me that implies physical assault took place.
His appearance, if that was the case, would be a reason to gloat. There would be no possible rejection from any believer. Would make him more “worthy”.
Thank you for your comment. I am not sure I understand the question, or the implication.
I agree that Apostle Paul must had sustain eye injury via physical stoning and beaten. Because it’s was never mention in the book of scriptures that he has any diseases.
Dear.. thank you so much . I agree with you. Can you please clarify on Elisha’s sickness ?
Hi Renbeni. I am not sure that I understand your question, but I will answer what I think you might be asking. Elisha died from an illness (2 Kings 13:14), but that does not mean that the illness was God’s will. I don’t assume that everything that happens is always God’s will because God’s will does not always happen. The only way I can know God’s will about something is to listen to what He has said about it. I have a post on this – Does God’s Will Always Happen?. I hope that helps.
I’m glad to find this topic…. As I read Gal 6:11-18 the context of the passage became very clear after I thought about why Paul brought up how large the letters were from his own hand. It occurred to me that he’d had such a severe beating that maybe those beating him had broken his dominant hand and he had to write with his lesser hand…a severe slow down and frustration every time he wanted to write a letter. Maybe they broke both hands in the beating to make him stop teaching. As I thought about it the rest of the passage became very passionate. He wasn’t just telling others what to do. He had wrestled with his own experience with man and with God to come to that testimonial conclusion.
Thank you Stacy. Very interesting things to consider!
Thank you for this. I am unwell , in my bed rest I decided to read through the letters of Paul from Corinthians , I wanted to really understand what Paul was suffering from. I know that God will continue to sustain me as I continue to spread the Gospel. You have encouraged me in my sickness. Thank you. Many don’t believe that even pastors fall sick, they feel like God has forgotten us at that time.
Thank your comment. I am so sorry that you are not well. I am praying for your complete healing right now, and I fully believe that it is God’s will that you be completely restored in Jesus name.
I bless the Lord for the knowledge shared here to the glory of his holy name
Thank you William! Be blessed!
They crowd of believers were sooo happy and delighted to do the will of God in helping those who are ill (someone who can’t take care of themselves) I’m sure they prayed for Paul and blessed Jesus’ name for their turn to show God and Paul their tender, love, & care! Wheeeew Aine That A Great Lesson for a Blessing!?
Am really blessed to understand something things that was contradicting my mind, I lead a certain book which says healing it’s not for everyone I mean for all and sometimes i do see people dying just like that though we have prayed for them what’s the secret then? Do they don’t have faith? Or the one who is praying have something that hinders the prayer prayer prayer of healing?
Hi John. I believe the Bible teaches that healing is for everyone, mainly because verses like Acts 10:38, and all of the examples where Jesus healed everyone that came to him.
Like you, I have also prayed for people but did not see them improve, and I have also prayed for people that died. I do not know all of the answers, but I do believe that healing is God’s will. I try to follow the example of Jesus and the disciples the best I can. They never blamed the sick person for a lack of faith. And they never blamed the family or loved ones for a lack of faith. It seems to me that there are many factors that come into play, and I only seem to know a few of them at this point in my journey. I can say that the more I learn, and the more strongly I believe in God’s will for healing, the more healings I seem to see. I hope this helps. God bless you.
You are right! God’s will is not for us to be sick or even die before our time. Sickness is from Satan who came to steal, kill, and destroy. God is the God is the Gid who heals thee. The Bible says Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly.
God doesn’t always heal…Paul beseeched God three times to remove the thorn in his flesh but God said His grace was sufficient, His strength made perfect in weakness. I believe supernatural healing is real and in God’s will but sometimes He in His wisdom does not heal. We don’t understand why. (See 2 Cor 12:8-10)
Hi Teri. Thank you for your comment. The doctrinal viewpoint you are expressing comes up often, and so I dedicated a whole blog post to it here: Paul’s Thorn
To summarize, in 2 Cor 12, when Paul is discussing his “thorn in the flesh,” and his prayer to remove it, he is not talking about sickness. He is talking about all of the persecution he has experienced. In all of the problems he recalls in 2 Cor 11-12 leading up to his prayer for removal of the thorn, sickness is not mentioned one single time.
Jesus said that in this world we will have trials, and he also said his followers would face persecution. That is why the answer to that prayer was no. Jesus does not remove the persecution, because that is not a promise.
But we do have a promise of healing in Isaiah 53:5. And in the four gospels, Jesus never refused to heal someone that came to him. There is no example in scripture where someone came to Jesus to be healed and the answer was no.
Thank you for this. I certainly learned a lot and understand more. Hoping to read more.
Thank you Eunah. Be blessed!
Guaranteed, Paul wasn’t sick.
There’s a ‘kill-shot’ in stoning, the ‘monster mash’ if you will. Bloody eyes, at best, bulging eyes, head mis-shaped….
And what is a trial? It has a beginning & an end. Paul says in Gal.4:14, “And my trial, which “””was””” in my flesh…”
His eye trial had an end.
Shalom.