{"id":681,"date":"2014-08-22T00:07:51","date_gmt":"2014-08-22T04:07:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bornofspirit.net\/?p=681"},"modified":"2016-06-01T01:04:15","modified_gmt":"2016-06-01T05:04:15","slug":"pauls-thorn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bornofspirit.net\/here\/pauls-thorn\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul’s Thorn"},"content":{"rendered":"

I imagine that most people who spend time studying the subject of divine healing will eventually encounter the following question: \u201dWhat about Paul\u2019s thorn?\u201d\u00a0 There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about this thorn, and with this article, I hope to bring simple clarity to it.<\/p>\n

Before you continue to read my post, I strongly encourage you to read the passage in context for yourself.\u00a0\u00a0 It is a long passage, but reading the whole thing will provide context and bring understanding.<\/p>\n

Here is a link to the passage at Bible Gateway:\u00a0 2 Corinthians 11:16 \u2013 12:10<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a brief overview and some background for this passage.\u00a0 Paul is writing to the believers in the city of Corinth.\u00a0 At the time, there were some people coming through the city that claimed to be apostles.\u00a0 These men were spreading false teachings, and they were also bragging on their own accomplishments in order to boost their influence.<\/p>\n

As part of his effort to counter these men, Paul is listing some of his experiences as a Christian to show that his \u201cresume\u201d qualifies him to speak with authority when he comes against these erroneous doctrines.\u00a0 This is an oversimplification, but I provide it here as a brief background to give context.<\/p>\n

In the passage we are looking at, he spends nearly all of his time talking about the persecution he has faced.\u00a0 Rather than brag on how awesome he is, he lists all the ways he has experienced trouble.\u00a0 He had been beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, lost at sea, hungry, thirsty, cold, and naked (and the list goes on).<\/p>\n

Then, in the middle of this list, he says the following:<\/p>\n

2 Corinthians 11:30 – \u00a0<\/span>If I must boast,\u00a0I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Notice two things here.\u00a0 Number one, the infirmity that he is boasting of is the collection of difficulties and persecutions that he has faced.\u00a0 Number two, physical disease is not mentioned anywhere as part of his list of trials.\u00a0 This is a VERY important point that should be kept in mind as you read the passage where he gives more detail regarding his \u201cthorn.”\u00a0 When Paul is talking about his infirmity in this letter, he is talking about persecution that he has faced.<\/p>\n

Next, he talks about \u201csurpassingly great revelations\u201d that he received.\u00a0 We know of no man that ever lived that received more revelation concerning the gospel of grace than Paul.\u00a0 God showed him things that he was not even allowed to talk about.<\/p>\n

And then we come to the passage that contains the thorn.<\/p>\n

2 Corinthians 12:7b-10<\/p>\n

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan<\/strong> to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.<\/p>\n

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.<\/p>\n

And He said to me, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.\u201d Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities<\/strong>, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.<\/p>\n

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities<\/strong>, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ\u2019s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Notice the word that appears here again:\u00a0 infirmities.\u00a0 If you read this verse by itself, without the context of all the preceding verses<\/em>, it would appear that he may be talking about some kind of physical ailment.\u00a0 However, he is using the exact same Greek word that he did back in chapter 11 when he was boasting about his many troubles.\u00a0 So he is not talking about being sick, he is talking about different forms of persecutions and troubles.<\/p>\n

The Thorn, a Messenger?<\/h2>\n

Next I want to focus on a phrase he uses in verse 7.\u00a0 According to Paul, the thorn in his flesh is actually a messenger from Satan<\/strong>.\u00a0 Satan\u2019s messengers are also called demons, evil spirits, or unclean spirits.\u00a0 Paul is saying that there was a demon that was causing problems for him.<\/p>\n

So, Paul’s thorn was a demon,<\/p>\n

That brings up another question, though. What was this demon doing?<\/p>\n

There are many possibilities, but I believe the three choices below provide a general summary of the main explanations I have come across in my studies.<\/p>\n

The demon was either\u2026<\/p>\n