Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh
written by: Tiffany Smith
Introduction:
I want to begin by stating that this study is merely one to give us food for thought. The study of Paul’s thorn in the flesh is one that need not be settled. It does not pertain to our soul salvation. It is simply an interesting concept for us to consider, since we as humans often seek to relate to other people’s plights. So, let’s spend some time looking at two views of Paul’s thorn in the flesh: poor eyesight or mental anguish due to his past. There are other views such as a general frailty of the body and an issue of speech, either physical, like a stutter, or mental / knowledge based, meaning poor skills as an orator.
I am going to focus on the two originally stated: poor eyesight and mental anguish, because I find that there is more substantial scripture to study in regard to these two views.
Comparison Chart | ||
Verse(s) | Eyesight | Mental Anguish |
Galatians 4:15 “for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.” | This could be a hyperbole (exaggeration) on Paul’s part born out of truth. If his eyesight was bad he may be saying that the Galatians cared about him so much that they would have given him their good eyes if they could. | However, this saying could simply be a common phrase like the one we use today, “I’d give him/her the shirt off my back.” A phrase meaning a general desire to help someone. |
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…” | “In the flesh” could be referring to Paul’s physical body and an issue with it. | However, Thayer places this use of flesh in the outline of this word’s use under G4561 2a, which is a universal use of body. Merriam-Webster defines universal as “including or covering all or a whole collectively or distributively without limit or exception”. So, it could be possible that this use of flesh is in a general sense, not specific to the physical body. |
2 Corinthians 12:9 “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” | Again the infirmities Paul is referring to could be of a physical nature. | However, Thayer places this use of infirmity in the outline of this word’s use under G769 bδ: b is “of Soul” and δ is “to bear trials and troubles”. This would imply the use of infirmity in this verse to refer to an issue of mind, heart, spirit, not of the physical body itself. |
2 Corinthians 12:8 “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” | An infirmity or anguish in spirit may have more weight than a physical weakness, therefore, would Paul not pray more than 3 times for something that weighed on his mind so heavily like the mental anguish of a past filled with persecuting Christians and sentencing them to death? So, it may be more likely to conclude that he prayed 3 times for a physical ailment to be healed. | However, Paul could be referring to 3 times that he broke down from the sheer weight of the burden of his past. I think we can all relate to carrying some burdens day to day, but some days those burdens may feel much heavier to bear where you find yourself crying and begging to God for help. Therefore, this may be what Paul is meaning. He may have daily thought about his past and the burden of it, but it may not have truly broken him down except 3 times. |
Galatians 4:14 “And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.” | Poor eyesight may have made people more reluctant to accept Paul as a man of God, because why would a man of God who could perform miracles be poor in sight himself. Paul already had a hard time being accepted because of his past as a persecutor of Christians, so it may be a combination of this burden and the simple physical burden that caused Paul to desire healing of his eyesight the 3 times he spoke to God. | Why would poor eyesight be a temptation for Paul? Poor eyesight seems like one of the least of things in this world to be tempted by. |
Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” | God may not have allowed Paul’s eyesight to be healed miraculously because Paul had no need to be convinced of the truth of the gospel. The purpose of miracles was to confirm the Word that Christ brought. Sure, healing Paul could be witnessed by others, but consider that onlookers may see it as a charade rather than truth. Witnesses could be convinced with greater surety by healing a man or woman of their own community who they saw in their infirmity almost daily like the man possessed by Legion (Mark 5) or the blind man (John 9), both healed by Jesus. | Why would God not have allowed Paul’s eyesight to have been healed if he and the apostles had the ability to perform miraculous healings? God did not give the apostles direction on who to heal and not to heal. So, why could one of the fellow apostles or disciples with the miracle of healing not cure Paul’s eyesight? |
Conclusion:
There is none! Remember, as I said at the beginning, this is a study that need not be settled, but is simply interesting food for thought.
We may never know the answer to the question: What was Paul’s thorn in the flesh? When the righteous get to heaven they will no longer have a care at all about what it was and neither will Paul, because the righteous will be in a place of eternal rest with their Almighty God.
Tiffany Smith
My name is Tiffany Smith. I have been married to my husband Nathan for almost two years now. My husband and I live near Albany, Georgia; although, our original hometown is Jonesboro, Arkansas. We worship with the Lee County church of Christ in Georgia. My husband and I both love God, and I love seeing us grow as Christians and workers in the church. I seek to keep myself active in studying God’s word and want to share my studies with others. So I hope you join me for this study and others to come!
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