Thorn in Paul's Flesh
Paul had a “thorn in the flesh.” What was this thorn in the flesh? Does the Bible say? Does Paul say?
A Thorn in the Flesh
I think it is not ironic that Paul called his physical or mental trial a “thorn” because thorns are indicative of the fall of man. After Adam and Eve sinned, the ground was cursed and thorns and thistles sprang up. The fact that Jesus wore a crown of thorns shows that He was victorious over the fall and reversed the curse…the curse that sin brings eternal death. For Paul, his thorn was something that was an ongoing problem and even though he prayed three times to the Lord to have Him remove it, God didn’t answer his prayer (2 Corinthians 12:8) because He said that God’s grace was sufficient or enough for him. This thorn was really not directly sent by God but it may have been a thorn allowed by God that came straight from Satan. How can we say that? Paul wrote that it was sent to him “to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited” (2 Corinthians 12:7).
My Own Theory
I have a theory on what Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” might have been but I can’t be 100% certain. When Paul saw the risen Lord in all of His Shekinah glory, he was blinded for three days. He could have burned his cornea or he could have developed cataracts. Back in Paul’s day, there was no way to effectively treat cataracts. He likely has a discharge of puss continually flowing from his eyes and had constant infections from this. Maybe this is why Paul and others said that he was not much to look at. Paul was caught up to the 3rd heaven where the Lord was (2 Corinthians 12:1-3) and was also taught by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself for three years in the desert (Galatians 1:17-20) and “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan
A Thorn in the Flesh
I think it is not ironic that Paul called his physical or mental trial a “thorn” because thorns are indicative of the fall of man. After Adam and Eve sinned, the ground was cursed and thorns and thistles sprang up. The fact that Jesus wore a crown of thorns shows that He was victorious over the fall and reversed the curse…the curse that sin brings eternal death. For Paul, his thorn was something that was an ongoing problem and even though he prayed three times to the Lord to have Him remove it, God didn’t answer his prayer (2 Corinthians 12:8) because He said that God’s grace was sufficient or enough for him. This thorn was really not directly sent by God but it may have been a thorn allowed by God that came straight from Satan. How can we say that? Paul wrote that it was sent to him “to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited” (2 Corinthians 12:7).
My Own Theory
I have a theory on what Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” might have been but I can’t be 100% certain. When Paul saw the risen Lord in all of His Shekinah glory, he was blinded for three days. He could have burned his cornea or he could have developed cataracts. Back in Paul’s day, there was no way to effectively treat cataracts. He likely has a discharge of puss continually flowing from his eyes and had constant infections from this. Maybe this is why Paul and others said that he was not much to look at. Paul was caught up to the 3rd heaven where the Lord was (2 Corinthians 12:1-3) and was also taught by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself for three years in the desert (Galatians 1:17-20) and “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan