Re: What was Paul's "thorn in the flesh"?
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 8:57 am
I think the same arguments apply to all of the possibilities. Let's look at the text in context:Sudsy wrote:Some good arguments here for that possibility. Questions relating to it being his eyes -
No matter what the thorn was, we know that (1) it was given to Paul to keep him from being conceited, (2) he calls it "a messenger of Satan, to torment me, (3) he pleaded three times that it be removed from him, and (4) God taught him that his grace is sufficient for him, and Paul learned to glory in his weakness.So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.…
Think about the stories of blind men in the Bible. They were often beggars. There was little they could do to support themselves. If Paul could write with large letters, it would not have been total blindness, just significant problems seeing, but it would still make it hard to go on journeys, and make him dependent on others all the time.
No matter what the thorn in the flesh was, it is a stark contrast to the power Paul exercised in other situations. He could cast out demons in others, for instance (e.g. in Acts 16) and he could heal others. He asked that it be removed three times, and probably expected that it would be. I think this tells us something about how to pray when we face our own thorns - start by praying, asking, seeking, knocking, expecting God to step in. But sometimes God teaches us that his grace is sufficient for us instead. It's really up to God. And I think that's my answer to each of your questions.
That said, the eyes hypothesis is just a hypothesis. What matters to me is what I said in the previous paragraph. In my own life, I apply it to some physical issues that I have to deal with in everyday life.
It's also worth noting that Paul refers to another trial in a similar way here:
17 Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense. 18 For we wanted to come to you — indeed I, Paul, tried again and again — but Satan obstructed us. 19 After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?…