PAUL’S THORN IN THE FLESH
Over the years I have heard numerous
explanations of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”. Some have suggested that he had
seizures, others that he had eye trouble, and whenever someone has a problem
that does not go away quickly Paul’s thorn is likely to be mentioned. However,
because I am not satisfied with any of the usual explanations let us take a
careful look at what Paul said.
“To keep me from swelling with pride,
because of the great and wonderful things that were revealed to me, I was given
a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to afflict me, so that I would not
become conceited. Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times, to take
it away from me. But he said to me, My grace is
sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness,” (2Corinthians
12:7-9).
One difficulty I have with traditional
explanations is that they assume that the words, “My grace is sufficient for
you,” are not the answer to Paul’s prayer, but a way of God saying no
to Paul’s request. However, what if Paul’s problem was a fear that God’s grace
might not be “sufficient” for him? A fear planted in his mind by “a messenger
of Satan”. What if this “messenger of Satan” was continually reminding Paul of
sins he committed while persecuting the church? After all, the reason Paul was
given that thorn in the flesh was so that he would not become conceited. And,
if that is what Paul’s thorn-in-the-flesh was, wouldn’t that explain why he
thought of himself as “chief” of sinners (1Timothy