Paul's "Thorn in the flesh"

THE APOSTLE PAUL’S THORN IN THE FLESH/IT WAS NOT BAD EYESIGHT

Many believe that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was his eyesight. This is not necessarily true, I believe it was more than an eye problem. Everyone who has become familiar with commentaries knows that almost every expositor has had his own opinion about this. and, that no one has been able to give any good reason for his own. Most of them have been fanciful; and many of them eminently ridiculous. No one has espoused the following commentary on this verse. When you are finished reading this commentary, I hope you will consider what I have concluded about the subject.

The reference is found in:

2 Corinthians 12:7

(7) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

Things to be considered:

What is considered a Thorn in the flesh/is this a metaphor for a continual persecution
What is a messenger of Satan
Who was persecuting Paul
Why would they Buffet Paul
What is meant by Such a large letter/when God restored Paul’s eyesight
Why would brethren offer to pluck out their eyes and give them to Paul
Is there an event that would prompt someone to persecute Paul with physical aggression

First, we should consider the context that leads up to Verse 7.

2 Corinthians 12:1-6

(1) It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

(2) I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

(3) And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;)

(4) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

(5) Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

(6) For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he sees me to be, or that he hears of me.

Paul is referring to a vision he received from the Lord. His mind was influenced by “theta” induced vision that produced the sensation of being caught up into a place of solitude. There he heard from the Lord information that was divine revelation and difficult to put into “layman’s terms”. Then he follows up with how his inspiration from this event causes him to want to posture in a sense of glory that elevates his human reasoning to a higher standard. Paul has the wisdom to understand that before men, his inspiration would be interpreted as “being above the intellectual understanding of men”. And since there is such an evident impropriety in his boasting and speaking about himself, he would turn to another matter, and inquire whether the same thing may not be said about visions and revelations. He would speak, therefore, of a man who had some remarkable revelations, and inquire whether he has any right to boast of the favors imparted to him.” This seems to me to be the probable interpretation of this passage.

Back to Verse 7:

And lest I should be exalted - Lest I should be spiritually proud; lest I should become self-confident and vain and suppose that I was a special favorite of Heaven. If Paul was in danger of spiritual pride, who is not? If it was necessary for God to adopt some extraordinary measures to keep him humble. There is abundant reason to believe that Paul was naturally a proud man. He was by nature self-confident; trusting in his own talents and attainments, and eminently ambitious. When he became a Christian, therefore, one of his besetting sins would be pride; and as he had been especially favored in his call to the apostleship; in his success as a preacher; in the standing which he had among the other apostles, and in the revelations imparted to him, there was also special danger that he would become self-confident and proud of his attainments.

There is no danger that more constantly besets Christians, and even eminent Christians, than pride. There is no sin that is more subtle, insinuating, deceptive; none that lurks more constantly around the heart and that finds a readier entrance, than pride. A person who has been characterized by pride before their conversion will be in special danger of it afterward; those who have eminent gifts in prayer, or in conversation, or in preaching, will be in special danger of it; those whose ministry is eminently successful will be in danger of it; and those who possess any extraordinary spiritual comforts will be in danger of it.

A thorn in the flesh - The word used here (skolops) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means properly anything pointed or sharp, e. g., a stake or palisade or the point of a hook. The word is used in the Septuagint to denote a thorn or prickle.

So far as the word used here is concerned, it means a sharp thorn or prickle; and the idea is, that the trial to which he refers was as troublesome and painful as such a thorn would be in the flesh But whether he refers to some infirmity or pain in the flesh or the body is another question, and a question in which interpreters have been greatly divided in opinion.

The next phrase is the heart of what that thorn could be:

The messenger of Satan - Among the Hebrews it was customarily known as spirits to have taken possession of the body in numerous cases. Paul here says that Satan was permitted to bring this persecution upon him.

The word, messenger is the Greek word for aggelos ang'-el-os; a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication a pastor: - angel, messenger. This same Greek word is used in Jude 1:6. It is the English word angels.

Jude 1:6

(6) And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Theses are demon spirits that can possess a person or influence a person to debate or even take an aggressive action against someone.

This begs the question: Who could this person be and is there any reference to what they did and why?

To buffet me - To buffet, means to smite with the hand; then to maltreat in any way. The meaning is, that the effect and design of this was deeply to afflict him. I believe the reference is here to someone whom Satan had sent to Corinth, and who was to him the source of perpetual trouble. The general truth taught in this verse is, that God will take care that his people shall not be unduly exalted by the manifestations of his favor, and by the spiritual privileges which he bestows on them. He will take measures to humble them; and a large part of his dealings with his people is designed to accomplish this.

There is another example of the application of this word in:

Mark 14:65

(65) And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

The Greek word for buffet is: kolaphizō kol-af-id'-zo; to rap with the fist: - buffet.

This answers what they did. Is there any evidence referring to the result of what they did?

Galatians 4:13-15

(13) Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

(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.

(15) Where is then the blessedness ye speak of? 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 scripture and one other is where most scholars assume Paul’s trial or adversity was his eyesight. The other scripture is:

Gal 6:11

(11) Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

The Greek word for letter here is: gramma gram'-mah; a writing, that is, a letter, note, epistle, book, etc.; plural learning: - bill, learning, letter, scripture, writing, written.

This indicates the length of the entire letter or manuscript, not the individual letters of the letter.

No doubt Paul was assaulted many times during his ministry. He refers to these in:

2 Corinthians 11:24-26

(24) Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

(25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

(26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

Paul also indicates by name two of his persecutors:

1 Timothy 1:18-20

(18) This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them might war a good warfare;

(19) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

(20) Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2Timothy 4:14-15

(14) Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: The Lord reward him according to his works:

(15) Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

Alexander the coppersmith is mentioned as one who had done the apostle “much evil,” and there can be little doubt that he is the same person who is referred to here. Alexander appears to have been guilty of some personal injury to the apostle. Both also were guilty of blasphemy.

I sight these scriptures as the theme is connected by Alexander’s trade.

For Example:

Acts 19:23-36

(23) And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

(24) For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

(25) Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

(26) Moreover, ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

(27) So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught; but also, that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.

(28) And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

(29) And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

(30) And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

(31) And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

(32) Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

(33) And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand and would have made his defense unto the people.

(34) But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

(35) And when the town clerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knows not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell from Jupiter?

(36) Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

Paul’s preaching was impacting the idol making business with his teaching against idolatry. This was greatly impacting the economic wealth of these goldsmiths, silversmiths, and coppersmiths who were overlaying these idols by their craft. When this crowd became a confused riot; Alexander was thrust into the middle of it and feared for his life because he was a Jew. He hated Paul and surely blamed him for being put in such a dangerous situation. (speculation on my part) but, logical for human nature and people open to demonic influence. The fact that Paul names Alexander as one who had done him “much evil” supports heated debate and aggressive actions from Alexander towards Paul.

Putting these events and scriptures together creates the scenario that best fits; “a messenger from Satan to buffet me”.

Picture this in your mind; Paul gets beaten up by Alexander, shows up to preach with swollen black eyes and bruises all over his face.

Galatians 4:13-15

(13) Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

(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.

(15) Where is then the blessedness ye speak of? 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.

Paul was not a pretty sight to look at in this possible condition; yet, the church members accepted him and indicated they would give them their eyes if it would ease his suffering for the cause of Christ.

Summary: Paul did not have bad eyesight. His “thorn in the flesh” was the “messenger from Satan”. Demons can cause people to become violent and aggressive. He was continually persecuted by many people, beaten with rods, stones, and whippings. He was constantly confronted by debaters who created arguments against his teachings about Christ. There is solid evidence that Paul may have suffered a beating from Alexander the coppersmith as revenge for putting his life in danger at Ephesus. None of this relates to poor eyesight as a disease. Trivial you may think, but understand that demons are real and they want to possess and control evil people. Just saying, it makes an interesting story about Paul’s continual persecution and makes more sense of what he is referring to in 2 Corinthians 12:7.

I REPORT YOU DECIDE

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