What was Paul's thorn in the flesh?

[Sam]

Some believe Paul to have been almost blind with pus running out of his eyes some sort of chronic opthalmia.
This is based on a couple of things.
In Galatians 4:13-15 he writes about preaching to them with a physical infirmity, he mentions a trial or temptation in his flesh which they accepted and did not reject him because of it, and then he went on to say that they would have plucked out their own eyes for him. In Galatians 6:11 he mentions that he is writing in large letters in his own hand. These verses have lead to the conclusion that he added a postscript in large print because he was unable to see regular size writing and since they would have given him their own eyes, his must have been bad. One preacher said that if Paul had pus running out of his eyes, when handkerchiefs or aprons were sent to the sick (Acts 19:11-12) they would have burnt them, not placed them on their bodies for healing.

The term thorns was used in the Old Testament. The Israelites were warned that any enemies they did not destroy would become snares and thorns in their flesh Joshua 23:13, Judges 2:3. In other words, incomplete subjugation of the old inhabitants of the land would be cause for later damage to them. This may be a picture of some type of sin or defect of the old nature that is not adequately dealt with and eliminated or kept under subjection. Paul may have had some "besetting sin" by which he was periodically defeated or it may have been some character defect or uncontrolled passion.

Also, the term "messenger/angel of satan" may refer to a person who followed him around detracting from his message and slandering him. It could be someone from his past that knew him when. It may have even been his wife if she rejected the message and was used by his enemies to defame him or cause him humiliation because even his own wife would not accept his message.

The main thing is that we don't really know what it it. That gives us hope if even as great a man as the Apostle Paul had something in his life that he could not get victory over.

[drummerboy_dave]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

That's exactly what I was going to say!!!!

Your staring and it's freeeeeeeeeeking me owwwt gurl!

Look away!!

[stmatthew]

His wife???

[Praxeas]

thong on the flesh? Might have to ask MOW about that one

[Cindy]

Putting up with hard headed people?

[Neck]

Originally Posted by MrsMcD

I've always heard his thorn was the lust of flesh.

I think Paul and Lord did the right thing by not naming his thorn.

Because some would have built a doctrine and a lifestyle around running from it.

We all have a thorn and it translates into the same situation.

We deal with it everyday and that keeps is close to God.

No matter who you are you have a vice.

From the looks of things many have the vice of fork and spoon...

My vice is working to many hours and losing myself in the process.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Neck

I think Paul and Lord did the right thing by not naming his thorn.

Because some would have built a doctrine and a lifestyle around running from it.

We all have a thorn and it translates into the same situation.

We deal with it everyday and that keeps is close to God.

No matter who you are you have a vice.

From the looks of things many have the vice of fork and spoon...

My vice is working to many hours and losing myself in the process.

I think you are the typical american male in that Neck.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I did one crazy idea about what somebody said Paul's Thorn in the flesh was but I can't say it on here.

[1Corinth2v4]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

Though it is an interesting topic to conversate over I do not believe it to be very important. Paul talks about it in the word, but then goes one step further and says I will glory in that 'thorn'. I think that the whole reason that it is mentioned is not to try and figure what it was, but to say this mighty man had something that he considered to be a great down fall, but yet through Christ he made it through it and was still a mighty man even though he fought something of which might have made him a chief sinner. It is clear that it bothered him, but not enough to use it as his crutch to not exceed at what God had for him to do.

Jtullock,


This is an important subject. I've had many use this passage to prove that God doesn't heal all ailment, and that is a lie of the devil.

I have enough scripture to prove it wasn't a physical ailment, and I'm willing to debate one person only, as the rest on-look.

I restate my stance, Paul's thorn wasn't a physical ailment.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by drummerboy_dave

Your staring and it's freeeeeeeeeeking me owwwt gurl!

Look away!!

Is that better?

Now I can stare and you won't know it!