The below passage about Paul's "thorn in the flesh" is often cited for the following horribly wrong propositions:
1) "God sent Paul a thorn in the flesh."
2) "Paul's thorn in the flesh was some sort of sickness or disease."
3) "God repeatedly rejected Paul's prayers and refused to help him remove the thorn."
Before dismantling these three errors, let's first look at this challenging passage:
"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.
For this thing I besought the Lord THREE TIMES that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
Behold, the THIRD time I am ready to come to you . . . .
This is the THIRD time I am coming to you." 2 Corinthians 12:7-14; 13:1.
So, now let's revisit the three BOGUS propositions cited above which give rise to numerous CRUEL THEOLOGIES prevalent today. By cruel, I mean those wrong "thorn in the flesh" theologies which paint God as a harsh "control freak" who literally sculpts us using the knives of pain, sickness and affliction. These CRUEL THEOLOGIES portray God as a torturer rather than a healer.
This twisted image of God resembles a mean little boy experimenting on insects, who delights in tearing wings off butterflies so that he can see them struggle to survive. Except, in God's case, WE are the butterflies on whom He experiments. He tears our wings off with sickness and affliction, so that we will learn humility and learn to give Him glory in the process. How nauseatingly disgusting this image of God is! It is so dishonoring and incompatible with the the nature of God revealed in and by Jesus. Yet, millions of people worldwide still believe in this deformed image of God!
So, let's restate each of the three BOGUS propositions. After each, I will respond and refute the claim.
1) "God sent Paul a thorn in the flesh." WRONG!
This point is easily disproven. Paul calls his thorn in the flesh "the messenger of Satan" in verse 7, and NOT "the messenger of God." Case closed! The "thorn" was FROM Satan AGAINST Paul. Satan is NOT a servant of God. Satan is NOT fulfilling God's will, but OPPOSING it on every level. Scripture proclaims Satan a cosmic rebel, the accuser of the brethren, the tempter, a liar, a murderer from the beginning, the destroyer, a thief, a devouring lion, the god of this world, and the prince of the power of the air.
Jesus came to destroy Satan's works, not implement them (1 John 3:8). Concerning Satan's "thorny" attacks, the New Testament tells us to "resist them stedfast in the faith," to "quench all the fiery missiles of the devil," and to "cast out" all demonic influence. We have ALREADY been given the grace keys to "bind and loose" spiritual forces upon the earth, to bind all things Satan-empowered and loose all things Christ-empowered.
The bottom line? Don't let anyone tell you God sends "thorns in the flesh" to afflict men. This is Satan's work, not God's. Once we are resolute on this point, we can then wholeheartedly resist EVERY Satanic missile, thorn, attack and oppression. Honestly, if we have ANY doubt or suspicion that our "thorns" are FROM God rather than FROM Satan, we will NOT fervently resist, rebuke and remove the thorns of affliction from our lives. Instead, we will accommodate them by accepting sickness, affliction and oppression as the Lord's will for our lives. And this we must not do.
2) "Paul's thorn in the flesh was some sort of sickness or disease." WRONG!
There is not one clear indication in Scripture that Paul's thorn in the flesh was a sickness or disease of some kind.
In 2 Cor. 12:10, the word " infirmities " (Strong s #s769 and 770) means " weaknesses " and is used primarily by Paul to refer to natural limitations in man 's abilities. See Romans 4:19; 6:19; 8:3, 26; 14:1-2; 1 Corinthians 8:11-12; 2 Corinthians 11:30; 12:5, 9, 10; 13:4, where all these verses refer NOT to physical sicknesses, but rather to weaknesses in man 's natural ability to accomplish the righteousness of God. Where man 's abilities end is where God 's ability begins. As God is given free reign in our lives, He then re-energizes and renews our natural ability with His supernatural ability.
If Paul WERE referring to physical sicknesses, it surely seems he would have mentioned them a chapter earlier in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30, where he details exactly WHAT his infirmities were: "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 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; 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; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities." 2 Cor. 11:23-30.
On this list were labors, stripes, prisons, deaths of those around us, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, perils of water, perils of robbers, perils by countrymen, perils by heathen, perils in the city\wilderness\sea, perils by false brothers, weariness, painfulness, hunger, thirst, cold, nakedness and the care of all the churches. NOWHERE IS SICKNESS MENTIONED. Rather, these infirmities were all various types of Satanic and human RESISTANCE and PERSECUTION against the Gospel.
Most importantly, these infirmities were NOT to be accepted as God 's will. Paul rejoiced in these infirmities, NOT because they brought him continual defeat in his ministry, but because He knew God 's power was then free to be released in full measure to bring victory. "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerers through him that loved us." Romans 8:37. God supernaturally delivered Paul OUT of each of these trials, each in a different way, but all bringing maximum impact of God 's glory in the situation. God gets NO glory from us meekly surrendering to the thorns of our flesh. Rather, God gets the glory when we utilize His all-sufficient grace to OVERCOME and REMOVE the thorns from our flesh altogether.
Paul 's suffering through these infirmities always led to a supernatural release of God 's power to deliver Paul from Satan, while at the same time fully delivering the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul didn 't give in or give up because of these infirmities: he resisted and resisted and resisted and resisted them with the power of God. He gloried in the affliction, not because of it: "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:19. We are to give thanks not FOR everything (including afflictions) but IN everything (including afflictions).
This is entirely consistent with James's view: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:2-4. It is also consistent with Hebrews 6:12, "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
So what WAS Paul's thorn in the flesh? Looking closely at the context of the passage, an amazing answer presents itself. The thorn may well have been the Corinthian church itself.
Paul prayed THREE TIMES for for the thorn to depart. Paul went out of his way to repeatedly say that he was about to visit the Corinthian church for the THIRD time. Was Paul's repeated use of the number three a mere coincidence, or was Paul giving the Corinthians a not-so-subtle hint on what the mysterious thorn in his flesh was? But how could the Corinthian church be a thorn in Paul's flesh? Well, we know the Corinthians had repeatedly challenged Paul's motives, standing and apostolic authority (2 Cor. 10:1-2; 11:21-28; 12:11-15; 13:3; 1 Cor. 3; 4:1-4; 9). We also know the Corinthians were carnal, divisive and often petty. They continually flooded and vexed Paul with bad reports, constant strife and ugly ingratitude.
So, perhaps this whole episode simply indicates that Paul's messenger of Satan, his thorn of the flesh, was the carnally minded Corinthian congregation itself. Nothing hurts MORE than having a group of people, for whom you have laid your life down, continually challenge your apostolic authority, doubt your motives, and ignore your cousel.
Perhaps Paul struggled with their sinful defiance to the point where he asked the Lord to remove their burden from his ministry. But, God responded to Paul that His grace was sufficient for Paul to STAY connected and committed to Corinth as an apostle, to clean out their sin stables, and in his manly weakness Paul would be made perfect in Godly strength.
Again, what could be more discouraging than ministering to people who doubt your motives, standing and authority - - who seem to only be able to know you after the flesh and not after the spirit?
But, even IF the above analysis is wrong and Paul 's thorn in the flesh was a continuing attack of some kind of physical affliction, this passage still can 't be used to claim such an attack is from God 's will. Again, Paul said the source was Satan, not God (2 Cor. 12:7). Moreover, as an alternate possibility here, consider Agnes Sanford 's view of Paul 's thorn in the flesh in the event it WAS a physical ailment:
"What about St. Paul and his thorn in the flesh? St. Paul s thorn in the flesh has become a veritable thorn in the spirit to thousands of Christians, who take St. Paul as an example for cherishing illness. In this they are not consistent. If St. Paul were really their example, they could raise the dead. For in seeing him as an example, of the invalid saint, they do the utmost violence to the Biblical picture of a man strong enough to endure shipwreck and exposure, stoning and imprisonment and still accomplish more than ten ordinary men could.
Behold the impressive roll-call of saints given in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Is there a weakling among them? Noah, who in his five hundredth year built an ark the size of a modern cargo ship; Moses, who at the age of one hundred and twenty stated that his eyes were not dim nor his natural strength abated; Elijah, who girded up his loins and outran the king 's chariot horses; David, who slew a lion and a bear with his bare hands. There is no record in the whole Bible of a holy man who remained an invalid. Stories of illnesses we find, but these stories are almost funny in the portrayal of a tremendous urge toward health. The prostrated holy men were outraged at illness, regarding it as a sign of being cut off from God 's love and cast out of His presence. From David (who made his couch to swim with his tears) to Job (who sat upon a dung-heap and cried unto the Lord till he recovered) we find no instance of an acceptance of illness as the will of God. . . .
St. Paul had been miraculously healed more than once. He had shaken off a deadly serpent and felt no sting whatsoever from its bite. He had been stoned and left for dead, and had risen from under a pile of stones and walked into the city. He had accomplished the most amazing of miracles, even the raising of the dead. Yet, toward the end of his ministry, he was troubled by a thorn in the flesh. He prayed about this matter and God said to him, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
He did not receive an instantaneous healing. Instead of that, he received every day enough of the Grace of God for that day s needs. So do I. And if God 's perfect strength accomplished through me as much as it did through St. Paul, I would be well content. " THE HEALING LIGHT, by Agnes Sanford.
3) "God repeatedly rejected Paul's prayers and refused to help him remove the thorn." WRONG!
GOD NEVER TOLD PAUL "NO! I WON'T HELP YOU!" Paul prayed three times for the thorn to depart (v. 8). But, God 's answer to Paul was, " My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (i.e. I've already given you the resources to deal with it. My ability begins where your ability ends).
God 's response was not, " No, Paul, I won t help you. " Rather, it was, " Paul, I have already given you the grace to deal with it in my perfect strength. You need only receive it by acknowledging your weakness in your own ability. As you embrace my ability by forsaking your own, then the perfect power of the anointing will rest on you. "
Whatever the thorn was, God knew that Paul wanted a super-quick fix, as do we all, by seeking God to kiss the "boo-boo" to make it quickly go away. But, God wanted a quality deliverance that soaked down deep into Paul s character. In fact, Paul stated that Satan 's access to afflict him came from Paul being in danger of becoming exalted above measure through the abundance of the [third heaven] revelations. "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." 2 Cor. 12:7.
Again, this seems to indicate an attack on Paul 's character by the carnal Corinthian church rather than an attack on his body, but regardless, Paul wanted to leave this battlefield behind. Whereas Paul was tired of this battle, God responded, " This is the battlefield I have called you. You don t need reinforcements. Just use the resources I have already give you. Your character, fortitude and anointing will all greatly benefit. And you will be a much better man for it because you know and depend on my spirit more than ever. "
The Greek word " thlipsis " is translated in the New Testament as affliction, but it literally means pressure. (Strong s #2347). Satan 's "pressure" on our lives through afflictions eventually renders our natural abilities useless. Satan seeks to destroy us in this state of weakness by crippling our faith, hope and love. But, God sees this state of weakness as a place of brokenness and trust where we can draw closer to Him and receive a fuller measure of grace. (1 Pet. 1:13). This process works patience (joyful endurance) in our character, so that we can rule and reign as champion sons of God. In our gritty and gutty resistance to Satan 's pressure (persecution, temptation, sickness, oppression, depression, failure), our character develops patience (joyful endurance) which, when mixed with our faith, releases the anointing of power.
But wasn t Paul a martyr? God didn t deliver him out of that affliction, did he? Doesn 't that mean it 's good to die young? Why didn t Psalm 91 work for Paul? All these questions misunderstand what a true martyr is. A martyr is not someone whose life is taken from him. A martyr is someone who voluntarily lays his\her life down by refusing to accept the Lord s deliverance in the situation because his\her death would have maximum impact at this point in time. Just as nobody took Jesus' life because He voluntarily laid it down, so too nobody took Paul 's life without his consent. The Holy Spirit gave him plenty of advance notice of what dangers awaited him at Jerusalem, yet Paul freely embraced the martyr 's death (Acts 21:10-14).
"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jeptha; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, NOT ACCEPTING DELIVERANCE; that they might obtain a better resurrection." Hebrews 11:32-35.
Do you see? Paul had the faith to be delivered out of any peril, but he CHOSE to lay his life down for maximum impact at the time of greatest exposure (as revealed to Paul by the Holy Spirit). The Lord shows many of His beloved sons the point in time when their sacrifice can cause the most damage to Satan and bring the most glory to God. They then freely choose to lay their life down, NOT ACCEPTING DELIVERANCE as the above Hebrews passage says, and thereby obtain a better resurrection.
God doesn 't promise we won 't have affliction (demonic pressure). But He does promise we can always overcome it. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33. "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerers through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37. "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4.
Jesus clearly taught that this life of an overcomer was to be experienced in THIS life, and not just in heaven. "Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But HE SHALL RECEIVE AN HUNDREDFOLD NOW IN THIS TIME, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." Mark 10:28-30.
The Lord 's deliverances work in different ways at different times. Mark 16:18 promises poison and snake bites (i.e. afflictions) won 't harm us. Sometimes we are warned in advance of the snake or poison so we can avoid it. Other times, the snake bites us or the poison enters our system. At these times, our faith keeps us from being harmed by the poison\venom.
God didn 't promise we would never be bitten by affliction, but He did promise we would never be harmed by it IF we fight the good fight of faith. "Behold, I GIVE UNTO YOU POWER to tread on serpents and scorpions, and OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY: and NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT YOU." Lk. 10:19. Therefore, NO Satanic "thorn of the flesh" has the power to defeat us IF we by faith exercise the overcoming grace ALREADY given to us by Christ. In other words, don't pray for more grace but instead use the grace we already have. Christ has already given us more than enough grace to make us more than conquerers.
