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Many believe that Paul's
thorn in the flesh was some form of sickness of which
God would not heal him.
(2 Cor 12:1 -
10 KJV) 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
knoweth;) 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 knoweth;) (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 seeth me to be, or
that he heareth of me.
(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.
(8) For
this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might
depart from me. (9) 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. (10) 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.
What is a
messenger of Satan?
(2 Cor 11:11-
16 KJV)
Wherefore? because I love you not?
God knoweth. (12) But what I do, that I will
do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire
occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found
even as we. (13) For such are false apostles, deceitful
workers, transforming
themselves into the apostles of Christ. (14) And no
marvel; for Satan himself
is transformed into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great
thing if his ministers also be transformed as the
ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be
according to their works. (16) I say
again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet
as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a
little.
(2 Pet 2:1
KJV)
But there were false prophets also
among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you,
who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction.
(1 John 4:1
KJV)
Beloved, believe
not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world.
A messenger of Satan is some one motivated by Satan, a false teacher, a false apostle, ministers of Satan transformed as the ministers of righteousness, and false brethren.
What is a
thorn in the flesh?
Let’s look at the Old
Testament use of the term thorn in the
flesh.
(Num 33:55
KJV)
But if ye will not drive out the
inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall
come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them
shall be pricks in your
eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall
vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
(Josh 23:13
KJV)
Know for a certainty that the LORD
your God will no more drive out any of these
nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto
you, and scourges in your
sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye
perish from off this good land which the LORD your God
hath given you.
(Judg 2:3 KJV)
Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them
out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and
their gods shall be a snare unto you.
We see that the enemies of Israel are “thorns in the flesh”
Thorns
in
your sides
Thorns
in
your eyes
Israel’s enemies were a
constant harassment to Israel.
What about
glory in my infirmities?
GK = feebleness (of body or
mind); by impl. malady; mor.
frailty:
--disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.
Malady n., pl. dies. 1. A
disorder or disease of the body.
2. Any unhealthy
condition or disorder
Frailty n., pl. ties. 1.
The
quality or state of being frail.
2. A fault resulting
from moral weakness.
Infirmities = sickens or weakness
We need to look at this
word in the context of the passage to see which one it
is.
In
(2
Cor
11:23 - 30KJV) we
see
(23)
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.
(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;
(27)
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings
often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in
cold and nakedness.
(28)
Beside those things that are without, that
which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the
churches.
(29)
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is
offended, and I burn not?
(30)
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the
things which concern
mine infirmities.
|
a)
in
labours |
b)
in
stripes |
|
c)
in
prisons |
d)
five
times received I forty stripes save one |
|
e)
Thrice
was I beaten with rods |
f)
once
was I stoned |
|
g)
in
perils of robbers |
h)
in
perils by mine own countrymen |
|
i)
in
perils by the heathen |
j)
in
perils among false brethren |
(30) If I must needs glory, I
will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
So we can see from the
context of the passage, that Paul’s infirmities were
weakness that he faced, different kinds of trouble and
persecution.
So in
summery
Paul's thorn in the
flesh was a messenger of Satan
- A demon - sent to cause extreme hardships, buffeting
to befall him.
Paul prayed that this influences, on the people would be
removed from him.
God does not promise
Christians protection from buffeting by Satan through
ungodly men, such as Paul suffered.
He actually does promise
that we will have persecutions and fiery trials etc.
(1
Th 3:4 - 5 KJV)
For verily, when we were with you, we told you
before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it
came to pass, and ye know. For
this
cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know
your faith, lest by some means the tempter have
tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
(Heb 6:7 - 9
KJV) For the earth
which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it,
and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is
dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
(8)
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is
nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
(9)
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of
you, and things that accompany salvation, though we
thus speak.
Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you
