When we think back on our exposure to the topic of Paul’s thorn, mainly we have heard that we just don’t know what Paul’s thorn was. Some have surmised it was an eye disease because of the verse in Galatians where Paul states, “If possible you would have given me your eyes.” Some have surmised it was just the burden of the churches and the difficulty of the New Covenant being accepted especially by the Jews. Some have surmised it was the ill treatment of Paul as he was traveling about preaching because He was beaten with whips and rods. He was stoned. There were plots to kill him etc.
However, after all the surmising, most will just end up saying, “Well we just do not know what Paul’s thorn was but whatever it was it was given to him as a method of keeping him humble,” because Paul did say, “Lest I be exalted above measure, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh”!
It seems that Paul’s thorn is still sticking many believers today. Since we have the Spirit of Truth to guide us into all Truth, Paul’s thorn should not be sticking believers today! What was Paul’s thorn?
Paul actually told us what his thorn was right in the passage of scripture where he writes about it. However, since our Elders have told us that we just do not know what Paul’s thorn was, our mind will just read over it and think that we cannot know what Paul’s thorn was, even though it is stated clearly in the passage of scriptures for us to read and understand.
This would be a great time to stop reading here and get the Bible out and read that passage several times. If we don’t know where to turn in the Bible to find that passage would probably indicate maybe not much study and meditation has been given to the topic. Selah
We find this thorn in 2nd Corinthians chapter 12. It would be good to stop reading this writing now and read the whole chapter several times for meditation purposes, according to Psalms chapter one, and then come back to this writing.
Welcome Back! We will begin with the passage by Paul in 2nd Cor 12. Paul is giving testimony of the time when he was caught up into the third heaven and instructed by the Chief Apostle the Lord Jesus Christ concerning the dispensation of grace as he describes in Galatians chapter three and elaborates more in Ephesians 3.
Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Paul was chosen by the Lord Jesus and charged with bringing the New Covenant of Grace into the earth and He mentions this in his epistle to the Colossians. Paul says that he was charged by the Lord to fulfill the Word of God. What needed to be fulfilled? The New Covenant which is the dispensation of grace! Keep that in mind. That was a heavy assignment on Paul.
Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
The mysteries of the New Testament are the things that were hidden in God from before the foundations of the world but are now being revealed to His saints by the Apostles and Prophets. With this in mind, let’s examine the scriptures and how Paul relates himself to this serious assignment by the Lord Jesus. Paul speaks of himself in the third person here.
2 Cor 12:1 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 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 (three times) 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.
11 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.
Let’s make a natural statement that contains the same structure and see if we understand it.
Lest I should have to walk to work and expend my energy, there was given me a vehicle, a Chevrolet to drive to work, lest I be tired when arriving at my workplace from expending my energy.
We have no problem understanding this simple statement or it’s structure. This is the same structure Paul used by Paul. (1) We have a reason. (2) We have something given. (3) We have that which is given named with two names. (4) We have the purpose described. (5) We have the reason restated.
(1) lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations
(2) there was given to me a thorn in the flesh
(3) a thorn in the flesh the messenger of Satan
(4) to buffet me
(5) lest I should be exalted above measure
With this simple lay out of the structure of this passage, it is very easy to see that Paul’s thorn was “The messenger of Satan.” How simple is that? Paul’s thorn in the flesh was “the messenger of Satan!”
One of the issues we have to deal with here is that we have been taught so strongly, in the North American Churches, that we must be humble and not exalt our self on the earth or before God. The Word of God does instruct us to humble our self under the mighty hand of God. Notice who is charged with the responsibility of doing the humbling here!
1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Mostly we have been taught that, “if we exalt our self and get in pride that God will humble us by some method.” Usually we expect God to be harsh with the method by which He humbles us. This misunderstanding of God has led us to believe that God is the one that Gave Paul his thorn because Paul said, “lest I be exalted above measure.” Notice that the passage above does not state in section (1) who the individual was who gave Paul his thorn! We have just assumed that God gave Paul the thorn to keep him humble. That is a wrong assumption!
James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
James is saying, “Do not make mistakes brethren. Every good act of giving and every perfect gift that is given comes form the Father and that is the way it is and it ain’t gonna change!” Having a high-ranking fallen angel assigned to Paul to buffet him is not a “good gift.” God is not the one who gave Paul his thorn in the flesh! So who did?
Satan, the Devil, is the one that assigned his “messenger” to Paul! Contrary to church teaching, God and the Devil are not working together to improve the believers of the NT. We may have heard, “God uses the Devil to keep our armor tight!” We may have heard that, “If we get out of line, God has the Devil on a leash and will loose the Devil against us to some degree to force us to get back into line!” We have also heard quoted, “What the Devil meant for bad, God meant for good.” That verse is not in the Bible!
Let’s give some meditation to this scriptural topic. First of all, before Satan fell, he served God in His
Kingdom. He served God for a very long time. He is refereed to as the anointed cherub that covers.
Ezek 28:14-15 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
Satan, the Devil has patterned his kingdom of darkness after what he learned form serving God. Just as God has a high-ranking messenger angel named Gabriel, the Devil established a similar high-ranking fallen angel in his kingdom as his messenger.
Satan is the one that assigned “the messenger of Satan” against Paul! With a bit of thinking, we can see why Satan thought that would be a good plan. Paul had been caught up into heaven and instructed by the Lord Jesus and given charge to deliver the dispensation of grace doctrine to the newly formed church. Satan could not afford to allow Paul to just run around and go everywhere and teach this gospel to the churches that were being formed. Every body would be telling every body about Paul and they would exalt him as the greatest speaker that anyone could get to come to their church and teach. With no hindrance, everyone would be seeking after Paul! He would be famous and run after much like a rock star of today. People would be flocking to Paul if unhindered. Satan knew that very well.
If we back up to chapter 11, we can see a sampling of the buffeting the Devil had done to Paul. It would be good to read the whole chapter but notice this especially.
2 Cor 11:21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit wherein so ever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
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.
The assignment of “the messenger of Satan” was to buffet Paul! That Greek word means to strike blow after blow.
buffet is #2852 kolaphizo (kol-af-id'-zo); from a derivative of the base of 2849; to rap with the fist:
Next we must examine the statement that Paul makes about his thorn in the flesh as pertaining to him beseeching God to remove this thing from him, even three times. Mostly we hear teachers say that God said NO! God did not say NO!
2 Cor 12:8 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.
God did not say to Paul, “I want this thorn in the flesh to remain in you, however my grace is sufficient for you to endure it.” That is the thinking with we gain from most Christian discussions.
Even though the Lord Jesus Christ, the Chief Apostle, in the third heaven had taught Paul, Paul had to learn how to implement this gospel of grace doctrine in the everyday flesh realm just like every body else. As Paul gained more understanding, he wrote it in his epistles. Paul came to learn that we are saved by grace through faith as he wrote in Ephesians 2:8. Paul also believed the words of Jesus in Luke 10:19.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power (exousia) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power (dunamis) of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Paul came to know how to operate the executive authority over the kingdom of darkness and wrote about that in Ephesians 3. Paul also understood that faith accesses grace and wrote about in Romans chapter 5.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
In the first chapter of John, John stated that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and that Jesus came full of grace and truth and of His grace have we all received and grace for grace.
When Paul besought the Lord three times to remove this demonic power from him, the Lord said to Paul, Paul I defeated Satan and his whole kingdom of darkness even the one assigned to you by the Devil. Before I ascended into heaven, I gave all my authority and power into the body of Christ. Paul you must use your faith and access my deliverance grace and remove that demonic power from off yourself and My grace is sufficient for you to accomplish the task.
Guess what! Paul defeated the messenger of Satan and removed that fallen entity from off him self through the same power that now works in all believers! Look at the end of Acts.
Acts 28:30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.
Now we should look at what Paul said about infirmities and weaknesses and choosing to glory in them. That sounds pretty wild and far out there! First we need to define the term “infirmities” and “weakness!” Both words are #769 in the Greek.
infirmities & weakness are #769 astheneia (as-then'-i-ah); from 772; feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty:
The root is #772 asthenes (as-then-ace'); from 1 (as a negative particle) and the base of 4599; strengthless (in various applications, literal, figurative and moral):
feebleness 1.a. Lacking strength; weak. b. Indicating weakness. 2. Lacking vigor, force, or effectiveness; inadequate.
frailty 2. A fault, especially weakness of resolution, arising from the imperfections of human nature.
Paul is the one who wrote in the Bible that God chose to give us this great treasure in earthen vessels.
2 Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Even though Paul once described himself as being the Pharisee of the Pharisees, Paul came to learn that the power of God can only work and flow through human beings who will acknowledge their own inability to do great works through their own flesh efforts because of their weak and feeble fallen Adamic flesh nature.
Jesus said that we must take up our cross daily and follow Him if we want to be His disciple. The cross was designed to put the flesh to death. The people of that day saw crucifixions and understood what Jesus was saying. Paul expounds on this imagery in Romans chapter 8.
Rom 8:12-14 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
mortify is #2289 thanatoo (than-at-o'-o); from 2288 to kill (literally or figuratively): put to death.
If the mortician has prepared you for an overnight stay in the mortuary, you will not have nay more trouble with your fallen flesh nature.
Paul came to learn that the righteousness of the Law, which was by works of the flesh, would not produce true holiness, miracles nor the power of God. It takes the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus to free us from the Law of Sin and Death.
Phil 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith:
Again the statements made by Paul in 2nd Cor 12, seems to be way out there. Most believers of today would not identify with Paul in choosing to glory and take pleasure in this wild sounding stuff.
2 Cor 12:9 And he (the Lord) 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.
Another point of necessity here is that the word “glory” in 2nd Cor 11 and 12 is not what we normally consider to be the glory of God. The verbiage Paul is using in the Greek is #2744 kauchaomai (kow-khah'-om-ahee); from some (obsolete) base akin to that of aucheo (to boast) and 2172; to vaunt (in a good or a bad sense):
(AHD) vaunt. 1. To speak boastfully of; brag about 2. Speech of extravagant self-praise.
If we examine 2nd Cor 11, we find Paul boasting about all his natural achievements, Jewish heritage, keeping the Law etc. When the Lord explains to Paul how that His power is perfected in those who have acknowledged their human weakness and humbled themselves and totally depend on the power of Christ working through frail weak and fallen flesh then is when Paul said, “hey I’m all in and now I will rather glory or boast about my weakness and inability of my flesh to produce the power of God so that the resurrection power of Christ may work in me.
Both James and Peter states that God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble. In John chapter one, John states that Jesus came full of grace and truth and of His grace have we all received and grace for grace. Jesus provided all the graces available to us and then gave us the gift of faith to access all those graces. Paul expounds on that in Romans chapter 5.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
If we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, then He will exalt us and do expediently above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us. Of course that would be the Spirit of Christ! When we confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior then we become Sons of God.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Grace and Peace multiplied in the name of Jesus.
Compiled by Jerry Thomas 10/15/1993
All scripture references are (KJV) unless otherwise denoted.
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