A Thorn in the Flesh Bible Counseling
The Bible speaks of the Apostle Paul's thorn in the flesh. But, what
is a thorn in the flesh?
2 Corinthians 12:7-8
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.
What was Paul's Thorn in the flesh Bible meaning, that this Scripture is speaking of? Remember, the Bible passage said that Paul's thorn in the flesh was a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him lest he should be exalted above measure. What could that possibly mean? It
seems this "messenger of Satan" was allowed to taunt and/or haunt Paul. The word "buffet" means to constantly annoy, cause physical pain or problems.
Many believe Paul is referring to the beatings that he endured at
times because of his faith. Others believe it was an illness Paul had
and still others believe Paul had bad habits that would continually
return.
You may be asking, what "exalted" means ... It means to be uplifted
either in spirit or in rank or status. In other words this thorn in
the flesh was occurring to keep Paul down for some reason. It is easy
to understand why Satan would seek to hinder Paul's mission for the
Lord by way of Paul's thorn in the flesh ...
But, why would God allow that?
Perhaps this is why Paul begged God to take the thorn in his flesh
away. He knew that it was being allowed to occur by God. But, again
why would God allow this to occur? The answer is written twice in
those two verses ... Lest Paul should be exalted above measure. In
other words to keep Paul humble because of all the power and wisdom
that God gave him, could have had him become quite haughty and
prideful thereby losing sight of whose power and wisdom it truly
belonged to and who gave it to him to use for God's will.
Colossians 1:24
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:
Paul was well aware that he was to expect suffering for serving Jesus
Christ;
Acts 9:16
For I [God] will shew him [Paul] how great things he [Paul] must
suffer for my name's sake.
So, again, what was Paul's Thorn in the flesh? In Truth, based on these few verses alone, there is no obvious
answer. At this point in our, What was Paul's Thorn in the flesh Bible study, we do know it was in the flesh. Let us search the Bible a little more and see if we can find out anything else about the mysterious Paul's thorn in the flesh, shall we?
Galatians 4:13-14
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.
What is a Thorn in the Flesh Meaning Warning
Paul's thorn in the flesh is now being called an infirmity and a temptation This thorn in the flesh was also apparently noticeable by those who
looked upon, heard him preach or heard of his antics because he
stated that they despised not, nor rejected him due to this thorn
in the flesh.
Now, with these clues ... In the flesh, deemed as a temptation and an infirmity, Satan's messenger, God allowed it to keep Paul from being exalted and people had heard of this thorn in the flesh or seen it, what do you believe the Paul's thorn in the flesh could be? Let us continue our search for more evidence as to what a thorn in
the flesh was.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with
excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony
of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save
Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear,
and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing
words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of
power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,
but in the power of God.
What was Paul's Thorn in the flesh Bible tidbit of Truth ... It is hard to imagine Paul as being weak, fearful and trembling, huh? Could this be the thorn in the flesh? Let's ponder on it from time to time as we proceed. What do you think he means by his words were not enticing?
2 Corinthians 10:10
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily
presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
What do you think they meant by Paul's speech being contemptible?
2 Corinthians 11:6
But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we
have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.
Perhaps it was his rude and contemptible speech which was his thorn
in the flesh? But wait ... Does that fit all the clues? Is rude and
contemptible speech a temptation? Or maybe these verses share more:
Romans 7:14-25
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal,
sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that
do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the
law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that
dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth
no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform
that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which
I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do
it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is
present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against
the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin
which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the
body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with
the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of
sin.
What is a Thorn in the Flesh Meaning and Addiction
This makes it sound like a possible addiction to something of the
flesh.
Truth is ... There are so many possibilities as to what this Thorn in
the flesh was. In fact he may have had many thorns in the flesh, just
as we all do.
Maybe we should look at this ... Thorn in the flesh issue within our
own Christian walk and it will make more sense. What temptations
which became thorns in the flesh do you have/had and begged God to
remove?
The choices we have made and still make have us cry out ... O
wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this
death.
It is obvious that ... Temptations which are agreed to and adhered to,
do become addictions which do become thorns in the flesh. They do
come from messengers of Satan. People do see the fruits whether by
word or deed. We do beg God to take them from us.
But, let's take a Paul's Thorn in the flesh Bible trek for Truth, time out ... We have forgotten the God factor. Does God allow us to experience these things as to prevent us from being exalted or as sufferings for His namesake and if so, why? Why would God allow us to endure such things which He knew we would choose poorly and look like dweebs?
Could not the lessons from these experiences be ways which God
keeps you in check as to never deem yourself as being exalted and
holier than thou to His children whom ye encounter, just as the
Pharisees did, making it too hard for His children to enter the gates?
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many
wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world
to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are
despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to
nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in His presence.
It is God's due glory ... Not ours.
2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of
the power may be of God, and not of us.
Thorn in the Flesh Meaning and Grace
Earlier we read this ...
2 Corinthians 12:7-8
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.
But, let us continue and read the next Paul's Thorn in the flesh Bible verse:
2 Corinthians 12:9
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.
I know when you fall victim to temptation, you despise yourself. We
all do. We all have our thorns in the flesh, due to choosing to
adhere to a temptation, despite what it may be. But, we must choose
to remember that God will never allow us to be too tempted, without
giving us a way to escape said temptation:
1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but
God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye
are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it.
We need to learn to rejoice when we are weak or lowly as it is then
that God can and will be strong in you:
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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.
And you get up from the fall even wiser and patient than before.
But the path of prayer is the only way to overcome these times of
temptation which even Paul endured.
What is a Thorn in the Flesh Meaning Summary
What was Paul's specific thorn(s) in the flesh? It matters little. What matters is how he overcame them and how we can.
Prayer and Grace
Mark 14:38
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is
ready, but the flesh is weak.
Pray for God to keep us from temptation which can lead to a thorn in the flesh.
Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for
ever. Amen.
