A Thorn in the Flesh

Last night, our group did a study of II Corinthians 12:7, which is the part of Paul’s letter where he makes reference to some kind of “thorn in the flesh” that seems to torment him. The passage reads as follows: “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.” As we were studying, I began to wonder what this “thorn” that Paul had could have been. Was it a spiritual burden or a physical burden? I believe the answer to this question can be found in the verses following.

One of the key points that Paul was making was that there is strength in the Lord. He found this strength from the Lord because of his weaknesses, and, in turn, boasted in the Lord about his them (this can be found in verse 9). The reason that I considered this question in the first place is that the translation I studied from, the New American Standard, says weakness instead of infirmity, which is found in the New King James. The word weakness seems to have more of a spiritual connotation, while infirmity most often refers to a physical problem. The Greek word for weakness or infirmity in verse 9 is "astheneia", which means feebleness of body or mind, not of the heart. The very reason Paul was boasting was to proclaim the power of the Lord. Why, then, would he boast about a spiritual weakness? Would Paul go as far as to boast about his sins? Romans 6:1 says, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” Paul, who made the statement, answered with the exclamation, “Certainly not!” It is my conviction that he would not continue to do something against the will of God in order to receive the strength that Christ offers.

In II Corinthians 11, Paul tells of all the hardships he has endured: prison, shipwrecks, stoning, beatings, constant danger, travel, sleeplessness, hunger, nakedness, and the constant worries of the church. These are all physical hardships, and it is obvious that Paul was always in a state of physical trouble. That is why I have come to the conclusion that the “thorn” that Paul refers to in II Corinthians 12 is some kind of physical infirmity instead of a spiritual struggle.

When we were studying this, I thought that for those who struggle with sin, i.e. everyone, (Romans 3:23), this verse could be very encouraging because the power of the Lord is made perfect in our weakness. Even though I believe this verse is referring to physical problems, the same comfort can still be taken from the verse, knowing that when Christians feel like they are too weak to face a problem or overcome a temptation, the Lord’s power will always be readily available to those who love and obey him. Verse 8 says that Paul prayed for the Lord to remove this thorn from his life, and I believe that the same should be true for Christians today.