Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh
There has been much speculation over the centuries about just what Paul meant by his thorn in the flesh. Many have said it was some kind of sin which he just could not get behind him and others have said his thorn in the flesh was the persecution that followed him no matter where he went. I believe that his thorn in the flesh was indeed a physical malady that was a constant companion with him at all times.
It is important from the beginning that we see that Paul was highly educated because it will support what I have to say later. So let us briefly entertain the following scriptures.
Acts 22:2b Then Paul said: [3] "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
AC 26:4 "The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. [5] They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.
Philippians 3:4b If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: [5] circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; [6] as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
The above scriptures are presented in order for us to see that Paul was a highly educated person. He was trained from childhood under Gamaliel who was one of the most recognized teachers of Judaism of his time. The scriptures tell us he was fluent in Hebrew, Aramaic and likely Greek. His education for his day and time was far above average as was his training on the Jewish Law (The first five books of our bible). In short Paul was very intelligent probably higher than our PhD’s of today. He spoke read and wrote in Hebrew and Aramaic and likely Greek. His knowledge of God from the Jewish standpoint was just about flawless. We would consider him brilliant today.
Now that we see that Paul was highly educated for his time and well recognized as a vibrant Pharisee among Pharisees let us continue looking at his thorn in the side.
Paul introduces his thorn in the side in the following verses. In previous verses he had been speaking of visions that he had been given from the Lord and he continues with the following statement.
2CO 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. [9] But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. [10] That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We can see here that Paul talked about a thorn in his flesh that tormented him and that its intent was to keep him humble. We also note that it was significant enough that it interfered with his daily life. So much so that he pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from him. But the Lord did not answer his request saying instead that His grace was sufficient for Paul for the Lord’s power is made perfect in human weakness.
It is well known that the Pharisee Saul (Paul) was a major persecutor of the early church (called The Way). He was so intent on wiping out what he considered this major affront to Judaism that he even got letters from the high priest that allowed him to go into different nations to find Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial. Most of us are familiar with his meeting the Lord on the road to Damascus to capture Christians. I include that part of scripture here because of its importance
AC 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest [2] and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. [3] As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. [4] He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
AC 9:5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. [6] "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
AC 9:7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. [8] Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. [9] For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
At this point we see that the bright light put Paul on the ground has blinded him and he had to be led by hand into the city of Damascus. We note that the scripture says Paul was blind for three days at this point. Let’s continue with the scripture.
AC 9:10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord," he answered.
AC 9:11 The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. [12] In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
AC 9:13 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. [14] And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
AC 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. [16] I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
AC 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." [18] Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, [19] and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
We now have seen that Ananias was directed by the Lord to go visit Paul. When Ananias placed his hands on Saul (Paul) we see that Luke tells us that Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit and that something like scales (fish scales) fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. So we see that there had been a covering of some scaly substance over his eyes. Paul is now seen fellowshipping with the disciples in Damascus.
ASIDE: At this point please look at what the Lord says about Paul in Acts 9:16. Here it is: [16] "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Please note right here that Paul’s life as a messenger of the gospel is not going to be pleasant and easy because the Lord said so here!
Paul at that point begins his ministry which includes three separate missionary journeys that take him all over what is present day Turkey and into Greece. He and those with him establish many churches which he will later have to send letters of encouragement, direction and correction to. Much of Paul’s teachings and directions are contained in these letters today in our New Testament. Because of these letters we get a much better look at Paul’s affliction – the thorn in his side. Let’s begin to glean from them.
Paul’s letter to the churches in the region of Galatia gives us substantial input as to just what Paul’s thorn in the side was. Let’s read it.
GAL 4:12 I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. [13] As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. [14] Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. [15] What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. [16] Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Please note here that Paul gives us one of the strongest clues about the thorn in his side. He says that when he arrived in Galatia he was ill and the illness was a real trial to them. Perhaps something in his appearance that looked disgusting to them. Then he says “if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.” What’s he saying? Yes, he is clearly saying that something about his eyes was offensive, perhaps infections, running, puss filled or crusted over. Whatever the affliction it was bad enough to “be a trial to you.” We see here there is a problem with his eyes while he is in Galatia.
Now let us continue with this line of thought.
Have we ever paused to think why did such a highly schooled and learned man like Paul have the need of a scribe to get his letters written? Remember we have already established by scripture that Paul was a scholar and conversant in at least two languages and he certainly could write well if all of the above is true. Note please the endings of the following letters dictated by Paul—but NOT written by him.
RO 16:22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.
1CO 16:21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. We note that Paul adds his greeting to the letter in his own writing.
COL 4:18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Again Paul adds his greeting to the letter in his own hand writing.
2TH 3:17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write. Now we note that Paul here says that the distinguishing mark of ALL his letters is the greeting which adds in his own hand. Note he says “This is how I write.”
Now please notice how Paul ends his letter to the Galatians:
GAL 6:11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
Paul says “See what LARGE LETTERS I USE AS I WRITE WITH MY OWN HAND!” Paul admits his normal hand writing is VERY LARGE, why is that you may ask? It’s obvious the man cannot see well---In my opinion he would today be declared legally blind. A scribe must do the writing and he adds a greeting at the very end of most letters. This is the thorn in Paul’s side; all evidence points to it. But there is a real clincher coming that puts the final stamp on it and here it comes.
Paul has gone to Jerusalem (See Acts 21:15 through 22:30 to bring yourself up to this point.) Now he stands before the Jewish Sanhedrin to defend himself and what he stands for. This Sanhedrin was the supreme court of Jewish Religious Law (the first five books of our Old Testament) and could judge a person in accordance with what the religious law said. They could mete out just about any punishment but death. Paul stood facing them now, looking them in the eye and note what is said here.
AC 23:1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." [2] At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. [3] Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!"
AC 23:4 Those who were standing near Paul said, "You dare to insult God's high priest?"
AC 23:5 Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: `Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.' "
Did we get this? Paul is standing in front of the Sanhedrin and he did not recognize the high priest. And that high priest had special garments and headdress that clearly made it plain who he was. But Paul could not see him in order to pick out which one was high priest. Could not see him so could not recognize him. Paul’s sight was severely limited---to the point he had to use very large letters just to write—and at this distance he could not distinguish the high priest.
Clearly all the evidence is here, Paul is highly educated, a scholar in fact, but after the Damascus road experience, and personal revelations from God, his vision was severely limited to keep him humble. We have seen numerous occasions where he had a serious eye illness in Galatia, uses scribes for all letters, talks of just writing greetings on his letters, notes his hand writing is large, and finally this highly trained Pharisee cannot recognize the high priest of the Sanhedrin when he stands before him. It is this evidence that I submit to you so that you can consider what the thorn in Paul’s side actually was. As for me I believe he was severely handicapped by being almost totally blind and this is the thorn in Paul’s side. Imagine trying to minister in the capacity Paul did without being able to see—it would be a huge thorn in the side. The evidence is here from scripture it is your choice to believe it or not.
