Bible texts are often quoted in isolation by people trying to score points – a practice known as proof-texting. But a text without a context is like a boat on a beach: it might look good but its seaworthiness can only be tested in the water.
The principle of text within context should be applied to the prickly question of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”. The text in question is 1 Corinthians 12:7, and the context is verses 1-6 and verses 8-10 — verse 10 being Paul’s conclusion.
“It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago — whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
“Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.”
For modesty’s sake, Paul writes of himself here in the Third Person. But in verse 7, the text we are examining, he changes by referring to himself in the First Person, and “he” becomes “I”.
“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. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
The word “infirmities” in verses 5 and 9 is the same in the original Greek, and the King James Version is consistent in its translation. “Infirmities” and “weakness” can include sicknesses, of course, but in this case they do not, because in verse 10 Paul includes them with other things he suffers “for Christ’s sake” – and nowhere in the scriptures do we read that sickness in a believer’s body is a cause for boasting!
I have been ill a number of times while ministering, but the grace of the Lord saw me through those times. Christians are at times sick, but Paul is not referring to sickness but to weaknesses due to a number of difficulties experienced while ministering – not least satanically inspired human opposition.
“Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
The “thorn in the flesh” was “a messenger of Satan sent to buffet me” – “to rain blows upon me, to knock me about”. Satan’s messengers are evil spirits, and since Jesus said: “a spirit has neither flesh nor blood” and since we know that demons come dressed in people, it is reasonable to conclude that Paul is referring to demonically-inspired human opposition.
The case for this is strengthened by Paul’s warnings against those who were enemies of the gospel. Hymanaeus and Philetus, for instance, maintained that the resurrection had already taken place, undermining the faith of some Christians (2 Timothy 17, 18). The sorcerer Elymas tried to block Paul and Barnabas from preaching the gospel to Sergius Paulus, on Cyprus (Acts 13:6-11).
Alexander the coppersmith did Paul “much evil” (2 Timothy 4:14, 15). The silversmith Demetrius instigated a riot against Paul in Ephesus in an attempt to kill him (Acts 19:23-32). Paul was hounded from city to city by his own countrymen.
Only when Paul left town did the local church settle down!
Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was not an eye disease but an evil spirit sent by Satan. It followed him around, slandering his name and reputation wherever he went. It aroused such hatred in the hearts of unbelievers that they tried many times to murder him.
I remember saying to my son that I was having so much opposition from people that it seemed that Satan knew what I would do for the Lord. “No, Dad,” he said, “He doesn’t know what you will do; he’s afraid of what you might do.”
A pastor who impacts his community, a teacher who restores a biblical revelation, an evangelist who turns a city to Christ, a prophet who exposes corruption, an apostle who ploughs unbroken ground – all will raise the hackles of those who lend their hearts and minds to the impulses of evil spirits.
If we would know the power of Christ’s resurrection and walk in that power, we should also prepare ourselves for the persecution we will experience. Resurrection power carries divine authority – an authority that evil people resist with satanically inspired strength. The power of Christ’s resurrection introduces us to the fellowship of his sufferings, and this enables us to conform to his death – to die to our own will as Jesus did, and to live only for the will of our heavenly Father.
It is weaknesses, reproaches, needs, persecutions and distresses – all for Christ’s sake — that keep our feet firmly on the ground when our heads are in heaven. A “thorn in the flesh” reminds us that being sons of God makes us no less human; that although citizens of heaven, we suffer from injustices and persecutions here on earth.
I am not saying that Paul was never sick. We know Trophimus was, so much so that Paul had to leave him behind at Miletum (2 Timothy 4:20). Epaphroditus, who ministered alongside Paul, very nearly died of sickness (Philippians 2:25-30). Indeed, it seems likely that it was in serving others that his health was depleted.
I believe that healing is ours through Christ’s atonement at Calvary. They are times, though, when the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings helps us appreciate the awesome power of his resurrection, and to long for the day when our sufferings will end and the “swallowing up” of the mortal body into one that is immortal will cause us to remember those “thorns in the flesh” – if we remember them at all – as demonic pin-pricks that failed to deflate us, but instead helped us to rise higher!