Paul's Thorn in the flesh........

[Guest duane65]

This is a general Bible study, and disscussion, about Paul's thorn in the flesh. It isn't a debate, nor a place to get mad at one another. This is a group of Christians coming together to learn the truth. And maybe get insights that we never thought of, or had revealed to us before.

I would like to get views from others, and then when we have a few, lets begin the study. Lets let things be done decently, and in order. Lets explore, and learn the truth.

God Bless. Duane

[AnotherTraveler]

...the messenger of Satan to buffet me...

Seems pretty straight forward to me, who does Satan's messenger work?

[Guest shiloh357]

Of such a one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 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. 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.

(2 Corinthians 12:5-7)

This has the potential to be an interesting study. It is interesting because there are many commentators who have differing opinions, and each has developed a platform to defend their views. Some believe it was a physical illness, some believe it was persecution others have forwarded the notion that it was a physical deformity of sorts.

I did some searching and found these:

But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.

(Numbers 33:55)

Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes , until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

(Joshua 23:13)

Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides , and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

(Judges 2:3)

Here we find similar terms used idiomatically. Would this in any way affect how we view Paul's use of the term? Why or why not?

Do you believe that God was the one who sent the thorn to Paul? Why or why not?

[Guest duane65]

Wow!! Everyone Is pretty much on the right track.

First lets explore the nature, and character of God. Please give answers and illustrations.

Second, we all know that Satan operates in deception. Since Jesus Died to defeat the works of the devil, Satans only power over Christians is in deception, deception leading to, fear, accusations, oppression, discouragement, and the like. The spirit strives against the flesh, and the flesh strives against the spirit. So what is the flesh? It is mindsets.

Paul said to crucify your flesh. If he meant your arms, and legs, and body, he would have been off-base, because your body, can only do what your mind, or spirit tell it to do. So if we walk in the flesh, we are walking in what the mind tells us to do. (Mindsets) If we walk in the spirit, we are walking in what the spirit tells us to do, and since God is Spirit, and faith only works in the spirit and not the mind, Satan attacks us in our mind, because that is the only place he can get a foothold. Okay, rabbit trail over.

I truly believe we have established that Pauls thorn was not physical. But who gave Paul the thorn, and if it was God, what would be His purpose to commision Paul to do something, and then try to hinder that work. Comments, comments, comments.

[Kabowd]

Often I think people get too caught up thinking about the thorn (i.e. what it really was, who sent it, etc), and neglect the real beauty of the lesson - which is grace. If Paul had been as preoccupied with his thorn as christians are in debating it, he would never have been able to declare that God's grace is sufficient.

[Kabowd]

I truly believe we have established that Pauls thorn was not physical.

Where was this established?

[Guest duane65]

Also, great work on the Old-Testament Scripture there shiloh. Paul thorn was an illustration.

But, what was the purpose of the thorn, and what did God want Paul to do about it? The key is in James.

[apothanein kerdos]

The Greek (along with various other writings of Paul) make not only the thorn physical, but a disease in the eyes.

[larryt]

I truly believe we have established that Pauls thorn was not physical.

The main idea behind the term flesh refers to something physical. The only other reference that the flesh refers to is our living apart from the Spirit of God, which also has its roots in the physical body. Doing the works of the flesh.

The thorn was in Paul's FLESH, and therefore was dealing with the PHYSICAL world. It was his PHYSICAL frailty that humbled Paul.

I see nothing that would lead one to conclude that the thorn was anything but a PHYSICAL MALADY.

When the plane sense makes sense make no other sense.

LT

[Guest duane65]

Please we need to remember this is a Bible study, not a debate. I started this as a means to challenge you to be led by the Spirit, and see what Pauls thorn really is. I believed it was sickness for years, until the Holy Spirit revealed the truth to me. I really believe that we can come together, and study this, as a team of believers, I truly believe you will find that many questions could be answered once and for all. So please pray, and search Scripture.

Paul's thorn, and the misinterpretation of it, has held many in bondage for years, and has kept them from true faith to believe in God's provision, supernatural power, and total will, by the Blood of Jesus, and by His Stripes to heal any ailment, or disease.

If we say that God doesn't heal today, or will only heal select people, then we make a statement that He isn't the same yesterday, today, and forever. Also we say that He is a respecter of persons, and He isn't. So please go down this road with me, and see where we might find the truth together. God bless. Duane