Question regarding 2 Corinthians 12

[apothanein kerdos]

Grace and peace from God and from our Lord Jesus Christ to all!

Let's be careful applying literal meanings of some Greek words, knowing that the Greek language, like most languages, is dynamic and such words may have various other contextual and/or metaphorical meanings.

I don't see a messenger of Satan following Paul around to hit him in the face repeatedly, such that he'd plead with our Lord that the messenger might depart.

First, we must understand what Paul means by "flesh" and then "thorns" that are in the flesh.

The "flesh" in this context could be a defiled spirit "weighted" by sin. In the "flesh" are "motions of sin" (Rom. 7:5) that are thorns capable of pricking, buffeting or choking the word of God in the heart of a saint. "Motions of sin" are urges, suggestions or propositions of sin and in the case of Paul may have repeatedly buffeted (battered, pounded, pummeled) his heart to prevent him from being exalted beyond a measure of revelation he then had.

Let's remember that Paul was a minister of faith and, specifically, of the grace of God; he could have "fought" the messenger of Satan to submission and retain his measure (albeit much but not in full measure) of revelation, but he did not and with wisdom sought to gain from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ a full measure of revelation that the messenger of Satan sought to prevent him (Paul) from getting.

To that end, Paul made THREE PLEAS (every word, phrase or number is not without importance or significance in scripture, why 3 pleas and not any other number?) to our Lord Jesus Christ and was exalted when our Lord gave him sufficient (enough, ample or adequate) grace, forcing the messenger to loose in bid against Paul's exaltation and depart.

Lesson for us: Rather than focus on the devil in a spiritual battle, it is best to strive for and obtain from God that thing which the adversary is fighting desparately and so hard to stop us from getting in order to win the battle against the adversary.

Therefore, Paul said he'd rather boast in his weakness (not physical but in context of a lesser measure of revelations he had) so that the complete/perfect (sufficient) grace (all that God is and has - including His power or strength) can be bestowed on him. Thenafter, scripture gives that Paul was able to supply what is lacking in the faith of saints in Thessalonica (1Thes 3:10).

I speak, read, and write Greek. I have never heard anyone fluent in Greek (I am not fluent, I am merely saying...) say that this is anything but physical. Look to my above post that deals with the following portions of the text, as well ast he fact "buffet" can only be performed in a physical action. You're grasping at straws.

The Greek doesn't lie. You can say what you want it to believe, but if you can't back it up contextually and use the Greek in context to do so, you have no case.

And yes, this is an important issue. If it is spiritual, then God allows us to suffer spiritual problems. If it is physical, it means He doesn't always heal.