“Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself! [Job 2:6] Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].”
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 AMP
If Paul, Barnes says, was in danger of the terrible sin of spiritual pride, who among us isn’t? This passage is fascinating exactly because it’s so contrary to our flesh – and to the secular world we live in. Pride is good, they say. Believe in yourself, we’re told incessantly. Barnes comments:
There is no danger that more constantly besets Christians, and even eminent Christians, than pride. There is no sin that is more subtile, insinuating, deceptive; none that lurks more constantly around the heart and that finds a more ready entrance, than pride.
Any of us that has success is in great danger of pride. Many a successful minister, mega-pastor, business man, and athlete has been swallowed whole by the dreadful and sinister stalker of men’s souls. The logic of Paul’s letter is so very clear – and it’s a loving warning to us. If a trip to heaven makes me vulnerable to pride so much that the Lord gave me a thorn in the flesh to help subdue it, he says, be on guard in your own lives.
This is why Paul speaks here of the thorn almost as a favor and blessing from the Lord. There’s no bitterness in it. Should we, therefore, accept every trial similarly from the Lord?
Well, hard as it is, yes, of course.
And this is why being a Christian disciple is no “opium for the masses.” Christianity isn’t sentimentalism and sappy stories. It’s hard and clear reality of how wicked is the heart of man in sin. True love of Christ is a heart transplant; a new man or woman rises up from within the dead flesh of the old through the power of the Spirit. This is not our own doing, but God’s.
The word “thorn” (skolops) is used nowhere else in the New Testament. It means sharp or anything pointed. It could be a stake or a hook. In the Septuagint the word means a thorn or prickle:
Hosea 2:6, “I will hedge up thy way with thorns;” to denote a pricking briar in Ezekiel 28:24, as a translation of סלון cillôwnmeaning a thorn or prickle, such as is found in the shoots and twigs of the palm-tree; and to denote “pricks in the eyes” Numbers 33:55, as a translation of שׂכים class=”translit”>sikkim , thorns or prickles. So far as the word used here is concerned, it means a sharp thorn or prickle; and the idea is, that the trial to which he refers was as troublesome and painful as such a thorn would be in the flesh But whether he refers to some infirmity or pain in the flesh or the body is another question, and a question in which interpreters have been greatly divided in opinion.
The context of this “thorn” in the flesh seems to indicate that Paul is here speaking of the temptation of pride. It is the last vice with which we contend, Augustine had once opined. Calvin said:
Let us carefully consider, who it is that here speaks — He had overcome so many dangers, tortures, and other evils — had triumphed over all the enemies of Christ — had driven away the fear of death — had, in fine, renounced the world; and yet he had not altogether subdued pride.
Many are the sins a man may wrestle with, but it’s pride that kills so silently. And this is precisely why it’s interpreted here for us: it is a “thorn” sent by God as a mercy to His servant Paul lest he be broken by the great tide of self-satisfaction. And we must make no mistake – living as we do in an age that glorifies self unashamedly – that pride is great enmity with God. It is, in fact, war with Him.
Who we ascribe glory, we declare as sovereign!
This is why all unrepentant sin leads to conflict with others. As Richard Phillips wrote about King Saul’s contest with the innocent David, who was loyal to him: “Saul is just like people today who focus their resentment and frustration on other people when their real problem is God.”
Wasn’t Saul’s acrimony toward David precisely because of his refusal to obey the Lord? This is what we see with Paul’s critics within the Corinthian church. When we won’t repent of our sin against the Lord we grow increasingly frustrated, bitter, and anxious. The spear that Saul launched at David is a weapon not unlike the words we hurl at others who are in our way – those we resent because they are following the Lord.
Paul was surely aware of this great truth of Scripture and, therefore, he was aware of the danger he was in. A Christian must be ever vigilant lest he think, like Peter before he denied Christ, that he can stand against the Enemy of our souls upon his own power.
So, what was this thorn of Paul’s exactly? The speculation among the commentators varies so wildly as to be nearly comical. Some even suggest that he suffered health effects – even partial paralysis – due to the shock of going to heaven (Doddridge)! Naturally, we wonder if that was the case why Paul would wonder if he was there in body or spirit. No matter. The guesses go on.
Many Latin fathers assumed Paul was speaking of a struggle with lust. Tertullian thought it was an ear ache. Jerome figured it to be a recurring headache. Barnes comments:
But all conjecture here is vain; and the numerous strange and ridiculous opinions of commentators is a melancholy attestation of their inclination to fanciful conjecture where it is impossible in the nature of the case to ascertain the truth. All that can be known of this is, that it was some infirmity of the flesh, some bodily affliction or calamity, that was like the continual piercing of the flesh with a thorn Galatians 4:13; and that it was something that was designed to prevent spiritual pride. It is not indeed an improbable supposition that it was something that could be seen by others, and that thus tended to humble him when with them.
Calvin says:
Now it is asked, what this goad was. Those act a ridiculous part, who think that Paul was tempted to lust. We must therefore repudiate that fancy. (899) Some have supposed, that he was harassed with frequent pains in the head. Chrysostom is rather inclined to think, that the reference is to Hymeneus and Alexander, and the like, because, instigated by the devil, they occasioned Paul very much annoyance. My opinion is, that under this term is comprehended every kind of temptation, with which Paul was exercised. For flesh here, in my opinion, denotes — not the body, but that part of the soul which has not yet been regenerated. “There was given to me a goad that my flesh might be spurred up by it, for I am not yet so spiritual, as not to be exposed to temptations according to the flesh.” He calls it farther the messenger of Satan on this ground, that as all temptations are sent by Satan, so, whenever they assail us, they warn us that Satan is at hand. Hence, at every apprehension of temptation, it becomes us to arouse ourselves, and arm ourselves with promptitude for repelling Satan’s assaults. It was most profitable for Paul to think of this, because this consideration did not allow him to exult like a man that was off his guard.
We notice that Paul admits that it was Satan who was permitted to attack him and we think back to Job 2:6-7. Some speculate that the false teachers sent to Corinth may have been the issue at hand, but it’s more probable that it was indeed a physical affliction of some sort. The lesson is, astonishingly, that God will move to make sure that the manifestations of his favor, and the sweet spiritual privileges we enjoy in Him, will not result in pride. Such afflictions, therefore, are used as means of grace – yes, grace – to humble us. Again, because pride is that dangerous.
Think of how the ministry of Peter must have developed in light of his memory of having denied the Lord on that terrible night. Or think of David’s humility anytime he thought of his murder of Uriah. This isn’t to say that sin is good. It’s to say that sometimes the Lord will allow His children to slip in sin’s mud so that He might pick them up, clean them again in all His love, and restore them to a godly humility before Him and others.
Indeed, in His love, He will use our challenges, even and especially our failures – those dead-ends of our careers, those frustrations in the home, or financial turmoil, to turn us from self-reliance. Yes, it may be an injury, a disease, or maybe as in Paul’s case in the Corinthian church, slander and gossip.
We learn to be thankful for all circumstances that humble us because the alternative is prideful self-reliance and hell.
Then we learn that Paul sought the Lord in prayer. It is clear that this is the right and true way for men and women to live and deal with the trials of this world. Some think that he prayed three times and this means it was “many” and not merely three. Barnes wrote:
Among the Jews three was a sacred number, and repeated instances occur where an important transaction is mentioned as having been done thrice; see Numbers 22:28; Numbers 24:10; 1 Samuel 3:8; 1 Samuel 20:41; 1 Kings 18:44; Proverbs 22:20; Jeremiah 7:4; Jeremiah 22:29; John 21:17.
Indeed, Paul prayed! It’s right to pray at all times, but especially in seasons of trial. Jesus, of course, prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane for His trial to pass. The key to it there, just as it was with Paul, and as it should be in our own souls as well, is to say, “not my will…but Yours be done.” Whether Paul prayed three times specifically or many times isn’t the point. The point is that his suffering and trial was very real – just as yours are too. The key to our lives isn’t the successes that the world rejoices in, but in the communion we have in Christ. The greatest obedience is that of the heart submitted solely and completely to Him in all things…rejoicing with Him in life’s highs and seeking Him diligently in the lows. But of all the sins we must fear, it is pride that will carry us away. The downfalls of many a great person has seemed sudden to those observing but they were built slowly, deliberately, and catastrophically upon a makeshift castle of self-importance.
Christ is our Savior and Lord; pride is our great enemy. Let’s pray that we never forget this, lest we fall.
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