Thorn In The Flesh

Where people are in sickness you find frequently that they are dense about Scripture. They usually know three scriptures though. They know about Paul’s thorn in the flesh, and that Paul told Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach’s sake, and that Paul left someone sick somewhere; they forget his name, and don’t remember the name of the place, and don’t know where the chapter is. - Smith Wigglesworth

I must admit that when it came to this whole "Thorn in the flesh" issue, I too, was scripture poor.  I had heard many teachings on this subject growing up.  All of which said that God does not heal everyone.  This was taught regardless of scripture saying that Jesus healed all that were sick. (Matthew 8:16, Matthew 4:24)  In fact, you can't find a single scripture that says Jesus refused to heal anyone. So what is this Thorn to which Paul was referring? And why use this phrase at all?

If someone came up to me today and said I have a thorn in my skin, my first instinct would be to go and look for a pair of tweezers to remove some kind of splinter or small thorn.   I certainly wouldn't think that the person who said this was sick.  And I don't think that Paul would write a church complaining about a splinter.  It therefore must be some kind of metaphor, but for what?

It's such a strange turn of phrase.  Nowhere else in Paul's writing  does he use this phrase.  In fact the only place in the New testament I see this phrase is in 2 Corinthians 12:7.

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. (emphasis mine)

I did, however, come across this phrase in the Old Testament in three separate books.   The first in Numbers 33:55

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.

The second reference can be found in Joshua 23:13.

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.

And the third place it is found is in Judges 2:3.

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.

In all three examples, this idea of thorns in the body refers to some sort of persecution; not sickness or disease. Also, Paul is very clear from whom came this thorn and what it is.  Paul said that the thorn was, "the messenger of Satan."; a demonic spirit.  Notice how Paul did not refer to it in this sentence as sickness or disease.  And we also see that the spirit was not sent from God but from Satan.

If Paul is clear about what the thorn is and from where it came, then why do people insist on saying that Paul had some kind of sickness?  I believe the answer lay in in verses before and after; where Paul writes he would "rather glory in my infirmities."  

In today's vocabulary, the word 'infirmity' almost exclusively means sickness or disease.  This, however, was not the case back in the 17th century when the Kings James Bible was written.  Back in the 1600's, the word infirmity meant more than a physical ailment.  It could also mean a weakness, failing, fault, or foible (a shortcoming in character).

You can even see how Paul uses the word in context and how it is referring to this second definition for the word.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities(lack of capabilities), in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake. - 2 Cor. 12:10

Everything in this list is referring to either reproaches from others, physical needs like food and water, persecution, and other distresses.  Nothing in this list refers to sickness.  And when you read everything together and in context of itself, it becomes evident that Paul is not in anyway referring to being sick.

Now let us presuppose that you don't believe any of this.  Let's say that this honest interpretation of scripture using other scripture has had zero impact on your reasoning.  There is one other thing you must consider before claiming Paul's thorn.  You see, Paul says that there was a reason he was afflicted.  In 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul writes, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations..."  Here Paul says he received this thorn because of the abundance of revelation he received concerning God's word.  Paul had a greater revelation of God's word than anyone else and Satan wanted it stopped.  And unless you can claim an equal revelation to Paul, you don't qualify.

Now before you start claiming that God wanted to humble Paul, lest he should be "exalted above measure," God can also exalt and lift people up.  Remember that this verse is not talking about God but about what Satan is doing in Paul's life.  Satan does not want God's word exalted.   Remember that the biblical definition of humility is dependence on God.  And Paul was very dependant on God.  God lift's up the humble and lays down the proud.  Paul was not proud.

Because of my study, I am more convinced than ever that God wants everyone healed and free from sickness and disease. I encourage anyone reading this to be honest with yourself in your studies and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal scripture to you.  Do not trust in the traditions of men.  For the traditions of men make the word of God void.  (Mark 7:13)