Thorn in the flesh

[Curtis]

Sickness is never called a messenger in the Bible, but angels are.

Thus a messenger from Satan would be a fallen angel, who was harassing Paul.

 

[marks]

2Co 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.

Humbleness.
That's what comes to mind when I read this passasge. Humbleness.
I don't think it matters who the messenger is, but rather the message being brought.

just thinking..
Hugs

God is faithful to our needs!

Much love!

 

[marks]

Word search "thorn" in the Bible, and see if there are any uses that parallel what was happening with Paul. That's how I came to my conclusion.

Much love!

 

[marks]

2Co 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.

Humbleness.
That's what comes to mind when I read this passasge. Humbleness.
I don't think it matters who the messenger is, but rather the message being brought.

just thinking..
Hugs

You've hit on it right there, when you say, "who" the messenger is. We recongnize that a messenger is someone sent with a message, that's how it's used in the Bible.

So who was there around Paul that did something that could be considered a "message" from Satan? The people who followed Paul from town to town inciting violence against him?

Much love!

 

[marks]

Sickness is never called a messenger in the Bible, but angels are.

Thus a messenger from Satan would be a fallen angel, who was harassing Paul.

Or an human person, or persons.

Much love!

 

[Ziggy]

You've hit on it right there, when you say, "who" the messenger is. We recongnize that a messenger is someone sent with a message, that's how it's used in the Bible.

So who was there around Paul that did something that could be considered a "message" from Satan? The people who followed Paul from town to town inciting violence against him?

Much love!

Paul was given a thorn in the flesh...

Now I can read this two ways.

1. Paul was given a physical infirmity.
2. The thorn was an actual person (in the flesh)

Thorns and bristles/briars... troublemaker.

We live in a world of thorns, and every now and then a lily appears.

Sng 2:2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

Kind of reminds me of Cinderella and her step sisters..
The sheep among the wolves.
The bright star in a dark sky.

A messenger to buffet me.
Keep him on the right road, kind of like the Angel that stood in front of the donkey.
And Baalim? kept chastising the donkey for not pushing forward, but the Angel was in the path.

This messenger is the thorn in the flesh, sent to buffet Paul.
And Paul recieved infirmities (due to the buffeting) ?
I know a passage where Paul speaks unkindly about a man did him harm.

2Ti 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
2Ti 4:15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

Could this be the thorn in the flesh who did Paul much harm?
A messenger of Satan.. because he withstood their words?

Thorns..
thinking
Hugs

 

[Daniel Veler]

So are you saying that being persecuted for the faith is a messenger of Satan?

I haven’t said. Paul said it.

 

[Daniel Veler]

Paul was given a thorn in the flesh...

Now I can read this two ways.

1. Paul was given a physical infirmity.
2. The thorn was an actual person (in the flesh)

Thorns and bristles/briars... troublemaker.

We live in a world of thorns, and every now and then a lily appears.

Sng 2:2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

Kind of reminds me of Cinderella and her step sisters..
The sheep among the wolves.
The bright star in a dark sky.

A messenger to buffet me.
Keep him on the right road, kind of like the Angel that stood in front of the donkey.
And Baalim? kept chastising the donkey for not pushing forward, but the Angel was in the path.

This messenger is the thorn in the flesh, sent to buffet Paul.
And Paul recieved infirmities (due to the buffeting) ?
I know a passage where Paul speaks unkindly about a man did him harm.

2Ti 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
2Ti 4:15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

Could this be the thorn in the flesh who did Paul much harm?
A messenger of Satan.. because he withstood their words?

Thorns..
thinking
Hugs

Not everyone that followed Paul was for him. There were those who sought to harm him. Just as some who followed Christ around to get something to accuse him with.

 

[Robert Gwin]

2Co 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.

Humbleness.
That's what comes to mind when I read this passasge. Humbleness.
I don't think it matters who the messenger is, but rather the message being brought.

just thinking..
Hugs

I think you hit the nail on the head maam, humbleness is one of the big lessons we each learn from our thorns in the flesh. All of us have them, and satan uses them as well as he is aware of them as well. Another post we were discussing speaking about endurance really comes into play also. Let our thorns strengthen us to face the tremendously increased pangs of distress as we move closer to our deliverance.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

No but persecution is good for Christians and the church

I agree, but his persecution was not his thorn in the flesh.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

I haven’t said. Paul said it.

Now just show teh connection in light of biblical passages. Paul would not pray for persecution to go away! He rejoiced in them!

Now also show how the persecution Paul suffered was done by a messenger of Satan.

Peter said to count it all joy when we suffer for teh faith- not try to ask God to remove it!

But like I said- it matters little whatever the thorn in the flesh that haunted Paul. If it is persecution, then for many of my 47 years of walking with the Lord I have had a messenger of Satan! Maybe I got some awesom revelations as well that are not lawful for man to see?

 

[theefaith]

I agree, but his persecution was not his thorn in the flesh.

persecution suffering same effect

 

[Ronald Nolette]

persecution suffering same effect

so if I suffer from chronic severe arthritis (which I do) I can count that the same as persecution? OH boy I must be super duper holy!!!!