2 Corinthians 12:7 KJB - "thorn in the flesh"
What does this mean according to scripture?
2 Corinthians 12:7-8 [thorn in the flesh of Paul/eyesight]
The Context 2 Corinthians 12:1-21 KJB
The context of Paul's
“thorn” [vs 7], was specifically said to be
“in the flesh” [vs 7, Greek, “τη σαρκι”], and therefore was not an 'evil spirit', but an
“infirmit[y]” [vs 5,9,10; Greek “ασθενειαις”, of body or mind] that was constantly with him, even though he had prayed to God
“thrice” [vs 8] for
“it”/”thing” [vs 8] to be 'removed'
[vs 8; “depart”; Greek “αποστη”]. Jesus told him, that
“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” [vs 9] The Greek word for
“weakness” is
“ασθενεια” and it means feebleness, weakness, disease of body or mind, and is the same root word used in
vs 5,9,10 for
“infirmities”. See again a mention in
2 Corinthians 11:30:
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 2 Corinthians 11:30
We see that Paul twice called it
“my [mine] infirmities” [2 Corinthians 11:30, 12:9], which he says was
“in the flesh” and not of spirit. The part where Paul says,
“the messenger of satan”, is referring to the
“infirmity of the flesh” [Galatians 4:13], which he says was
“my temptation” [Galatians 4:14], through which
“infirmity” the devil/satan tried to get to Paul with over this matter of the
“eyes” [Galatians 4:15]. Satan always loves to attempt to cause us to doubt God in his allowing certain things to remain with us for a time. Yet, God's purpose is to demonstrate His love towards us, in that He knows what is best for our own salvation. Paul was to leave his infirmity with God, and trust Him and continue where the LORD led him.
Paul is contrasting his clear spiritual eyesight and the visions he received from Jesus, with that of his present poor physical condition, wherein he had to preach with such physical infirmity, that he may not be puffed up at receiving such blessing of God to even see Heaven [Paul, speaking of himself in the third person, the one that was caught up in visions and revelations, as was made known from his first encounter
[Acts 9:3-16]].
It is when we recognize our need of Christ Jesus in all things, even though we may be granted great gifts, that we truly see. Therefore, this
“thorn” “in the flesh” was
“given” [vs 7, “there was given to me”] to Paul by God that he might not be exalted beyond measure, puffed up, by the great things shown unto him, done for him, etc and so trust in his own righteousness, works, flesh, etc and come to be destroyed of that which was to be a blessing. God allowed Paul's eyesight to remain in the condition it was, to keep humility in Paul, and to help him to always see his need of Jesus Christ.
The word for
“thorn” in
2 Corinthians 7 is the Greek
“σκολοψ”, which means thorn/brier/prickly/pointy [like a stake or pallisade], as we see again in so-called LXX's [septuaginta]:
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
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀπολέσητε τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν, καὶ ἔσται οὓς ἐὰν καταλίπητε ἐξ αὐτῶν, σκόλοπες ἐν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑμῶν καὶ βολίδες ἐν ταῖς πλευραῖς ὑμῶν καὶ ἐχθρεύσουσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἐφ᾿ ἣν ὑμεῖς κατοικήσετε, Numbers 33:55 LXX
In this passage we see a clear connection with the
“pricks” [thorn] of the
“eyes” and
“sides”, which are the exact words Paul also uses. Further, we also see:
And there shall be no more a
pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor
any grieving thorn of all
that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I
am the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 28:24
καὶ οὐκ ἔσονται οὐκέτι τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ Ισραηλ σκόλοψ πικρίας καὶ ἄκανθα ὀδύνης ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν περικύκλῳ αὐτῶν τῶν ἀτιμασάντων αὐτούς· καὶ γνώσονται ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος. Ezekiel 28:24 LXX
Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with
thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. Hosea 2:6 [LXX Hosea 2:8]
διὰ τοῦτο ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ φράσσω τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτῆς ἐν σκόλοψιν καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῆς, καὶ τὴν τρίβον αὐτῆς οὐ μὴ εὕρῃ· Hosea 2:8 LXX
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. Acts 23:1
And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Acts 23:2
Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? Acts 23:3
And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Acts 23:4
Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. Acts 23:5
[2] Paul, in writing to the Galatians, speaks of their original love to him, in that they would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him for use if they could:
Brethren, I beseech you, be as I [am]; for I [am] as ye [are]: ye have not injured me at all. - Galatians 4:12
Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. - Galatians 4:13
And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus. - Galatians 4:14
Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if [it had been] possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. - Galatians 4:15
Notice, how Paul uses some of the same terminology to speak of this “thorn”. He used the words “infirmity”, “of the flesh”, “in my flesh” and in this instance he clearly speaks of the “eyes” as being the source of the infirmity.
[3] Paul, though he personally wrote the letter to the Galatians [6:11], to show his great love for them, he normally used a personal scribe [amanuensis] to do so [see
“I Tertius, who wrote this epistle ...” Romans 16:22] and usually just signed the letter once transcribed [see
“The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.” 1 Corinthians 16:21 and
“The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.” 2 Thessalonians 3:17 and
“The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.” Colossians 4:18 and
“I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.” Philemon 1:19], even though Paul was a thoroughly learned man in letters, writing, in several languages [1 Corinthians 14:18], etc [Acts 22:3, 23:6; Philippians 3:5].
