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But was it a literal thorn off a thorn tree, or was he speaking figuratively about some physical, spiritual, or mental attack on him from Satan? That's the real question. But it really doesn't matter, because Satan attacks us in different ways against different people.

What do you mean, @pepper?

The whole point of the Book of Job is not suffering but that true faith endures and perseveres throughout life, as it did in spite of the extreme suffering of Job.

Your last statement is confusing. I believe that God the Father and the second Person of God planned Jesus' death and resurrection before creation. Under God's inspiration during Pentecost, Peter said so: Act 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God...

So, what was it, pepper? No one seems to know except you. Why is that?

What kind of work are you looking for, Simonides?

Thank you, @Verily, but since God gave me his peace about my "thorn," I have accepted it as part of my life. I am no longer "in" pain; instead, I "have" pain. There's a huge difference. Besides, God gave me the responsibility to control it and many means to do just that. I thank him!

Another example of God's restraining Satan is in Job 1 and 2, where in the contest between God and Satan over Job's faith, God kept Satan from taking Job's health but then allowed Satan to take his health but not his life.

Brother Simonides, I think that Paul kept the description of the "thorn in the flesh" purposely vague instead of specific to enable readers to relate it to any physical, sinful, or mental distraction that Satan will try to use to derail us from doing God's callings in this world. Through...

I think that people are way too interested in their pursuit of their temporary idols that they think give them security, happiness, and comfort. I have read the Bible cover to cover repeatedly for about the last 60 of my 82 years. Each time, the Spirit gives me new connections and applications...

Yes, God did teach me to sympathize with others a lot more through my pain.

That's okay, @Hepzibah. I can wait.

Yes, in our prayerful, grateful lives that result with the Holy Spirit's guidance and enabling. You might be interested in the book What God Has Done: My True, Dramatic God-Biography (Amazon).

Hi, Verily! Thirteen years into my pain, which arrived the third Friday of March, 1986, I began getting tired like my fatigue when I had seven years of major depression, from which God completely healed me for 38 years now. So, I asked God, who is my divine Shrink, "What am I getting depressed...

You are completely correct, behold! I agree. You quote Romans 12:1. That book is divided into three parts: the GUILT of our sins (1:18--3:20), God's GRACE to declare us "not-guilty" or justified through Jesus' death (3:21--end of 11), and our life of GRATITUDE (12:1 through the rest of the...

I suggest that you read through the Gospel of John. He presents three Persons of God--the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. And then search for the term "one God" in all of Scripture. You will see the Trinity emerging as its truth. The Trinity is a mystery that human minds cannot solve with...

Where in the Bible do you find the teaching that the Father "brought forth" the second and third Persons of the Trinity? Just face it. The doctrine of the Trinity, which is presented clearly in the Gospel of John, was re-discovered by Augustine. It is a profound mystery that eastern and...

I empathize with your infirmity. For some Christians, God removes their thorn through prayer and maybe medical means. For others, he gives us strength to bear up under it, thus learning many lessons. For me, it's four kinds of chronic physical pain, with which God has taught me to be much more...

No, Satan is acting independently yet with limitations to attack God's people, but God overcomes his attacks for their good. Let's keep it biblically straight.

What you say is very true in terms of what is given us when we first believe in principle, that is, the "already" of the gospel, what is already the case in the Father's sight as our Judge. However, there is a "not-yet" of the gospel for the sins that still remain in our sinful natures...