Sometimes problems don’t go away.
We pray. We fast. We seek counsel. We do everything we know how to do, including crying out to God, and the problem persists.
Perhaps it’s a physical disease or infirmity. Maybe it’s a personal conflict in the family, marriage, kids, or parents. Many struggle with work and paying bills. Whatever it might be, continual pain or conflict discourages us and wears us down.
It seems that the Apostle Paul in Scripture dealt with a persistent problem. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul mentions his “thorn in the flesh,” an issue that he had prayed about yet continued to deal with.
What Is the Context of 2 Corinthians 12:7?
Paul is addressing the Corinthian church in his second letter to them, a community he had previously founded. Paul responds to various concerns and challenges faced by the Corinthians, including false teachers who questioned Paul’s authority and sought to undermine his credibility.
Towards the end of the letter, in chapter 12, Paul recounts a deeply personal experience, which he refers to as a “thorn in the flesh.”
He writes, “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being conceited” (ESV).
The exact nature of this thorn in the flesh isn’t explicitly mentioned, leaving room for interpretation and speculation.
Paul believed the purpose of this thorn in the flesh was to prevent him from becoming conceited due to the extraordinary revelations and spiritual experiences he had received from God. The thorn in the flesh served as a humbling reminder of his complete dependence on God’s grace and power.
The Apostle Paul emphasizes that he pleaded with the Lord three times to remove this thorn, but God responded with, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Paul’s experience with the thorn in the flesh highlights the tension between our human weakness and God’s power. Rather than removing the problem, whatever it might have been, God’s response reveals a deeper truth.
His grace and strength are made manifest in our weaknesses. This understanding aligns with the broader theme in Paul’s teachings on God’s sufficiency and the power of the gospel despite human limitations.
While the exact nature of Paul's thorn remains uncertain, some interpretations propose physical ailments, persecution, or spiritual opposition. Regardless of the specific affliction, what is clear is that it served as a constant reminder to Paul of his need to rely on God's grace and strength.
On one level, the context of this passage highlights Paul’s willingness to share his personal struggles openly. In other passages, he willingly shares his weakness and inability apart from God’s power.
Even his own redemptive story includes a scandalous past of persecuting Christians and the truth he now espouses. By sharing his weaknesses and failings, he offered the Corinthians and us today a model of vulnerability and authenticity in Christian leadership.
Paul’s transparency helps establish a relatable and empathetic connection with his readers, fostering a sense of unity and encouragement.
With this model, we are all encouraged to embrace our weaknesses and difficulties as opportunities for God to show his strength to be revealed in our lives.
It reminds all of us that as we go through hard times, the Father’s grace and strength are sufficient to sustain and empower us within all our challenges.
Not only can we embrace them as Paul has, but we can also share our weaknesses with others to encourage one another to stay faithful in hard times.
What Are the Main Interpretations of Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh?
Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” has sparked various theories and interpretations among biblical scholars and theologians throughout history. Here are some of the main theories.
One prevalent theory suggests Paul’s thorn in the flesh refers to a physical ailment or illness. Some scholars speculate Paul may have suffered from a specific affliction such as poor eyesight, epilepsy, malaria, or another chronic condition.
This aligns with Paul’s physical descriptions in his other letters emphasizing the difficulties he faced in ministry.
Another interpretation suggests Paul’s thorn in the flesh represents the opposition and persecution he encountered in his ministry.
This view posits that Paul faced constant opposition from false teachers, Jewish authorities, or even demonic forces seeking to hinder his work and undermine his credibility. These stories are well established in his letters and in Acts through his missionary journeys.
While those are the main two theories, some scholars propose Paul’s thorn in the flesh refers to a spiritual struggle or temptation, suggesting that Paul grappled with internal or external spiritual challenges which tested his faith and commitment to Christ. These could be ongoing battles with sin, doubt, or spiritual forces.
A final viewpoint suggests the thorn in the flesh is a metaphorical representation of any form of weakness, affliction, or limitation experienced by believers. This would include weakness as a broader illustration of how God’s grace is made complete in our human weakness.
Finally, the thorn in the flesh could be a complex combination of factors, from physical ailments to persecution and spiritual challenges.
The lack of specificity leaves room for diverse interpretations and theories, and regardless of the explicit details, the central message is important for every disciple of Christ — God’s grace is sufficient in times of weakness and challenges, even when he doesn’t take the problem away, and his power is made complete in our weakness.
What Are Other Scriptures that Deal with Finding Grace in Our Struggles?
Other Bible passages speak of this theme, finding grace in our struggles, and help us have the reassurance of God’s grace in times of difficulty.
And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28, ESV).
This verse reminds us that even during our struggles, God is working all things together for our ultimate good. It reassures us that His grace is at work, transforming our challenges into opportunities for growth and fulfillment of His purpose in our lives.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength (Isaiah 40:29, ESV).
This verse highlights God's ability to provide strength and renewal to those who are weary and weak. It assures us that in our struggles, God is the source of our strength, empowering us to persevere and overcome.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:17-18, ESV).
This passage assures us that God is attentive to our cries for help in times of struggle. It reminds us that He is close to the brokenhearted and offers deliverance and salvation to those who are crushed in spirit.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you (1 Peter 5:10, ESV).
This verse provides hope that God's grace is not only present in our struggles but also brings restoration and strength. It assures us that our suffering is temporary, and God, the source of all grace, will personally bring about our restoration and establish us in His glory.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4, ESV).
This passage encourages us to approach our struggles with joy, recognizing that they have a purpose in shaping and maturing our faith. It assures us that as we endure and remain steadfast, God's grace is at work, molding us into completeness.
These scriptures, among many others, remind us of the abundant grace that God provides in our struggles.
They assure us that He is present, listening to our cries, and actively working in and through our challenges for our ultimate good. They encourage us to trust in His strength, finding hope and assurance in His promises.
What Are Lessons We Can Learn from Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh?
Paul’s mention of his thorn in the flesh, and the context, offers valuable lessons relevant to our Christian experience today. Here are a few of those key lessons:
1. Dependence on God’s grace. Paul's thorn in the flesh serves as a powerful reminder that our strength and sufficiency come from God's grace, not our own abilities.
It teaches us to rely on Him rather than relying on ourselves. By embracing our weaknesses and limitations, we open ourselves to experience the transformative power of God's grace in our lives.
2. Humility in leadership. Paul's openness about his struggles and weaknesses demonstrates the importance of humility in Christian leadership.
Despite his significant role as an apostle and teacher, Paul acknowledged his need for God's grace and refused to boast in his own strength.
This lesson encourages leaders to approach their roles with humility, honesty, and transparency, recognizing their dependence on God and valuing the power of vulnerability and authenticity.
3. God's strength in weakness. God may not take away the pain or the problem, but that doesn’t mean we can’t experience his power within the difficulty.
God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. Our inadequacies provide an opportunity for God to display his strength. We can be honest about our vulnerabilities, knowing God will sustain us.
4. The purpose of suffering. Our suffering and difficulties serve a greater purpose, to humble us and remind us of our complete dependence upon God, and he reveals himself as powerful through our humility.
The Father also uses our struggle to give others hope, knowing they aren’t alone in their own struggle. With these purposes in mind, rather than despairing in the face of adversity, we can find hope in knowing that God is at work in and through our struggles.
5. Contentment in God's grace. Despite pleading with the Lord to remove his thorn, Paul found contentment in God's response, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
This teaches us the importance of finding contentment and peace in God's grace, even when our circumstances do not change as we desire.
It reminds us that true satisfaction comes from resting in God's sufficient grace, trusting that He knows what is best for us.
6. Faithfulness in prayer. Paul's response to his thorn in the flesh teaches us the importance of persistent and faithful prayer.
Although God did not remove the thorn, Paul continued to bring his concerns before the Lord. This lesson encourages us to approach God in prayer with honesty, persistence, and unwavering faith, knowing that He hears our cries and responds according to His perfect wisdom.
7. Trusting in God's Sovereignty. As we read in Romans 8:28, we are promised that all things work out for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. All things.
Despite not having the specific outcome we desire, we know the end of the story and that it will be good if we cling faithfully to him. We can trust God’s plans are ultimately for our good and his glory.
Paul's thorn in the flesh offers important lessons for believers today. It teaches us to depend on God's grace, cultivate humility, recognize the strength found in weakness, understand the purpose of suffering, find contentment in God's grace, practice faithful prayer, and trust in God's sovereignty.
By applying these lessons to our lives, we can grow in faith, find strength in our struggles, and experience the transformative power of God's grace.
For further reading:
What Is a 'Thorn in the Flesh'?
3 Things to Do if You Have a ‘Thorn in the Flesh’
What Does God Mean by ‘My Grace Is Sufficient for You’?
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