All scripture quoted with permission from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995).

Transcription

1 Pastor Bill Kimbley

2 A THORN IN THE FLESH Copyright 2015 Bill Kimbley All Rights Reserved. Second Edition. Printed by: Forestburg Baptist Church PO Box 358 Forestburg, TX Cover Image from Graceway Media, used with permission. All scripture quoted with permission from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995). 2

3 A Thorn In The Flesh By Pastor Bill Kimbley There have been many who have tested the waters of exegesis to discern what Paul's thorn in the flesh meant. Many have used the text to suggest it was a sickness that was not healed and some have even suggested a specific disease like malaria. Others have suggested it was bad eyesight which many believe plagued Paul. Some feel the thorn was persecutions or other challenges. Many suggestions have been put forth and there is no real consensus. Unfortunately, much of the lack of consensus on this thorn is due to doctrinal beliefs that get in the way of true exegesis. Those who feel the gift of healing is not available today usually lean toward it being a sickness. Why? Because then a Spiritual giant who healed many others would not be healed himself. This, they feel, answers their belief that supernatural healing power was for the Apostles only to confirm their word. Others who do not believe Paul's thorn was a sickness or disease tend to agree with the doctrines of supernatural healing in today's world. This text finds its place in the middle of a great debate on God's supernatural workings. So what are we to believe? I personally feel that sound Biblical exegesis will give us the answer to whether or not this was a sickness or something else. Having been challenged myself on whether or not healing was for today or only for the Apostles I had to deal with this 3

4 text. My answer came from the context of the Second Corinthians 12, simple Bible searches in the Old Testament, and Greek and Hebrew word studies. My purpose in this article is not to give a word-for-word teaching on the text, but to get to the bottom of this "thorny issue" (pun intended) through sound study. The Context I want to quote the direct context of Second Corinthians 1-10 for your reference. This is from the New American Standard Bible. 1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather 4

5 boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 1 One the very first things we are told in seminary is to determine the context. The old saying goes, "A text, taken out of context, is a pretext, for a proof text." Basically this means we will have great problems if we take things out of context. This should be ingrained into our minds as we study the Bible because our teaching must be on target to what God's word truly says. If we fail to understand context then we will miss what the original authors intended to convey. Why the thorn? In this passage the contextual reason for Paul's "thorn in the flesh" is given to us in 2Cor 12:7. There Paul says, "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh." Paul's thorn was because of God's grace. God had given Paul an amazing blessing of letting him experience Him in the third heaven. The words he heard were so amazing and powerful that he could not express what he saw. The reason Paul received his "thorn" was due to blessing he had been given by God. Many have taught that the thorn was a sickness that he contracted or an eye problem that he had and this they connect back to his many travels across the continents. I have even read one author who suggested 1 New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Co 12:

6 it was an eye problem potentially due to the brightness of Jesus when he appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus. While they may seem plausible answers in the natural realm they do not measure up to the text at hand. The reason why Paul suffered is due to God's favor on his life - "because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations." God's favor brought out an enemy who wanted him to fall hard. Isn't it like the enemy to try to steal our joy when we get an amazing grace from our Father? This leads us to the next contextual issue we must look into. Where did the thorn come from? Paul gives us the clear answer of where the thorn originated in verse 12:7 when he writes, "...for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of satan to torment me to keep me from exalting myself!" Paul's thorn was given to him by evil forces. His thorn was a "messenger of satan." The Greek word for "messenger" is anggelos which is where we get the English word for "angel." Essentially, the context says that Paul was given an angel of satan to torment him. This verse also clearly says that Paul was "given" this satanic angel. Some have suggested that God gave Paul this thorn. I feel this is a grave theological and exegetical mistake. Scripture says that God is the giver of all good gifts. James writes, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." (Jas 1:17) Would this be considered a good gift? Whether one believes it is a sickness or persecution, Paul saw the thorn as a problem and an unwanted gift. Some could argue that God sometimes gives gifts that 6

7 we don't really want but God knows they are good for us. Yes, I would also agree that happens but this is not the case with Paul's thorn. Contextually this gift was an angel from satan and we know that God does not give evil or even an evil messenger to His children. So, in context it appears that the gift was given to Paul from the enemy because Paul was favored by God and had been given great revelation of His Father in heaven. Greek Word Studies So far I have showed that the gift of a "thorn" was from the enemy and that it was simply because God gave Paul an amazing blessing. This has not answered what the thorn might have been. Before I answer what I think it could have been, I want to look at some Greek words to help us understand the thorn better. After telling his audience that he was given a thorn, Paul then tells how he beseeched the Lord asking it to be removed. This is where we get the famed verse, "My grace is sufficient." Thus, through God's grace Paul wrote of his contentment with the thorn in verses In the King James version of 2Cor 12:9-10 it reads, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ s sake: 7

8 for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Take notice where Paul says he will "glory in my infirmities." I believe this translation of a specific Greek word has caused the most problems in understanding this text. In today's English we use the word "infirmity" as a sickness, a disease, or the state of being infirm. Infirmity is truly a medical term in today's language. However, this is not the full Greek meaning of the word behind "infirmity." The Greek word is astheneia. More modern translations provide a better translation of this word in English. In fact, the ESV, NIV, HCSB, NRSV, GNB, and the NASB all use the term "weaknesses" rather than "infirmities" in 2Cor 12:9-10. The King James Version does translate one meaning of the Greek word astheneia, but not the best meaning. The Greek word asthenia has four primary meanings: 1) weakness in a physical sense; 2) sickness; 3) impotence or inner poverty; and 4) economic weakness. 3 When translated "weakness" it is usually used in comparison to a physical weakness set against stronger spiritual issues. In Romans 8:26 we see a clear understanding of this when we read, "The Spirit helps us in our astheneia. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought." The Spirit helps our flesh pray when there is a spiritual need. Jesus said in Matthew 26:41, "the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is asthenes." So we see a physical weakness and spiritual strength. The same pattern is found in 2Cor 12 and Paul's thorn. He was given an evil 2 The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), 2 Co 12: Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 1, ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley and Gerhard Friedrich, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964-),

9 spirit as a messenger of satan and God's grace was working through Paul in his fleshly weakness. Thus, when Paul writes he has been given a "thorn in the flesh" he is not referring to a sickness but a spiritual challenge for his weakened flesh. To further this meaning we must look in context and see if this fits. As stated above it fits with the spiritual thorn that was given, but what about the long list of problems in 2Cor12:10? Paul writes, "Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." When compared together these problems all point to opposition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Insults, distresses, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake are thus given by the enemy to challenge God's grace. Notice as well that Paul mentioned them given "for Christ's sake." Paul is clearly referencing the problems he has endured for the name of Jesus. This fits well into the greater context of Second Corinthians where Paul in chapter 11 tells of all the persecutions he endured for Jesus. If the Greek word astheneia is accepted for "sickness" then the only logical explanation is that it would have been given by the enemy to hold Paul down. While this is possible, this doesn't make much sense because the sicknesses given by demonic elements were usually cast out by the authority of believers. Paul clearly walked in much authority and would have clearly cast such a sickness out (if it could have ever entered in the first place). We must also realize that in context Paul said that he was given a "messenger of 9

10 satan" not a sickness. Therefore, the best word to fit into 2Cor 12:9-10 for astheneia is "weakness" as most translations have adopted. The Thorn With the context in mind and a couple Greek words defined I can now provide my explanation for Paul's thorn in the flesh. I believe scripture clearly teaches Paul's thorn was satanically driven persecutions everywhere he went. This fits in the overall context of what Paul was writing, the Old Testament view of thorns, and God's calling for Paul's life. I have already dealt with the context of this passage well enough to prove it was about persecutions. If you are not yet convinced just read again 2Cor and ask God to reveal it - He will. With that already addressed, let's look at the Old Testament view of a "thorn in the flesh." In the NASB, thorn is mentioned 61 times in 56 verses. In nearly every occurrence a thorn was a spur against the people of God by another person or group of people. It was usually something very bad that was brought upon by sin or by the enemy trying to stop the people of God. There is no direct quotation of "thorn in the flesh" in the Old Testament. There is, however, a very close and probable comparison that is found in the Old Testament that Paul likely used in Second Corinthians. Three texts are key in understanding this. Numbers 33:55 " But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom 10

11 you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live." Joshua 23:13, "know with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you." Judges 2:3, "So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you." In each of the above texts we see the writers talking about the enemies of God becoming problems for the people of God and them being referred to as a thorn in their sides or eyes. Just for the sake of word studies, it is worthy to note that the word for "side" in Hebrew is sad which has two meanings. First, a "side" or specifically the "left side." Being the left side, it would have denoted shadiness or weakness. The second meaning is "adversary" which is clearly seen in Judges 2:3. A side or eye is part of the human body which is made up of flesh. If you live in Texas you know how bad a thorn hurts. I get them all the time and they are a real nuisance. A thorn goes into your skin and causes you to focus on the pain of the thorn instead of the work you are trying to do. If you step on one you must address the thorn or you will not walk much farther. I perceive that when Paul said the messenger of satan had become a thorn in his side, he was likely referring to the way the Lord had talked about previous lingering enemies as mentioned in 11

12 Old Testament texts. Paul was very well versed in scripture and he rarely used any reference but to Old Testament texts. His knowledge of the Word of God was greater than any of his contemporaries. It seems right to think that he was likely using this reference and putting it into the Greek mindset by simply saying "a thorn in the flesh" instead of a "thorn in the side." If Paul was referring to the "thorn in the flesh" as an enemy how can we reconcile it being allowed by God? The context of 2Cor 12 shows that God did not take the "thorn" away but instead worked through the weakness with His grace. I perceive this falls back upon Paul's original calling. When Jesus called Paul to preach the Gospel something powerful was told to Ananias before he prayed for Paul's eyes to be opened. Ananias was questioning Jesus about calling Paul because Paul was persecuting the church. Jesus said, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name s sake." (Acts 9:15-16) Notice verse 16 where Jesus says, "I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." Paul was clearly going to suffer for the Gospel and Jesus told Ananias this purpose for Paul's life. In the Second Corinthians passage it is interesting that Paul said something similar when he wrote that he was content with weakness "for Christ's sake." Paul understood his calling to suffer. 12

13 This is why I believe Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was suffering. Everywhere Paul preached he had to suffer greatly for Jesus. Paul himself said he was fulfilling what was lacking in Christ's sufferings. (Col 1:24) Where there is great privilege there is great responsibility and Paul was greatly privileged through the visions and closeness he had with Christ. This is why satan wanted to make Paul physically suffer everywhere he went. Paul was once satan's tool to cause the demise and suffering of Christians and then he turned to the Lord Jesus. Jesus, knowing that Paul would be persecuted, prophesied to Ananias "I will show [Paul] how much he must suffer for my Name's sake." Everywhere Paul went the demonic messenger would incite the people to violence in order to persecute Paul and all who were with him. Just as we all would pray, Paul asked Jesus to remove the thorn from his side but Jesus said, "my grace is sufficient." It is worth mentioning the "grace" that Paul received when he was persecuted. Jesus said Paul would suffer for His name but He also provides His blessings in the midst of such trials. After Paul was converted and first went to Jerusalem he fell into a trance and Jesus gave His grace by telling Paul to flee so he could live. (Acts 22:12) When Paul was left for dead at Lystra he was given grace to rise and walk again. (Acts 14:19-20) When Paul and Silas were imprisoned God's grace came via an earthquake and opened the prison doors. (Acts 16:25-26) Paul received God's grace through a vision when he was rejected by the Jews in Corinth. (Acts 18:8-10) Paul was able to endure 13

14 imprisonment, death threats, shipwrecks, and a snakebite because Jesus stood by Paul and told him he would go to Rome to share the Gospel. (Acts 23:11) Paul was also encouraged by an angel during this trip as well. (Acts 27:23) I could list many more instances of God's amazing grace poured upon Paul as he endured the thorn of a tormenting messenger of satan, but I think you get the point. God's grace was sufficient for Paul to continue on his mission. It is also sufficient for our missions as well! Amen? Conclusion I once thought this passage to teach that Paul's thorn was a sickness and I used it like most good cessationists for teaching that supernatural healing doesn't exist for today (except on very rare occasions). What changed? I saw somebody get healed through the prayers of a man praying in Jesus' name. I then studied to see if healing was for today. Through my studies this passage came up time and time again from cessasionists (those who believe miraculous healings ceased with the Apostles) as proof that sometimes God doesn't heal. I do agree that not everyone does get healed in the timing they wish or desire. After studying this passage and many others I now believe healing does exist for today. Even so, this passage is not about healing. It is about persecutions. I truly believe that had the King James Version rightly translated the word astheneia as "weakness" instead of "sickness" and pastors and lay teachers would have studied the passage without 14

15 preconceived notions, many of Jesus' people would have embraced the truth that Jesus not only died on a cross to save them but that part of our salvation includes healing. At the very least, there would have been many sickly people who would at least kept hope that God loves them and does not enjoy their suffering through the many infirmities they carry. This leaves two lingering questions. Is sickness considered suffering for Christ and why does God allow us to suffer? Sickness originated because of the sin of mankind. When Adam sinned the whole of creation was subject to death and destruction which is a direct result of his disobedience. Jesus came as the second Adam to redeem us from the effects of Adam's sin. His work on the cross led to the redemption of mankind. Through Him, we are now able to be set free from sin's hold and to be completely restored as full sons and daughters. We are now new creations who are born again and set free from the holds of the world, the flesh, and the devil. We are now made whole in Christ through our faith in Him. Since sickness derived from sin and Jesus saved us from the effects of sin, we have been given complete healing through His work on the cross. This is why Matthew 8:17 indirectly refers to Jesus' healing ministry (via referencing Isaiah 53) as His redemptive work. Therefore, sickness and disease are not a "suffering" we do for Christ's name because Christ died to save us from such. As for persecutions, we are in a spiritual war and in war persecution and pain at the hand of the enemy occurs. The enemy of 15

16 God wants to steal, kill, and destroy those saved by the work of Jesus Christ. Satan and his demons birth persecutions of all sorts for all righteous Christians. Persecutions are demonically born and are directed toward the body of Jesus Christ so when we are persecuted, we truly suffer for Jesus. When they happen we give Christ the greatest honor we can bestow because He suffered for us on the cross. We should count such tribulations as blessings and as privilege. Persecutions are never enjoyable but they are necessary and they will occur so as to fulfill all righteousness. Christians will never get the opportunity to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ when they get to heaven because then they will be freed from all suffering and pain. Thus, to be persecuted is an honor we only have in this world. God allows such persecutions because they exalt His Son and those who endure persecutions for the name of Christ will receive greater blessings in heaven than those who do not. So in essence, Paul's thorn in his flesh has given him amazing grace, blessings, and honor among those in the heavenly realm because he endured for the "sake of Jesus' name." 16

17 NOTES: 17