Does not prove disability on Paul's part. To say that he has some type of eye condition is just conjecture. It merely shows the level of devotion the people had for him. Not enough evidence for anything else.
Since none of us were there it is all conjecture.
weakness is consistent with a health problem. We are not as I know from Scripture to have that level of devotion for a person. Can you give over examples of that level of devotion for others in the New Testament?
"Paul was short of stature; the Pseudo-Chrysostom calls him "the man of three cubits" (
anthropos tripechys); he was broad-shouldered, somewhat bald, with slightly aquiline nose, closely-knit eyebrows, thick, greyish
beard, fair complexion, and a pleasing and affable manner.
He was afflicted with a malady which is difficult to diagnose (cf. Menzies, "St. Paul's Infirmity" in the "Expository Times", July and Sept., 1904), but despite this painful and humiliating infirmity (
2 Corinthians 12:7-9;
Galatians 4:13-14) and although his bearing was not impressive (
2 Corinthians 10:10), Paul must undoubtedly have been possessed of great physical strength to have sustained so long such superhuman labours (
2 Corinthians 11:23-29). Pseudo-Chrysostom, "In princip. apostol. Petrum et Paulum" (in P.G., LIX, 494-95), considers that he died at the age of sixty-eight after having served the
Lord for thirty-five years."(from
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Paul )
As you know, it was because of an
illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though
my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that,
if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me (Gal 4:13-15).
The context is more consistent with an illness.
Saul got up from the ground,
but when
he opened his eyes he could see nothing;
so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.
For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank (Acts 9:8-10).
From a sermon of one of the Church Fathers, that says the thorn was a person.
"
2 Corinthians 12:7
And that I should not be exalted overmuch, through the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of
Satan, to buffet me.
What do you say? He that counted not the kingdom to be any thing; no, nor yet
hell in respect of his longing after Christ; did he deem
honor from the many to be any thing, so as both to be lifted up and to need that curb continually? For he did not say, 'that he might buffet me,' but that he may buffet me. Yet who is there would say this? What then is the meaning of what is said? When we have explained what is meant at all by the thorn, and who is this messenger of
Satan, then will we declare this also. There are some then who have said that he means a kind of pain in the head which was inflicted of the
devil; but God forbid! For the body of
Paul never could have been given over to the hands of the
devil, seeing that the
devil himself submitted to the same
Paul at his mere bidding; and he set him
laws and bounds, when he delivered over the fornicator for the destruction of the flesh, and he dared not to transgress them. What then is the meaning of what is said? An adversary is called, in the Hebrew,
Satan; and in the third Book of Kings the
Scripture has so termed such as were adversaries; and speaking of Solomon, says, 'In his days there was no
Satan,' that is, no adversary, enemy, or opponent.
1 Kings 5:4 What he says then is this: God would not permit the Preaching to progress, in order to check our high thoughts; but permitted the adversaries to set upon us. For this indeed was enough to pluck down his high thoughts; not so that, pains in the head. And so by the messenger of
Satan,
he means Alexander the coppersmith, the party of Hymenæus and Philetus, all the adversaries of the word; those who contended with and fought against him, those that cast him into a
prison, those that beat him, that led him away to death ; for they did
Satan's business. As then he calls those
Jews children of the
devil, who were imitating his
deeds, so also he calls a messenger of
Satan every one that opposes. He says therefore, There was given to me a thorn to buffet me; not as if God puts arms into such men's hands, God forbid! not that He does chastise or punish, but for the time allows and permits them."
CHURCH FATHERS: Homily 26 on Second Corinthians (Chrysostom)
The Bible does say thorn in the flesh???? I do not remember.