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Paul's thorn was not an ailment or a sickness, it was persecution from his enemies. It always amazes me that people say it was a sickness. A simple reading of the passage will tell you what Paul's thorn was.
"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." (2 Corinthians 12:7)
Now according to the above verse, what was Paul's thorn? A MESSENGER OF SATAN. This phrase "the messenger" is translated from the greek word aggelos and it means "angel".
(Source: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/...ongs=G32&t=KJV)
The "thorn" was an angel sent by Satan, or in other words, a demonic spirit. It was not an "ailment". What was this demonic spirit sent to do to Paul? BUFFET HIM. This word "buffet" comes from the greek word kolaphizō, and it is means
1) to strike with the fist, give one a blow with the fist
2) to maltreat, treat with violence and contumely
Source: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/...gs=G2852&t=KJV)
It indicates brutality through physical violence. This same word (buffet) is used when talking about the sufferings our Lord and Savior went through.
"Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him (kolaphizō
; and others smote [him] with the palms of their hands," (Matthew 26:67)
"And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him (kolaphizō, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands." (Mark 14:65)
So the "thorn" was a demonic spirit sent to basically beat the crud out of Paul. Paul suffered these types of persecutions throughout his ministry.
"Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;" (2 Corinthians 11:25)
But nowhere in the Bible do we see this word "thorn" representing any kind of sickness or ailment. All throughout the Bible I see it being consistently representing enemies of God's family.
"But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live." (Numbers 33:55)
This verse speaks of enemy occupants when Israel passed over Jordon into the land of Canaan. They were instructed to drive these enemies out, otherwise they would become a burden. But notice the language used. They would become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. "Thorn" is used here to represent the enemy occupants.
"Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you." (Judges 2:3)
Again, this verse uses "thorn" to represent enemies and persecuters. It doesn't represent an illness or sickness.
"But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations…then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you." (Joshua 23:12-13)
AGAIN, "thorn" represents enemies. You seeing the pattern?
The word "thorn" is consistently used in the Bible to represent persecutions at the hands of enemies. Nowhere in the Bible does it use this word "thorn" to represent any kind of physical sickness.
Now, some will still contend that Paul was speaking of a sickness because he uses the word "infimity" in the following passages. They will say "see there. Paul says that he had an infirmity. That means he was sick." Let's examine this claim:
"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: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
I'm am thoroughly convinced that Paul was referring to "weakness" when he used that word infirmity, not sickness or illness. The word "infirmity" comes from the greek word astheneia, and it is translated:
1) want of strength, weakness, infirmity
a) of the body
1) its native weakness and frailty
2) feebleness of health or sickness
b) of the soul
1) want of strength and capacity requisite
a) to understand a thing
b) to do things great and glorious
c) to restrain corrupt desires
d) to bear trials and troubles
(Source: Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon)
Some will say, "See there, one of the definitions means "feebleness of health and sickness" and they'd be absolutely right. However, this isn't the only definition. And when discussing the passage in question, we have to figure out if "sickness" was the definition of the word when Paul used it.
Paul uses this word astheneia in 15 verses throughout the New Testament and ONLY TWICE does he use it to mean sickness. Here are the verses he uses the word to mean sickness:
"Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses (astheneia)." (1 Timothy 5:23)
"As you know, it was because of an illness (astheneia) that I first preached the gospel to you."
These are the ONLY verses Paul uses this greek word to mean sickness.
The other 13 verses, he uses it to mean weakness:
"I put this in human terms because you are weak(astheneia) in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness." (Romans 6:19)
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness(astheneia). We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."
"I came to you in weakness (astheneia) and fear, and with much trembling." (1 Corinthians 2:3)
"it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness (astheneia), it is raised in power;" (1 Corinthians 15:43)
"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness (astheneia)." (2 Corinthians 11:30)
"I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses (astheneia)." (2 Corinthians 12:5)
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness(astheneia)." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses(astheneia), so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses(astheneia), in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)
"For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness(astheneia), yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you." (2 Corinthians 13:4)
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses(astheneia), but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)
"He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness(astheneia)." (Hebrews 5:2)
"For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak(astheneia); but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever." (Hebrews 7:28)
"quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness (astheneia)was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies." (Hebrews 11:34)
So while others have used this word astheneia to mean sickness many times, Paul only uses it twice. He uses the word in 15 verses and only in TWO of those verses does he use it to mean sickness. And the passages regarding his thorn, he uses the word to mean WEAKNESS, not illness or sickness.
Even Protestant Reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) agrees that the word "infirmity" in the passage isn't referring to an illness or sickness.
So based on the evidence, I submit to you that Paul's thorn was NOT a sickness, but persecutions instigated by the devil.
Why go through all this trouble to tell you that? This is the main passage used to attack divine healing. People say that Paul "prayed to be healed and God said no." This is not the case. God never even said no, He said my grace is sufficient, meaning my grace is what's going to get you THROUGH it. God promised healing, he never promised that we wouldn't get persecuted. Jesus was persecuted.
I hope I've added some clarity to this age old debate.
"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." (2 Corinthians 12:7)
Now according to the above verse, what was Paul's thorn? A MESSENGER OF SATAN. This phrase "the messenger" is translated from the greek word aggelos and it means "angel".
(Source: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/...ongs=G32&t=KJV)
The "thorn" was an angel sent by Satan, or in other words, a demonic spirit. It was not an "ailment". What was this demonic spirit sent to do to Paul? BUFFET HIM. This word "buffet" comes from the greek word kolaphizō, and it is means
1) to strike with the fist, give one a blow with the fist
2) to maltreat, treat with violence and contumely
Source: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/...gs=G2852&t=KJV)
It indicates brutality through physical violence. This same word (buffet) is used when talking about the sufferings our Lord and Savior went through.
"Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him (kolaphizō
; and others smote [him] with the palms of their hands," (Matthew 26:67)"And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him (kolaphizō
, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands." (Mark 14:65)So the "thorn" was a demonic spirit sent to basically beat the crud out of Paul. Paul suffered these types of persecutions throughout his ministry.
"Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;" (2 Corinthians 11:25)
But nowhere in the Bible do we see this word "thorn" representing any kind of sickness or ailment. All throughout the Bible I see it being consistently representing enemies of God's family.
"But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live." (Numbers 33:55)
This verse speaks of enemy occupants when Israel passed over Jordon into the land of Canaan. They were instructed to drive these enemies out, otherwise they would become a burden. But notice the language used. They would become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. "Thorn" is used here to represent the enemy occupants.
"Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you." (Judges 2:3)
Again, this verse uses "thorn" to represent enemies and persecuters. It doesn't represent an illness or sickness.
"But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations…then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you." (Joshua 23:12-13)
AGAIN, "thorn" represents enemies. You seeing the pattern?
The word "thorn" is consistently used in the Bible to represent persecutions at the hands of enemies. Nowhere in the Bible does it use this word "thorn" to represent any kind of physical sickness.
Now, some will still contend that Paul was speaking of a sickness because he uses the word "infimity" in the following passages. They will say "see there. Paul says that he had an infirmity. That means he was sick." Let's examine this claim:
"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: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
I'm am thoroughly convinced that Paul was referring to "weakness" when he used that word infirmity, not sickness or illness. The word "infirmity" comes from the greek word astheneia, and it is translated:
1) want of strength, weakness, infirmity
a) of the body
1) its native weakness and frailty
2) feebleness of health or sickness
b) of the soul
1) want of strength and capacity requisite
a) to understand a thing
b) to do things great and glorious
c) to restrain corrupt desires
d) to bear trials and troubles
(Source: Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon)
Some will say, "See there, one of the definitions means "feebleness of health and sickness" and they'd be absolutely right. However, this isn't the only definition. And when discussing the passage in question, we have to figure out if "sickness" was the definition of the word when Paul used it.
Paul uses this word astheneia in 15 verses throughout the New Testament and ONLY TWICE does he use it to mean sickness. Here are the verses he uses the word to mean sickness:
"Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses (astheneia)." (1 Timothy 5:23)
"As you know, it was because of an illness (astheneia) that I first preached the gospel to you."
These are the ONLY verses Paul uses this greek word to mean sickness.
The other 13 verses, he uses it to mean weakness:
"I put this in human terms because you are weak(astheneia) in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness." (Romans 6:19)
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness(astheneia). We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."
"I came to you in weakness (astheneia) and fear, and with much trembling." (1 Corinthians 2:3)
"it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness (astheneia), it is raised in power;" (1 Corinthians 15:43)
"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness (astheneia)." (2 Corinthians 11:30)
"I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses (astheneia)." (2 Corinthians 12:5)
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness(astheneia)." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses(astheneia), so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses(astheneia), in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)
"For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness(astheneia), yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you." (2 Corinthians 13:4)
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses(astheneia), but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)
"He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness(astheneia)." (Hebrews 5:2)
"For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak(astheneia); but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever." (Hebrews 7:28)
"quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness (astheneia)was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies." (Hebrews 11:34)
So while others have used this word astheneia to mean sickness many times, Paul only uses it twice. He uses the word in 15 verses and only in TWO of those verses does he use it to mean sickness. And the passages regarding his thorn, he uses the word to mean WEAKNESS, not illness or sickness.
Even Protestant Reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) agrees that the word "infirmity" in the passage isn't referring to an illness or sickness.
(Source: Commentary on St. Paul?s Epistle to the Galatians | Christian Classics Ethereal Library) Emphasis mine.
So based on the evidence, I submit to you that Paul's thorn was NOT a sickness, but persecutions instigated by the devil.
Why go through all this trouble to tell you that? This is the main passage used to attack divine healing. People say that Paul "prayed to be healed and God said no." This is not the case. God never even said no, He said my grace is sufficient, meaning my grace is what's going to get you THROUGH it. God promised healing, he never promised that we wouldn't get persecuted. Jesus was persecuted.
I hope I've added some clarity to this age old debate.
