In 2 Corithians 12:7, Paul state that due to his danger of becoming prideful or "conceited" in the revelations that were shown him, he was given a "Thorn in his side" or as Paul put it, a messenger of satan.
7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Some have speculated that it was of a sexual nature, others that it was his poor eyesight, but that doesnt sound like "a messenger of satan".
Can anyone shed light on this?
I generally prefer KJV to revised versions. The word used in KJV is exalted, meaning magnified, lifted up. The word exalted now is not negative.
The answer to your question is in the following verses: 8-10.
2 Cor 12
7 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.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 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.
10 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.
The phrase throne in the flesh today refers to people who are constantly antagonistic.
Numbers 33:55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and
thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
Joshua 23:13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and
thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
We see God calls the enemies of God's people 'thorns in their sides'.
2 Cor 12:7 goes on to say this is a 'messenger of Satan'. Messenger is also translated as angel. This is a satanic force. Definitely not from God.
If you read on to vs10, Paul explained what this 'thorn in the flesh is:
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake.
Infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses...
for Christ's sake. It's clear to me, this thron in the flesh was a satanic attack because Paul was doing God's work (of evangelism).
We see in...
Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
And infirmities we know from Job's story were from the devil also. All these troubles Paul was experiencing were satanic forces aroused to oppose Paul evangelistic campaigns.
Paul asked the Lord to remove these obstacles, to vindicate him. The Lord answered 'my grace is sufficient'.
Hope this is clear,
