What was Paul's thorn in the flesh? Part 1

What was Paul's thorn in the flesh? Actually that is a very interesting question. Just do a search on the internet for this topic and you will find many different ideas and each of them believing they have it all figured out. I have read many works of many people thinking that they had surmised what the thorn in the flesh was for Paul. I have even heard people say that if it were important then the Bible would tell us plainly. Well the Bible does tell us plainly what the thorn in Paul's flesh was but unfortunately we choose to ignore what the Bible says, because it does not line up with what we think the Bible says. Confused yet? Well just hang on, it will get worse before it gets better.

What are some of the options for what the thorn was? A common one is that Paul suffered from some sort of vision problems possibly because of him going blind after seeing Jesus on the road to Damascus. In Galatians 4:13-15 Paul mentions a bodily illness and tells us that others were willing to pluck their own eyes out and give them to him.  Also  in Galatians 6:11 Paul tells us that he is writing with his own hand in large letters. Many determine that these verses are recorded because of his poor eyesight. We will look at these verses a little closer in just a minute.  Other people say that he had some sort of physical ailment like a speech impediment, migraines, malaria, epilepsy and still others say that it was the persecution that he endured. I am not saying any of these are wrong. God may have used all of these things in Paul's life. However, I believe the Bible is clear as to what the thorn was in this particular incident and it is a lesson that all of us can learn from. 

First lets look at the possibility that Paul's thorn was his eyesight since this is most commonly taught as a possibility because of the verses listed above. Paul had gone blind on the road to Damascus so his eyesight should obviously be a topic of consideration. This story is recorded in Acts 9:8 "And Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open he could see nothing;" Verse 9 tells us that he was three days without his eyesight. In verses 17-18 we are told that Ananias came to see him because the Lord Jesus had sent him "so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight and he arose and was baptized:" This was a healing from God and associated with his salvation experience. To suggest that the healing was not complete, total or was merely temporary does not line up with other healing experiences recorded in the scriptures.  An incomplete healing would make God look poorly in the eyes of those around Paul. Also Jesus on several occasions had referred to the Pharisees as leaders who were "the blind leading the blind" Matthew 15:4 and Luke 6:39 are two examples. Saul was a pharisee and for him to suffer with a permanent aliment such as blindness would make him appear to be the very one that the Lord had warned against. In my opinion this would create a situation where it would be more difficult for the Jews to accept the message that Paul was sent to give. 

So lets look at the two verses that I listed that appear to be good indicators that the thorn in Paul's flesh was his eyesight. Galatians 4:13-15 "But you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. Where then is that the sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness, that if possible, you would have plucked your eyes and given them to me." So when was the "first time" that Paul preached to the Galatians? We find that answer in Acts 14. In Chapter 13 Paul had preached to the Jews and they rejected his message but some Gentiles heard and accepted it. So Paul decided to go to the Gentiles. In chapter 14 in verses 7-8 he traveled to the region of Galatia and visited the cities and surrounding areas of Lycaonia, Lystre, and Derbe.  In verse 19 we have some Jews who came and won over the Gentiles and stoned Paul and drug him to the dump and supposed him to be dead. But in verse 20 it says he got up and walked with Barnabus from Lystra to Derbe. There he preached and in verse 22 we are told one of the main themes of his preaching. It was "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." His body was obviously covered with bruises, cuts and his face was probably swollen to the point that it was hard for him to see. This explains the "bodily illness" or better translated "weakness of the flesh" and the reason that Paul mentions that the listeners should have "despised or loathed" his appearance. It also explains why those listening would be willing to "pluck out their eyes and give them to Paul." He must have been a pitiful sight and those looking at him felt sorry for him. I am sure he struggled to be able to see past his swollen, puffy eyes and they would have helped him if they could have. But they overlooked his appearance and actually received him as "an angel of light." I believe the problem that plagued him was merely temporary because he speaks of it in the past tense when he stated "that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time."

The second verse often used to teach that the thorn in Paul's flesh was his eyesight is Galatians 6:11 "See what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand." This is an interesting verse. Many translations say something a little different. Something similar to "See what a large letter I have written to you with my own hand." Kind of changes the meaning of the verse. One refers to the size of the individual letters and the other to size of the entire letter. So which is right? This is strictly my personal opinion but if Paul had been referring to the appearance of his handwriting he would have addressed that at the first of his letter not the end. If he is referring to the length of the letter then he would do that at the end of the letter, not the beginning. In this particular case he was wrapping up his letter and then makes the comment about the size or length of the letter.  The word that is used in the Greek for "letter or letters" is Gramma which can mean; that which is written, a letter of the alphabet or a book or letter.  So either translation could be correct when looking at this word. I don' t think scripture is clear enough to know for sure which way is correct and that is why it is often translated both ways. So at the very least this verse is suspect in using it for confirmation of what Paul's thorn in the flesh was.

As for the thorn in the flesh being some other type of physical aliment, I believe there is nothing in scripture that would support this possibility. There are a few things that may be hinted at here and there but certainly nothing that could be considered concrete. One example for this is that the thorn in the flesh was some sort of a speech impediment which is hinted at in II Corinthians 10:10 and 11:6. To accept this as the "thorn" in Paul's flesh, a person would have to draw a lot of conclusions. Clearly Paul was accustomed to making speeches before the Pharisees and seemed very comfortable in front of the Sanhedrin of which he may have been a member. Paul often preached for extended periods of time and on at least one occasion spoke all night. He spoke in front of both Jews and Gentiles and to leaders of both groups. He was very articulate, knowledgeable and capable of speaking to anyone. He communicated wonderfully through his writings and there is nothing to suggest that his perceived "unskilled speech" was anything that would have been a thorn in the flesh.

Some have argued that the term "thorn in the flesh" would have to be those that persecuted Paul. In the old testament, "thorns in the flesh" for the Israelites were those people groups that led them away from God. I believe this is close but not quite right.  There was something that was pulling Paul away from God but it was not people. Also, if Paul's persecutions and trials were his thorn in the flesh then we have a problem. Paul clearly had many persecutions and here is a list from Paul himself in II Corinthians 11:23-30 "I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches." Clearly he had his share of persecutions. The problem is this. If Paul prayed on three different occasions for God to remove his tribulations then it makes Paul out to be some what of a hypocrite. On several occasions Paul preached that tribulations or persecutions were not only necessary, expected, profitable but also an example that God loves us. As did other writers in the New Testament. Some examples are:


Acts 14:22 "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."


II Corinthians 1:5"For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."


Philippians 1:29 "For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake."


II Thessalonians 1:5 "This is plain indication of God's righteous judgement so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God,  for which indeed you are suffering."


Hebrews 12:6 For those whom the Lord loves he disciplines and He scourges every son whom He receives. 


Plus these scriptures from others:


II Timothy 3:12 "And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."


I Peter 3:14 "But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed..."



I Peter 5:10 "And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you."


And there are many others.

I think this would be good stopping point for now. Next time we will look at what the thorn actually was that God did not remove from Paul. It is a very interesting study and one that is applicable to all of us.