What Was Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh?
The apostle Paul wrote, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure” (2 Cor. 12:7).
What was Paul’s “thorn”? Some commentators identify it as a physical illness, others believe it was a psychological disorder, and still others define it as frequent persecution. Some even believe it was a mixture of all three. The word thorn (Greek, skolops) indicates something pointed on its end, like a stake driven into the body. Paul never specifically identified this thorn.
The thorn gave Paul continual pain. He called it “a messenger of Satan to buffet me” (v. 7). Satan sent this demon as a “messenger,” and God allowed it. The word buffet (Greek, kolaphizó) means to strike violently with the fist. Paul’s pain persisted throughout his ministry.
Paul pleaded with God three times to remove the thorn (v. 8), but God did not. Likewise, Jesus appealed to God three times in prayer to deliver Him from intense suffering; but His Father did not (cf. Mt. 26:36–44).
God provided for Paul, saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul learned that in his weakness, God’s power is made perfect (Greek, teleioō), meaning God completed, accomplished, consummated, finished, and fulfilled His purposes for each trial Paul faced. A proper perspective on testing allows God to display His grace and power in our lives (Jas. 1:2–4), as He did in Paul’s.
The thorn’s purpose was to keep Paul humble because he had personally received great revelations from Christ. Without the thorn, Paul might have become exalted or filled with pride and lauded it over others (2 Cor. 12:7).
God displayed His grace, power, and will through Paul’s weakness. Thus, the apostle was thankful for his thorn, writing, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (v. 10).
When diseases, accidents, and major disasters arise, some ask, “Why me, Lord?” But God has a purpose in each trial, and His strength will sufficiently carry you through it if you submit to Him. Like Paul, we must trust God to work through our weakness to display His purpose and power through our hardships.
