"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,t a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.But 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
--2 Cor. 12:7-10 (ESV)
Which would cause you more torment: epilepsy or someone you love betraying you? Migraines or finding out your best friend had been laughing at you behind your back? Which would be more humbling? Which would drive you to your knees more quickly?
In 2 Corinthians 7-10, Paul talks of the "thorn in the flesh" that was given to him to harass or torment him, a "messenger of Satan," which was to keep him from becoming conceited. Paul begged the Lord three times to take it from him, but He refused, saying "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:10.
I listened to two sermons in the car today, one on the way downtown and one on the way back. They both dealt with these verses, with Paul's thorn in the flesh. The pastor's position was that the thorn was not a physical infirmity, but instead was a person or a group of people.
When I first heard this theory, I dismissed it out of hand, because it just didn't seem right to me. In all of my extensive theological training after being a Christian for 4 long years (yes, I'm being sarcastic), I quickly rejected this idea as preposterous. I heard it again, maybe a year later, only this time it was twice in one day, and the second time in the same day it was from my own pastor, who I couldn't possibly respect more. Of course, I shared my brilliant and well-researched opinion with him that I didn't think the thorn in the flesh could possibly have been a person or people. Later, I replayed the conversation in my head and felt like a total, unmitigated idiot. If I were an apostle, I would have been Peter. I realized that my pastor had some extremely valid points (of course!). He mentioned that John MacArthur held the same view, so I decided to try to get the facts. I found two sermons where MacArthur addressed the very issue, and those are the sermons I listened to in the car today.
Paul had poured his heart and soul into the church in Corinth. They had come so far, he was so proud of them. He counted the church in Corinth a huge success. He had done such a great job with them.
I had a light bulb appear above my head while I was driving on I-65. He had worked so hard. He was so proud of the church. The church was Paul's achievement. Excuse me, whose success? Whose achievement? Paul was so proud of the church and its success. God chose the most appropriate and the most painful discipline to adjust Paul's attitude.
Enter false teachers. Paul refers to "a messenger of Satan" when he talks about these people who led the Corinthians astray. Satan, the Father of Lies. God allowed Satan to have his way with the Corinthian church to "torment" Paul and show him that the church in Corinth wasn't Paul's achievement at all.
"But it's not fair," you say. Why punish the Corinthians just because Paul had a pride problem? Well, it was God's church to build, and His to allow the false teachers to enter, to serve His purposes.
These false teachers came into the Corinthian church and told the church members that Paul had it all wrong. They said Paul was the false teacher, and the Corinthians followed the wolves without a protest. Paul loved these people, they were his brothers and sisters in Christ! He had brought them so far, he had taught them and led them. Betrayed. The pain was nearly unbearable. Time would make the wound heal, but it would always ache from time to time.
What do you think? Was Paul's "thorn in the flesh" a physical ailment, or a person or group of people? Or something else altogether?
To listen to the sermons, click here:
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/scripture/2-corinthians
In His service,
Stephanie
