For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Segun Oladele
We will never be able to understand some things while on this terrestrial shore, but thank God that knowledge will one day be completely swallowed up in omniscience and then we shall all understand without questioning what Paul's thorn in the flesh was.
ann smith
Amen
Anthony-Awi Shittu
Is it possible that Paul is talking of an attitude, a behaviour or action he regrets indulging in and which he knows is not Christ-like? He may have been struggling with such without success and had asked God to help him only to get that answer. Anger, for instance.
James Blair
I believe that Paul's thorn from the Messenger of Satan was that when Stephen was being stoned, Paul was holding Stephen's cloak. I believe this came back to haunt Paul because of the life he had lived before his conversion.
Danny Hickman
I believe Paul was talking about a physical ailment. I don't think he was speaking of a spiritual problem that haunted him, such as anger, selfish ambition, or envy. If that was the case he would have said THORNSSESSES.
He's talking about a backache, or an ankle that gets sore every time he jogs, or a wrist that keeps him from doing push-ups. I don't know of a worse thorn in the flesh than arthritis. I guess it comes to mind if you suffer from it.
Arthritis is painful, and it affects multiple areas of your body (flesh). The description of the problem as a "thorn" makes me think it had something to do with pain being associated with it. A problem with your eyes would probably not be called "a thorn in the flesh." Neither would an emotional issue, in my opinion.
Arthritis gets my vote. Maybe it's because it's my thorn.
Shirley H
Arthur Arthritis is a misery. My mom suffered with that. We all suffer. I am sorry for your trouble. I'll pray for you...
Danny Hickman
Thanks Shirley, but put me at the bottom of the prayer listing because I'm good. I did the Peachtree Road Race on Independence Day, like I do every year, so I didn't mean my arthritis has me down or anything like that. It's just like I said; I feel it in my back, ankle, hands, hip, knees... but that's pretty normal when you're 69 years old.
Paul wasn't bedridden either. Paul was making a point about the supremacy of the grace of God. His point is that if he can have a "thorn in the flesh" removed, or have the grace of God ALONG WITH the thorn in the flesh, he'd choose to retain the thorn because he wants to continue to be acutely aware of the grace of God in his life.
The church loses focus on the point of the narrative when we put most of our attention on wondering what the "thorn" was. If there was any real theological value in knowing what it was, I think we would have been told. Wondering what Paul's issue was is a carnal concern; a distraction. The knowledge of God's grace that is the result of afflictions is what he wants the church to consider.
Most of us would continue to beg God to change our condition if he told us to rest in his neverending grace. We'd try to get him to change his mind, but God wants us to know the eternal value of recognizing his knowledge and authority, his love and compassion for us. We won't know it if we don't learn to "count it all joy when we fall into various trials." (a hard lesson to learn)
That's what Paul was trying to teach.
Shirley H
Amen, amen, Danny. As we journey this life and become "the velveteen rabbit" we become more aware of the fact that we are to "just keep swimming." Whatever the issue, we all run into something as this tabernacle ages. But He is in the midst with us.
So, we keep on until our end. God bless you. One day we will meet face to face at the wedding. Amen.
Danny Hickman
Amen Shirley!!
Shirley H
Just keep looking up, not around...