Sermon Tone Analysis

Liberty University Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh

 

 

A paper submitted to:  Dr.

Devin Hudson

In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for

the course NBST 522

 

 

Liberty Theological seminary

 

 

By

Steven Hervey

 

                                                                                  

Lynchburg, Virginia

Sunday, October 5th, 2008

 

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Table of Contents

Introduction-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”  as Described in 2 Cor.

12.1-9----------------------------------------1

Theories Surrounding Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”------------------------------------------------5

Conclusions regarding Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”---------------------------------------------14

Conclusion--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16

Bibliography-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

\\ Introduction

               “There was given to me a thorn in the flesh. .

.[1]”

Ironically, these words written by the Apostle Paul in his second epistle to the church located at Corinth have become a thorn in the flesh of their own in the minds of theologians.

While most are able to come to grips with the reality of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” as well as its function in Paul’s life, no universal theory has been presented to determine its identity.

It seems likely Paul’s original audience understood the exact nature of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” however; scholars today are left largely in the dark.

Although many scholars make inferences from what Paul has written in 2 Corinthians and elsewhere, Paul gives no concrete evidence to pinpoint the precise identity of his affliction.

Further, no significant sources outside scripture bring resolve to the issue.

With these facts in mind, many theories have surfaced on the topic.

While an irrefutable scenario regarding the nature of Paul’s thorn in the flesh may never be realized, scripture provides valuable insight into his affliction and permits modern readers to draw conclusions as to its identity.

Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh” as Described in 2 Cor.

12.1-10

Before delving into the various theories surrounding Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” what has been written by Paul’s own hand must be analyzed.

The primary evidence surrounding Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” is found in 2 Cor.

12.7-9.

The initial information Paul provides is the reason the “thorn in the flesh” was given to him.

He writes “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations. . . to keep me from exalting myself.”[2]

Paul’s mention of “revelations” causes his readers to refer back to the visionary experience he recounts in 2 Cor.

12.1-6.

Here Paul notes he “know[s] a man in Christ” who was taken up into what he calls the “third heaven” and was allowed to hear “inexpressible words which a man is not permitted to speak.”[3]

While no consensus has been reached regarding the exact nature of Paul’s vision, for the purposes of this work, it will be held Paul is referring to an experience in which he was taken into the very presence of God.

This experience may or may not have actually occurred; a point which will be discussed further as individual theories are considered.[4]

Following this vision Paul was apparently susceptible to the sin of pride as he notes the “thorn in the flesh” was given to him so he would not exalt himself.

Specific considerations of the “thorn in the flesh” will be discussed subsequently, however, for now it will suffice to say regardless of its identity Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” resulted in humility.

It was given to keep him from “exalting himself” as a result of the vision he had received.[5]

After providing a reason for the “thorn in the flesh,” Paul discusses its nature.

He writes “there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me.”[6]

Thorn is translated from /skolops/ which is a “pointed piece of wood or stake.”[7]

The location of this thorn is the “flesh.”

Flesh is a translation of /sarx/ and may be understood as referring to either Paul’s physical body, or the “unregenerate desires which remain upon salvation.”[8]

Within the canon of scripture /sarx/ has been used to refer to either, however, here the understanding of /sarx/ drastically affects the interpretation of the identity of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.”

If /sarx/ is his body this constrains the exact nature of the “thorn” to a physical malady.

If /sarx/ refers to humanity’s sinful desires, Paul’s “thorn” could refer to any lust Paul may have been susceptible to.

Whatever the exact nature of /sarx/, Paul declares the “thorn” was present to “torment” him.[9]

“Torment” in the original language is /kolaphizo/ meaning “to beat with a fist.”[10]

From this description Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” is to be understood as a source of great pain regardless whether the pain is spiritual or physical.

The images of a “stake in the flesh” as well as being “beaten with a fist” provide substance to this observation.

It must be noted Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was not a preexisting condition, but began following the revelations from 2 Cor.

12.1-6.

It was “given” to him presumably by the Lord for it was the Lord who was asked to remove it and the Lord who explained why he must keep it.

At this point in his life Paul had been suffering from this thorn for fourteen years without permanent relief.[11]

In addition to the pain it caused, Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” resulted in weakness.

Paul records the Lord as saying his “power is perfected in weakness,” and Paul would “boast about [his] weaknesses.”[12]

This reference to “weakness” clearly refers to the “thorn in the flesh” establishing it as the source of Paul’s weakness.

Paul describes the source of his pain and weakness as a “messenger of Satan.”[13]

This description provides valuable insight into the source of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.”

Whatever was causing Paul pain had it roots in the activity of Satan.

It was not the consequences of a preexisting condition, something Paul brought upon himself, or the result of natural circumstances but had is source in the activity of Satan.[14]

Paul’s description of his “thorn in the flesh” as a messenger of Satan indicates this.

Messenger translated from /aggelos /literally means “one who is sent” indicating the source of Paul’s pain was under the direction of Satan.[15]

The pain resulting from Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” becomes more obvious due to Paul’s response to it.

He “implored the Lord three times that it might leave.”[16]

Initially, Paul was not content to possess his “thorn in the flesh.”

He wanted it to be taken from him.

He “implored,” literally “begged” the Lord to remove it[17]  He begged for relief not once but thrice and he finally has his prayer answered, although, it was not the answer he expected.

Rather than removing the “thorn in the flesh,” the Lord granted him grace to endure.[18]

Paul records the Lord’s words as “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”[19]

In this statement, the Lord’s purposes for Paul’s suffering are revealed.

The “thorn in the flesh” was given to Paul as a result of his “revelations” but was given /to/ Paul in order to display the Lord’s power.

Rather than hindering Paul, it helped him recognize and depend upon the Lord’s power.[20]

Paul’s attitude regarding his affliction changes after receiving the Lord’s answer to his three prayers.

Rather than hoping for the thorn to be removed and ridding his life of what he deems as weakness he embraces his “thorn in the flesh.”

In 2 Cor.

12.9 Paul writes he will “boast about [his] weaknesses,” and follows this by declaring he is “content with weaknesses.”[21]

Paul welcomes his affliction once he understands God’s purposes.

Within Paul’s thorn two purposes of God are clearly established:  to keep Paul humble following his vision of heaven, and to display Christ’s power through Paul’s ministry.

Additionally as Garland notes Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” is filled with paradoxes:  it made Paul weak yet brought him power, a messenger of Satan was used to empower yet the heavenly vision was not, and Paul could boast about the “thorn in the flesh” but could not tell a soul the “inexpressible words” he heard in his vision.[22]

Although the “thorn in the flesh” began as a detriment, Paul realizes the benefit of his affliction.

Theories Surrounding Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh”

            While there are likely countless theories regarding the specific details of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” within the scope of this work five major theories will be addressed:  physical malady, opponents, demonic attack, sinful desire, and parody.

The first of these theories to be to be considered will be physical malady.

Proponents of this theory understand /sarx/ to mean the physical body and the “torment” Paul undergoes to be some manner of physical pain or deficiency.

Support for this theory is gleaned from Paul’s other letters.

In Gal.

4.13 Paul writes of a “bodily (/sarx/)/ /illness,” and notes in Gal.

4.14 he was a “trial to [the Galatians] in [his] bodily (/sarx/) condition.”[23]

Linking these passages to Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” is /asthenia.

/The “illness” from Gal. 4.13 and the “weakness” of 2 Cor.

12. 5, 9,10 are both translations of the word /asthenia//*[24]*//./

This lingual detail is absent from many modern translations but easily identified in the Greek.

Paul describes his “thorn in the flesh” as /asthenia/ in 2 Cor. 12 and then writes to the Galatians about his /asthenia./

Lightfoot notes the resemblance between these passages is so close the natural deduction is they both discuss the same subject.[25]

Additional belief in a physical malady is gained from Paul’s description of his physical body as a fragile “earthen vessel,” and a tent with no permanence.[26]

Smith further notes Paul describes himself as coming in “weakness,” and being “burdened excessively” by a weakness in Asia[27]  In addition to Paul’s explicit description of weakness in 2 Cor. 12 the information gleaned from other epistles he penned indicates a physical malady.

Additional support for a physical malady is provided by Paul’s prayer for removal.

The reasoning behind this line of thought is Paul asked for its removal upon each occurrence.

It is held Paul was afflicted with an intermittent disease which allowed for travel and ministry between outbreaks but debilitated Paul upon striking his body.[28]

Lightfoot, believes Paul was stricken at least five known times:  at the initial vision of Heaven, while Paul was ministering in Galatia, the reference to Satan’s hindrance in 1 Thess.