Bible Commentary | 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

David Jeremiah calls a trial a bend in the road.

Gordan McDonald, in his book The Life God Blesses, calls trials disruptive moments.  “Those unanticipated events, most of which one would usually have chosen to avoid had it been possible.”  He adds, “We don’t like disruptive moments; they are too often associated with pain and inconvenience, failure and humiliation.  Not that they have to be, but that seems the way of the human condition.”

David Jeremiah gives a short outline of this passage in his book, When Your World Falls Apart:

1. The purpose of the disruptive moment.
1. V. 7 “especially because of the extraordinary revelations.  Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself…”
2. Paul clearly states that the purpose of his suffering was to protect him from the sin of pride.
3. In the preceding verses, Paul described a time in the past when he had been granted an opportunity to be caught up into the very heavens with God.
2. The pain of the disruptive moment.
1. V. 7 “A thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me.”
3. The provision of the disruptive moment.
1. V. 9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”
2. “He would not remove the thorn, but… in the midst of the ordeal, He would give Paul all the grace he needed to continue his work.”
4. The product of the disruptive moment.
1. Vv. 9-10 “so that Christ’s power may reside in me… For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2. “You won’t lack the grace to do your job… Your weakness will serve to magnify the glory of my power in such a way that no one will ever again be able to explain your experience in human terms.”
5. The perspective of the disruptive moment.
1. V. 9 “Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.”

Thomas Watson says that this passage reveals three ways God uses trials for our good (The Lord’s Prayer):

1. As they set them praying.
2. As they are a means to humble them.
3. As they establish them more in grace.

7 especially because of the extraordinary revelations. Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. 

extraordinary revelations

In v. 2 Paul said that he was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years prior.  He was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words.  

so that I would not exalt myself

Thomas Watson (Body of Divinity) wrote, “It is hard to have the heart low—when comfort is high. God sees humility to be better for us than joy. It is better to lack comfort, and be humble—than to have it, and be proud!”

Thomas Watson wrote, “Rather than a Christian shall be haughty minded, God will let him fall into the devil's hands awhile, to be cured of his swelling pride.”

Lenski wrote, “in order that I may ever be kept in deepest humility.”  (The Interpretation of 1 and 2 Corinthians)

G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “There is nothing more hindering the work of God than the uplifted and proud Christian.”  (The Corinthian Letters of Paul)

William Beck' “keep me from feeling proud."

Phillips translation: “To prevent my becoming absurdly conceited.”

ESV: “To keep me from becoming conceited”

NLT: “To keep me from becoming proud”

MSG:  “So I wouldn’t get a big head”

a thorn in the flesh was given to me

MacArthur’s theory is that this was a demonized person, since it is described as a messenger (Gr., angelos, or angel) from Satan.  Of the 175 uses of the Gr. Word, angelos, in the NT, most are in reference to angels.  The angel was from Satan, a demon afflicting Paul.  Perhaps it was a demon who was indwelling the ring leader of the Corinthian false teachers.  Through them he was hurting the church.

  

But the thorn is called an “it”, meaning it is not a person.

The MacArthur study Bible says, “God was allowing Satan to bring this severe trouble in the church for the purpose of humbling Paul who, having had so many revelations, including a trip to heaven and back, would have been proud. The demonized false apostle attacking his work in Corinth was the stake being driven through his otherwise proud flesh.”

ESV Study Bible:  “The most frequently proposed possibilities include: (1) Paul’s inner psychological struggles (such as grief over his earlier persecution of the church, or sorrow over Israel’s unbelief, or continuing temptations); (2) Paul’s opponents, who continued to persecute him (cf. Num. 33:55 and Ezek. 28:24, where thorns refer to Israel’s enemies); (3) some kind of physical affliction (possibly poor eyesight, malaria fever, or severe migraine headaches); or (4) some kind of demonic harassment (“a messenger of Satan”). Most commentators cautiously prefer some form of the third view, since “thorn in the flesh” would seem to suggest a physical condition.”

Weymouth translation: “like the agony of impalement”

Norlie's Simplified New Testament: “given a chronic pain in my body”

Twentieth Century New Testament:  “a sharp spike was sent to pierce my flesh”

Lenski wrote, “Was given to me is surely to be understood as it stands: this fearful affliction was the Lord’s gift to Paul.” (The Interpretation of 1 and 2 Corinthians)

Lenski describes the different theories (The Interpretation of 1 and 2 Corinthians):

1. Blasphemous thoughts, tortures of conscience, sexual temptations.
2. Attacks on Paul by some persistent vicious opponent who made himself Satan’s tool.
3. All the afflictions and hardships that were incident to Paul’s work.
4. A diseased condition: eye misery, headaches, malaria, ear trouble, sciatica, rheumatism, Malta fever, leprosy, some nervous disorder, hysteria or melancholia, epilepsy.
5. A physical disfigurement.
6. An ailment which would cause the ancients to spit in their superstition.  

David Jeremiah lists many of the theories (When Your World Falls Apart):

1. An eye problem, since we know that he began to dictate his letters to others.
2. Epileptic seizures.
3. Sir William Ramsay even suggested that Paul had some recurring strain of malaria.  
4. Hysteria
5. Hypochondria
6. Gallstones
7. Gout
8. Rheumatism
9. Sciatica
10. Gastritis
11. Leprosy
12. Lice
13. Deafness
14. Dental infection
15. Remorse.  Paul had persecuted and tortured many Christians prior to his conversion.

One author wrote, “What's in a thorn? The list of suggestions regarding Paul's thorn in the flesh reads like a medical dictionary. Ideas include epilepsy, eye disease, malaria, leprosy, migraine headaches, depression, and stammering. But the metaphor of a thorn in the flesh is used in the Old Testament only in reference to adversaries (Num 33:55; Judges 2:3; Ezekiel 28:24). Whatever the thorn was -- whether physical malady or a spiritual adversary -- it came from Satan, humbled Paul, and glorified God.”

The Greek word for "thorn" is skolops (Strong's 4647).  William Barclay says skolops "can mean 'thorn' but more likely it means stake.  Sometimes criminals were impaled upon a sharp stake (The Daily Bible Study Series)."  Lenski wrote, “in the papyri the regular meaning of this word is ‘thorn’ or sharply pointed sliver (The Interpretation of 1 & 2 Corinthians)."  Lenski went on to says, “In ‘thorn’ we have the idea of something sharp and painful sticking deeply in the flesh so that it remains there and cannot be drawn out.”  Philip Hughes wrote, “The proper meaning of the Greek word translated ‘thorn’ in our English version is ‘stake’, or a sharpened wooden shaft (The New International Commentary on the New Testament, 2 Corinthians).”  The MacArthur Study Bible says it literally means "a stake in the flesh."

William Barclay reviews many of the theories (The Daily Bible Study Series).  Calvin thought it was spiritual temptations, to doubt or shirk the duties of apostleship.  Luther thought it was the opposition and persecution which he had to face, the constant battle with those who tried to undo his work.  The common Roman Catholic view is that it represented carnal, sexual temptation.  Barclay isn’t satisfied with any of these, since the word “thorn” indicates savage pain and physical suffering.  It was also intermittent because Paul was able to continue his work.  Some think it was his physical appearance.  Some said that his “physical presence is weak” (2 Cor 10:10).  Maybe he had a disfigurement which made him ugly and hindered his work.  Some think it was epilepsy, because it is painful and recurrent, and you can carry on with normal life between attacks.  Epilepsy can produce delusions and hallucinations, or what Barclay calls visions and trances.  As well, in the ancient world when people saw an epileptic they spat to ward off the evil demon.  In Gal 4:14 Paul said that when the Galatians saw his infirmity they did not reject him.  The word reject literally means “you did not spit on me.”  The oldest of all theories is that Paul suffered from severe headaches.  This was held by Tertullian and Jerome.  Another theory is that Paul had eye trouble, which would also lead to headaches.  After his vision on the Damascus Road in Acts 9:9 he was temporarily blinded.  He may have never fully recovered from that.  In Gal 4:15 Paul said that they would have gladly plucked out their own eyes and given them to him if possible.  He also wrote in large letters (Gal 6:11).  The most likely thing is that Paul suffered from chronic malaria which was common on the coast of the eastern Mediterranean.  Natives of that area would pray for their enemies to be afflicted with it.  One sufferer described the headaches as being like “a red-hot bar thrust through the forehead.” Another speaks of “the grinding, boring pain in one temple, like the dentist’s drill – the phantom wedge driven in between the jaws.”

a messenger of Satan to torment me

Lenski says the word "torment" means "blows that are struck with the closed fist."  He said it is derived from the word for 'knuckles,' and it means to strike with the fist so that the hard knuckles make the blow sting and crush.  (The Interpretation of 1 & 2 Corinthians)

MacArthur Study Bible:  “The verb translated “torment” always refers to ill treatment from other people.”

NKJV Study Bible: “Buffet means to strike with the fist.”

J.I. Packer (Rediscovering Holiness): “In what sense was Paul’s thorn a messenger of Satan?  It sparked thoughts of resentment at God, pity for himself, and despair about the future of his ministry – the sort of thoughts that Satan specializes in stirring up within us all.  Anything that prompts such thinking thereby becomes a messenger of Satan to our souls.”

8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. 

Pleaded

Parakaleo (Strongs, 3870)

Lenski says it means “to call to one’s side.” (The Interpretation of 1 & 2 Corinthians)

NLT translates it “begged."

Complete Biblical Library says the word can be translated “intreated, implored, urgently appealed.”

three times

Packer (Rediscovering Holiness) “In three solemn seasons of prayer he sought.”

Hughes says that the three occasions were most probably associated with three separate and severe assaults of this messenger of Satan.

Philip Hughes “Delay in answering is intended to test the earnestness of the petitioner and to emphasize his utter dependance upon the divine mercy.”  (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

G. Campbell Morgan “That does not mean three times.  It is the Hebrew figure of ceaselessly, continuously, over and over again.” (The Corinthian Letters of Paul)

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” 

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 

my grace is sufficient for you

J. I. Packer (Rediscovering Holiness) wrote, “Why was healing withheld?  Not for lack of pure-hearted prayer on Paul’s part, nor for lack of sovereign power on Christ’s part, but because the Savior had something better in view for his servant.”

J. I. Packer (Rediscovering Holiness) wrote, “Jesus’ response to Paul’s prayer could be expanded like this: “Paul, I will tell you what I am going to do.  I am going to display my strength in your continuing weakness, un such a way that the things you fear – the ending or enfeebling of your ministry, the loss of your credibility and usefulness – will not occur.  Your ministry will go on in power and strength as before, though in greater weakness than before.  You will carry this thorn in the flesh with you as long as you live.  But in that condition of weakness, my strength will be made perfect.  It will become more obvious than ever that it is I who keep you going.”

J. I. Packer (Rediscovering Holiness) wrote, “The implication was that this state of things would be more to Paul’s personal blessing, more to the enriching of his ministry, and more to the glory of Christ the enabler, than an immediate cure would be.”

Lenski says, “it suffices for thee., for all thy life, all thy work, all thy suffering, also and especially for this distressing thorn in the flesh.” (The Interpretation of 1 & 2 Corinthians)

Lenski describes God’s grace as “the Lord’s undeserved favor toward one who as a sinner has deserved the very opposite, this boundless favor with all that it bestows, pardon and peace, support, and deliverance, comfort, strength, assurance, hope, joy, and every gift.” (The Interpretation of 1 & 2 Corinthians)

Lenski wrote, “If we are right in assuming that about fourteen years had passed since Paul made his prayers and heard this answer from the Lord we have these long years as evidence that the grace did prove sufficient for Paul.” (The Interpretation of 1 & 2 Corinthians)

The Complete Biblical Library says, “God would provide sufficient grace and divine strength to sustain him regardless of his trials.”

The NLT translates it, "My grace is all you need."

The AMP Bible says, “(My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]"

for my power is perfected in weakness.

MacArthur Study Bible: “The weaker the human instrument, the more clearly God’s grace shines forth.”

ESV Study Bible: “His earthly weaknesses would be the platform for perfecting and demonstrating the Lord’s power.”

J. I. Packer (Rediscovering Holiness, 232) wrote, “The power of God is shown most fully in human weakness... God sanctifies all these forms of weakness by enabling the weak to be stronger (more patient, more outgoing, more affectionate, more tranquil, more joyful, and more respectful) than seemed possible under the circumstances. This is the demonstration of his power that he delights to give... Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity... Opportunity for what?--to show his power, the power of his grace, now displayed for the praise of his glory... What he does again and again is to make his weak servants into walking wonders – sometimes, of course, in the physcial sense, immobilized wonders – of wisdom, love, and helpfulness to others despite their disability. It is thus that he loves to show his power.” 

J. I. Packer (Rediscovering Holiness) wrote, “The pattern is that the Lord first makes us conscious of our weakness, so that our heart cries out, ‘I can’t handle this.’ We go to the Lord to ask him to remove the burden that we feel is crushing us.  But Christ replies, ‘In my strength you can handle this, and in answer to your prayer, I will strengthen you to handle it.’”

Lenski “the divine power is finished, is brought to the end of its work in weakness… When it [God’s power] has brought us to the point where we are utter weakness, its task is finished.  It has then shaped us into the perfect tool for itself.  As long as we sinners imagine that we still have some power we are unfit instruments for the Lord’s hands… But when he has reduced us to utter nothingness, then the telos is reached; with such a tool the Lord can do great deeds.” (The Interpretation of 1 & 2 Corinthians)

NLT: “My power works best in weakness.”

AMP: “for my strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.”

LB: “My power shows up best in weak people”

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses

Philip Hughes wrote “Enthusiastic willingness for the will of God, whatever it may entail, is the mark of genuine faith.” (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary calls this the “single, most important verse in 2 Corinthians.”

So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties

NKJV Study Bible: “I take pleasure” is a word that means “to think good,” “to be well-pleased.”

For when I am weak, then I am strong

J.I. Packer said, “The world means by strength (of character, mind, and will) a natural endowment, the ability to press ahead, undistracted and undiscouraged, towards one’s goals.  God-given strength or power is however a matter of being enabled by Christ himself through the Spirit to keep on keeping on in personal holiness before God, personal communion with God, personal service of God, and personal action for God.  One keeps on however weak one feels.”

J. I. Packer wrote, “Only at the point where the insufficiency of natural strength is faced, felt, and admitted does divine empowering begin.”

Chrysostom wrote, “How great is the advantage of affliction; for now indeed that we are in the enjoyment of peace we have become supine and lax, and filled the church with countless evils; but when we were persecuted we were more soberminded and more earnest and more ready for church attendance and for hearing.”

Someone said that Christians are somewhat like tea; their real strength does not show until they are in hot water.