What was Paul's thorn in the flesh?

Answer 1

As he set out to accomplish work for God, the Apostle Paul encountered considerable opposition. Paul continually ran into people who obstructed his efforts.

II Corinthians 11:24-26 "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;"

Because Paul was accomplishing much for God, Satan specifically targeted him. Only a few verses after listing his perils, Paul described this targeted response by the adversary as a thorn in the flesh, "the messenger of Satan."

II Corinthians 12:7 "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure."

The apostle Paul's thorn in the flesh was people inspired by Satan to obstruct his ministry. An example to us, Paul recognized his human inability to overcome this dilemma. His response was that he kept his eyes on God and relied on His strength, repeatedly going to Him in prayer.

II Corinthians 12:8,9 "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Answer 2

It is believed by many that this 'THORN' was some sort of physical infirmity, possibly relating to Paul's eyes (Galatians 4:13-15 / Galatians 6:11), maybe as a result of his blinding on the road (Acts 9:3-9)when he was first humbled into listening to Jesus. When Paul asked to have this 'thorn' removed, three times (2 Corinthians 12:8+9)God said NO, because it was to serve as a constant reminder of Paul's human limitations....that it was NOT on his OWN limited power, that Paul would succeed, but on God's power, through Christ, which is limitless. Because of this, Paul commented: "When I am weak, then I am strong"(2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV)

Answer 3

Paul's thorn in the flesh is believed to refer to a physical ailment or weakness that was a source of ongoing suffering or limitation for him. The exact nature of this thorn is not specified in The Bible.