What Was Paul’s Thorn?

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. (2 Corinthians 12:8)

“I pleaded with the Lord that it might depart from me.” Paul’s prayer on this matter was passionate. We wonder if he wasn’t surprised when the prayer was not answered the first or second time.

Paul’s initial prayer was to escape the suffering this thorn in the flesh brought him. Paul was no masochist. When he suffered, his first instinct was to ask God to take the suffering away.

When his passionate and repeated plea was not answered, it must have concerned Paul. It added another dimension to this trial.

· It had a physical dimension in that it was a thorn in the flesh.

· It had a mental dimension in that it was a messenger of Satan.

· It had a spiritual dimension in that it was an unanswered prayer.

What exactly was Paul’s thorn in the flesh? We simply don’t have enough information to say precisely, but that hasn’t prevented many commentators and teachers from giving their opinion.

Some see it mainly as spiritual harassment. Others think it was persecution. Many suggest that it was a physical or mental ailment.

Each of these suggestions is possible, but God had a definite purpose in not revealing the exact nature of Paul’s thorn. If we knew exactly what Paul’s thorn was, then everybody who was afflicted – but not in exactly the same way – might doubt that Paul’s experience was relevant to them. God wanted everyone with any kind of thorn in the flesh to be able to put themselves in Paul’s shoes.

Prompt: Do your prayers seem to go unanswered? Be encouraged! This happened to Paul, too. God hears your prayers (Psalm 22:24). Spoiler alert: There’s a promise from God coming for you in tomorrow’s reading (2 Corinthians 12:9)!

Based on The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik.