PAUL AND THE THORN Part Two

His Pain and His Gain ...Cor. 12:5-8.


I regret the long gap in my communication. Part of that was occasioned by being away for General Camp. Our last post was a brief survey of Paul and the thorn in the flesh experience - Verses 1-4. Today's study will be of verses 5-8.


In a rather strange way Paul seeks to glory and yet not to glory of or for himself and his unusual trip to the third heaven. In this attempt, he seeks to distance himself from himself by referring to "such an one." He lets that other man receive the glory while he, Paul, glories in his infirmities. He rejoices as a grace that enables him to triumph over them. This is a remarkable virtue, and may God enable us to do likewise.


In all of the references to glory, the Authorized Version and others use the word "boast."


In Verse 6, Paul implies that there may be some tendency to find comfort in self-glorification, but to do so would be the act of a fool. This, he carefully avoids. Here he stands totally apposite to so many today are the most highly acclaimed church leaders. Some years ago I read a book titled "The Preachers." In it the life style and ministry of ten prominent churchmen of that day were critically examined. Only one of the ten was judged by the author to be truly Christian. We don't know how God judges except that it is fair and accurate. St. Paul is concerned that those who see and hear him have a right conception of his integrity.


In verse 7, Paul tells the whole world of something given him as a counter balance against self exaltation or boasting. This he identifies as a thorn in the flesh and a messenger of Satan! The commentators have had a field day in their attempt to identify that thorn. Some of these I list from their writings: epilepsy, severe and prostrating headaches, malarial fever, physical weariness (Whoever is there who hasn't had that one!), opposition from critics, slander, ophthalmia. Barclay gives another opinion, not his own, "the grinding, boring pain in one temple." Now that's getting it down to a fine point. One went so far as to think it was his mother-in-law! Surely this must have been a person who himself had a problem, and because he had not carefully read his New Testament.


Why bother to attempt to discover some new theory on something that cannot be known and give a solution based wholly on conjecture? Why, indeed! Being far removed from the scene, I boldly submit my opinion. Since Paul identifies this thorn in the flesh, I conclude it to be a physical infirmity.


What is to me a greater problem is that God permitted - even sent - such a person to do this to God's chosen apostle, one who perhaps did more than other man to check or destroy the satanic work of an adversary. Yet Paul explains it and accepts it. Twice in one verse he writes, "lest I should be exalted." What acute perception!


This is cause for all of us to take stock and to ask God for His searching as in Psalm 139: 23-24!