The Thorn in the Flesh of Paul
2Cor.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. For this thing I besought YHWH 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 Messiah may rest upon me.
Based on these verses, the majority of people believe that Paul had some kind of physical illness that YHWH allowed to continually inflict Paul, so that his “strength is made perfect in weakness” …. There are opinions that Paul might have been inflicted with this physical illness was poor eyesight, pain in the side, or even some kind of fatal disease.To understand what this “thorn in the flesh” that Paul had, first we need to see the whole context of what was said, and, secondly, we need to find the definition of the word “thorn” in Scripture. It is interesting to note that most of the figurative comparisons in Scripture are related to nature, the earth, fruits. Yeshua spoke in parables using these images (the parable of the wheat and the tares). Let’s look at the definition of the word “thorn” or “sting”.
“a thorn” – Strong: G4647 σκόλοψ skolops: a pointed piece of wood, a sharp stake, splinter
This word can also be found in the Torah:
Num.33:55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.
Josh 23:7 Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law (Torah), lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, but you shall hold fast to YHWH your Elohim, as you have done to this day. For YHWH has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand, for YHWH your Elohim is He who fights for you, as He promised you. Therefore, take careful heed to yourselves, that you love YHWH your Elohim. Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations – these that remain among you – and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, know for certain that YHWH your Elohim will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which YHWH your Elohim has given you.
“Thorns and pricks”, “scourges on your sides” or “tares” are opponents/adversaries of the Word of YHWH i.e. the traditions of men and the traditions of paganism.
This is the image of the thorns and pricks that grow among the people of YHWH to this day. It is impossible to get rid of them or run away from them. There will always be adversaries against the Word of YHWH. The only way to distinguish who is an opponent, or thorn that is you will know them only by their fruits. This is what Yeshua meant in his parable:
Mtt.13:24 The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed (wheat) in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn’.
The tares, thorns, and pricks are people who oppose/adversary the commandments of YHWH. A person who observes Shabbat and eats clean animals, gives tithes, honors the Feasts of YHWH, and denies paganism (holidays, days, and traditions) will always be opposed by those who do not want to accept the Word of the Most High, which are His commandments and salvation through faith in Yeshua.
Now let’s consider the context in which the word “thorn” is used:
2Cor.11:18 Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. To our shame, I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold – I speak foolishly – I am bold also. Are they Jews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Yeshua? I speak as a fool – I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness – besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the Congregations. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. Elohim and Father of our Lord Yeshua Messiah, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
2Cor.12:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities (weaknesses). 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with YHWH three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Yeshua may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Messiah’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Now we can see clearly that Paul’s weakness wasn’t a physical sickness or illness as most people think. The thorn in his flesh was inflicted on him through him being persecuted, offended, and beaten with the intent to kill him.
He had to constantly travel in the cold, struggling with thirst and hunger, in nakedness and without sleep, and on the verge of death in dangerous cities. He was betrayed by false brothers, but he continued to sympathize with people who had to endure these infirmities just like him. According to human reasoning, he prayed three times for YHWH to free him from the angel of Satan, who depressed him and antagonized him, but the desire to serve YHWH and carry His Word led him to understand that these weaknesses only made him stronger and his weaknesses were the evidence of the strength of YHWH!
You could say that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was his litmus test for his ministry to YHWH. “A thorn in the flesh” is the price a true minister pays when they are called to serve YHWH. And this “thorn” (weakness) for the minister himself is meant to be overcome with the presence of strength in Yeshua. Lastly, it’s important to note that physical illness and infirmity have never been the will of YHWH for a person, to say nothing of the Minister!