2 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.
Since the Lord gave the apostle Paul an “abundance of revelations,” he could have become puffed up with such wonderful knowledge (1 Cor. 8:1). However, along with the abundance of revelations came an abundance of infirmities (physical weakness, 2 Cor. 11:23-33). Although God did not cause Paul’s infirmities, He used them to help keep him humble and to keep him from being too highly exalted among men (2 Cor. 10:10; 12:6). By the way, this proves we cannot eradicate the sin nature in this life (Rom. 7:18; Phil. 3:12-14).
Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was something that both God and Satan wanted to use in his life. God used it to teach him that His grace is sufficient, but Satan used it to beat him down (“buffet me”) with discouragement. God and Satan can use the same thing for a different purpose (cf. 2 Sam. 24:1; 1 Chron. 21:1).
What exactly was Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”? Since he said it was “the messenger of Satan,” some think he was using a figure of speech to refer to a false teacher that Satan was using to hinder his ministry. That people can be a thorn in the side is a biblical figure of speech (Num. 33:55), and Paul did refer to false teachers in the context (2 Cor. 11:4, 13-15). However, the thorn being a false teacher does not fit the immediate context (vv.7-10). Paul would not glory in a false teacher (2 Cor. 12:9)!
Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was literally a physical infirmity that continually gave him trouble. In light of all the suffering he went through, the thorn could have been any number of things. For example, based on what Paul said in his epistle to the Galatians, it could have been severe eye trouble (Gal. 4:13-16; 6:11). The scripture does not specify what it was so that we all can relate and apply the passage. God’s grace is sufficient for whatever infirmity we might have.
Paul learned to glory in his infirmities (instead of griping) because when he was physically weak he was more dependent on the Lord and spiritual strength is far more important than physical health (2 Cor. 4:16-18).
