Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh [False Beliefs About Sickness 1]

In the last two years, I have made a concerted effort to pray for the sick. I started getting more and more intentional in praying for the sick and offering it to anyone who speaks to me about sickness or disease in their bodies.

The more I started to do this, the more I started running into believers who would not receive prayer for healing because of some false assumptions they hold as true in their lives. No matter how many Scriptures I brought forth, they had a reason why they needed to remain sick.

False Beliefs About Sickness

I will be writing a series of posts dealing with the lies that Christians believe and seek to speak the truth of God’s word. If you happen to believe any of these lies, I am hoping to change your mind and getting you to seek God’s healing power for any sickness you have in your body.

A quick overview of some of the beliefs I will cover are as follows:

• Paul’s thorn in the flesh - I have this sickness because God wants to keep me from being proud.

• Sickness is my cross to bear.

• God is glorified through my enduring this sickness.

• God gave me this sickness because He can trust me with it

• God gave me my sickness to draw me closer to Him.

• God gave me my sickness to teach me a lesson.

• God is sovereign and He is allowing this sickness for His purposes.

• God is sovereign and will heal me if He wants to.

• Healing ceased with the death of the apostles or when we received the Bible.

• Paul left Epaphroditus sick and told Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach proving God doesn’t heal everyone.

• All of these big-time healing ministries are filled with hype and deceive people.

• I prayed with great faith for someone and they died, therefore God does not heal.

• God did miracles in the Bible because of the primitive beliefs of the people, but now we have more and better information as to what is taking place.

• If I have enough faith and the right confession, I will be healed.

Jesus Came to Heal the Sick

Jesus saw sickness as part of the curse, a result of the fall, and an activity of the devil. That is why He healed people everywhere He went. If sickness was part of His tool kit to help people grow in the Lord, one would think that we would read in the Bible where He would have placed some sickness upon people and explained the benefits to them.

There is not one place in the Scriptures where I see any such thing take place. Rather I see the exact opposite. I see Jesus heal the lame, the blind, the lepers, the deaf, and the dumb. I see Him rebuking fevers, straightening backs, casting out demons, and raising the dead.

People followed Him everywhere He went in search of healing. They were not disappointed. All who came to Jesus were healed. Healing and deliverance were a major portion of Jesus’ ministry. The miracles were not just to prove that He was God, they were to establish the kingdom of God on the earth. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and

 38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)

Jesus Authorized His Followers to Heal the Sick

Jesus wanted the disciples to continue this same kingdom ministry. He sent the original disciples out with the following instructions:

1 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. . . . 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. (Matthew 10:1, 7)

Jesus then expanded the ministry of healing and deliverance to seventy others. Luke describes it like this:

1 Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. 2 And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. . . . 8 Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9 and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ (Luke 10:1-2, 8-9)

When the seventy returned they were so excited that even the demons were subject to them (lLuke 10:17). This also  shows us that they were involved in the ministry of casting out demons. Jesus told them that they should be more excited that their names we written down in heaven than their power over demonic forces.

The good news is the mission of healing and deliverance did not stop with the apostles or the seventy. Jesus expanded it to all believers through His great commission. He said,

15 . . . “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

The preaching of the Gospel is to be accompanied with signs and wonders. Jesus said that those who have believed will see the power of God manifest through healing, deliverance, speaking in tongues, and exercising power over all the works of the enemy.

If this is true, why would any believer think that sickness is something that is good? Why would any believer embrace the very sickness that Jesus bore upon the cross? Why would any believer who calls Christ Lord think that He would use something He came to destroy as a tool of our redemption?

It’s the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from sin. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit that consecrates us and sanctifies our lives. It’s the fruit of the Spirit that builds the character of God in our lives. It’s God’s desire for us to be partakers of His blessing and not of the curse. Jesus died to redeem us from the curse not to afflict us with it.

Sickness is Part of the Curse

In the book of Deuteronomy, God brings the children of Israel to two mountains. One was to be the mountain of blessing, the other the mountain of curses. When God described the blessing that would come from following Him, every single one is something that everyone would love to experience. Every curse was terrible and something that no one in their right mind would pursue.

Here is a list of the sickness and diseases from Deuteronomy 28 that God Himself considers to be a part of the curse. Each definition for the following words are by James Swanson.

• Pestilence (v 21) - “a pandemic occurrence of sickness that causes widespread death, often with the associative meaning of judgment from God”*

• Consumption (V 22) - “a disease causing serious illness, with a focus on emaciating the body, such as consumption or tuberculosis, diarrhea, etc.”* 

• Fever (V 22) - “a state or condition in which one has an elevated temperature of the body causing a hot feeling to the ill person”*

• Inflammation (V 22) - “a sickness or diseased condition which causes the feeling of having a fever or being hot”*

• Boils of Egypt (v 27) - “a localized eruption of the dermis, from an infection of the skin gland, having a hard central core, and forming pus”*

• Tumors (v 27) - “lymph abscesses of the groin area, possibly a hemorrhoidal-like abscess”*

• The scab (v 27) - “ a festering sore, open rash, or scurvy or some such scabbing/itching disorder”*

• The itch (v 27) - “a skin eruption of some kind that itches”*

• Madness (v 28) - “an irrational state of not having a right mind, and so capable of erratic behavior similar to panic”*

• Blindness (v 28) - “a state or condition of not being able to see, implying a state of confusion”*

• Bewilderment of heart (v28) - “ a state or condition of a stunned, confused response either negative or positive, though in context a fearful situation”*

• Sore boils on your knees and legs (v 35) - Very severe, painful boils

• Extraordinary plagues (v 59)  - “devastating pandemic disease in a population”*

• Severe and lasting plagues (v 59) - plagues that are more terrible than normal and last longer in duration

• Miserable and chronic sicknesses (v 59) - continual and terrible sickness that afflict one’s life

• All the diseases of Egypt (v 60)

• Every sickness and every plague which, not written in the book of this law (v 61)

In God’s mind, sickness is part of the curse and has no place in the list of blessings. Nowhere does God say He will smite people with sickness as some sort of blessing. Sickness is always looked upon as evil, destructive, and a thing to be avoided.

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh

I would like to start this series off by dealing with the issue of Paul’s thorn in the flesh. Many authors have categorically stated that Paul’s thorn was a sickness. There are dozens of sicknesses suggested.

I categorically believe that Paul’s thorn was not a sickness, but a person who was strongly opposed to Paul and caused him much harm. There is also abundant evidence in the context of Paul's statement to understand what he considered to be his thorn in the flesh.

Thorn in the Flesh

The first thing is to figure out how the term “thorn in the flesh” was used in the Bible.

• Thorn in the Flesh

• (an idiom, literally ‘thorn in the flesh’) something which causes serious trouble and difficulty—‘trouble, woe, suffering, serious inconvenience, thorn in the flesh.’ (Louw-Nida)

• 55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live. (Numbers 33:55)

• 13 know with certainty that the Lord your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you. (Joshua 23:13)

• 3 Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they will become as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.’”  (Judges 2:3)

The three mentions of the thorns in the Old Testament all have to do with people giving the children of Israel trouble. There is no mention or hint of sickness or disease in these references.

Messenger of Satan

The second thing to figure out are the words “messenger of Satan” means. The word messenger is the Greek word angelos simply means messenger. It is used to speak about God’s angels who come with messages from Him. It also used of human messengers.

The Scripture says that the messenger Paul had was from Satan. From this some have determined that the messenger was a demon that plagued Paul and tormented him with evil thoughts and temptations.

Others, including myself, believe that the messenger was a person that was deeply opposed to Paul and did much damage to Paul is describing as his weaknesses.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching. (2 Timothy 4:14-15)

Weaknesses

The third thing we need to figure out is the meaning of the word “weaknesses”. This is the most crucial in understanding what Paul was trying to communicate. Louw and Nida define weakness as “a state of incapacity to do or experience something—‘incapacity, weakness, limitation.” There is also a secondary use of the word that means sickness (see Matthew 8:17; Acts 28:9; John 11:4).

I believe many scholars use the secondary definition of the word to come up with the idea that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a sickness, but I also believe that taking the word in context is important. Paul uses the idea of weakness four times in 2 Corinthians 11 and 12.

30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. (2 Corinthians 11:30)

 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Context is Everything

Now it is time to turn to the context of the passage. What does Paul consider his weaknesses to be? Below is a list of 30 examples Paul gives about his weaknesses and not one of them is sickness. Every single one of the things he mentions has to do with all of the difficulties he faced in preaching the Gospel.

Paul mentions how hard he worked, how many times he was imprisoned and beaten by men, all the dangers he faced in his travels for Christ and the internal struggles he had in his concern for the church,

Thirty Examples Paul Gives of His Weaknesses

1. far more labors (11:23)

2. far more imprisonments (11:23)

3. beaten times without number (11:23)

4. often in danger of death (11:23)

5. five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes (11:24)

6. three times I was beaten with rods (11:25)

7. once I was stoned (11:25)

8. three times I was shipwrecked (11:25)

9. a night and a day I have spent in the deep (11:25)

10. I have been on frequent journeys (11:26) 

11. in dangers from rivers (11:26) 

12. dangers from robbers (11:26)

13. dangers from my countrymen (11:26) 

14. dangers from the Gentiles (11:26) 

15. dangers in the city (11:26) 

16. dangers in the wilderness (11:26) 

17. dangers on the sea (11:26) 

18. dangers among false brethren (11:26)

19. I have been in labor and hardship (11:27) 

20. through many sleepless nights (11:27) 

21. in hunger and thirst (11:27)

22. often without food (11:27) 

23. in cold and exposure (11:27).

24. the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

25. In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands. (11:32-33)

26. Torment (12:10) “(a figurative extension of meaning of κολαφίζωa ‘to beat with the fist,’ 19.7) to cause injury or weakness or possibly a circumstantial difficulty—‘to cause harm to.’” (Louw-Nida)

27. Insults (12:10) “to be insolently mistreated—‘maltreatment, insolence and mistreatment.’” (Louw-Nida)

28. Distresses (12:10) “a general state of distress and trouble—‘trouble, distress, troublous times.’” (Louw-Nida)

29. Persecutions (12:10) “to systematically organize a program to oppress and harass people—‘to persecute, to harass, persecution.’” (Louw-Nida)

30. difficulties, for Christ’s sake (12:10) “a set of difficult circumstances, implying certain restrictions—‘distress, difficulty.’” (Louw-Nida)

Take It Away

Paul’s thorn was impairing his life and he went to God in prayer. He said,

8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 

Paul asked the Lord to take the thorn away three times and his request was denied three times. Looking at the list of the things above, I would ask the very same thing. Paul wanted relief from all the persecution and trials he faced as he preached the Gospel.

Why would God deny Paul’s request? I think that Jesus and the Biblical authors reveal the reason. We are in a spiritual battle and there are those who will actively resist the preaching of the Gospel and persecute those who proclaim it.

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. (John 15:18-21)

33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-11)

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. ( 1 Peter 4:12-16)

Persecution is part of the Gospel. There will always be those who actively persecute those who preach the gospel. Paul clearly understood this at the end of his life and told Timothy,

10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:10-12)

I believe Paul was asking God to remove all of the persecution from his life and especially a certain messenger of satan that was troubling his life rather than relief from a sickness that was troubling him.

What is Your Conclusion?

So now it is time for you to come to your own conclusion. Was Paul’s thorn a sickness? As you can tell, I do not.

If you have believed the lie that God has given you a sickness to keep you humble, then I encourage you to repent of the belief and begin to seek healing from the Lord. God is not the one striking you with sickness. He sent Jesus to bear your sicknesses and diseases and bring you healing.

Jesus healed everyone who came to Him and sought out others to heal. Never once in His ministry did He ever walk up to someone and give him a sickness. He always took sickness away. He always healed the one afflicted.