Paul’s "thorn" has been used by Satan to convince Christians that it may sometimes be Gods will for even a faithful servant like Paul to be sick.
Satan convinces us through religious tradition that Paul’s "thorn in the flesh" was a sickness that God refused to take from Paul.
Many theologians have made suggestions of what Paul’s "thorn" could be. Most believe it was ( at the least ) partial blindness.
While it is true that Paul was, for a time, blind; we are also told when and by what means he was healed.
Christians have failed to study the Word of God for themselves. They have believed what they were told "the Bible says", rather than reading it for themselves. and asking God to reveal His Word, and His Will to them.
Misinterpretation has left us feeling unworthy to hope and trust God to heal us.
Forget what tradition teaches for a moment, and lets examine what Paul’s affliction actually was, and whether or not God delivered him from it.
Paul was blind. We can read that in the book of Acts. Chapter 9.
After Paul (Saul) persecuted and ordered the deaths of thousands of people, Jesus Himself appeared to Saul as a bright light from heaven.
"Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing."
( Acts 9:8)
No. We see in verse 9:
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. (9:10)
The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ( 9:11)
In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." (9:12)
"For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink
anything.
Later in verse 15: The Lord says:
"Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel."
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul he said,
Immediately something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized."
"Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you as you were coming here- has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Verse 16 )
So we see in this chapter that Paul was blind. And then the Lord sent a disciple to lay hands on him so that he could receive his sight.
This should be the end of the confusion. But because of the way 2nd Corinthians has been mis-read people are under the impression that Paul still suffered from blindness.
"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."
Paul says that the "thorn" was a messenger of Satan. The word "messenger" here, is the same word that is translated "angel" in chapter 12 verse 7. If you have read my page on angels, you will remember two words: the Hebrew word: "Malak" and the Greek word:"Angelos"
These both literally mean "messenger" or "angel".
Paul's thorn was not blindness, or any other sickness. The thorn in Paul's side was a spirit sent to keep Paul from preaching the Gospel to the world.
Also some say that when Paul spoke of the "large letter" he had written in Galatians 4:15, this meant that Paul was partially blind. And could not see unless writing in huge letters.
This is absurd. At that time all writing was done in letters over an inch high. If Paul couldn't see them, then trust me, he wouldn't be able to read at all.
The "large letters" surely refers to the length of the letter written, not the size of individual letters on the page.
There is no evidence in Scripture that Paul's thorn was blindness.
More to come...
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