<\/a><\/a><\/a> \u201cAnd lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a <\/i>thorn in the flesh<\/i><\/span><\/strong> was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.\u201d Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ\u2019s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.<\/strong> <\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The scriptures clearly tells us in ve<\/span>rse 7 that this thorn in the flesh was, \u201ca messenger from Satan\u201d – a demon. <\/span> It does not identify the thorn as sickness or any kind of affliction. The word used as \u201cmessenger\u201d here means angel (good or bad), it refers to a created being, not some kind of thing. So, Paul\u2019s thorn was literally a demonic spirit sent from Satan to buffet him.<\/span><\/p>\n The thorn in the flesh was sent to \u201cbuffet\u201d the apostle Paul. The word \u201cbuffet\u201d means to strike repeatedly as waves would buffet the shore. How did this \u201cdemon from Satan continually buffet Paul? Most Christian believe it was with sickness or some kind of physical afflictions. It was not!<\/span><\/p>\n Infirmity in verse 10 does not mean sickness. In the context of Paul\u2019s thorn, infirmities refers to all the opposition and persecution that Paul encountered every where he went. In fact, Paul list many of these persecutions in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 and specifically identifies them as \u201cinfirmities:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a> \u201cI speak as a fool\u2014I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24\u00a0From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25\u00a0Three 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; 26\u00a0in 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; 27\u00a0in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness\u2014 28\u00a0besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29\u00a0Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Thorn](\"https:\/\/www.breakthroughforyou.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/pauls-thorn-in-the-flesh.jpg\")
<\/a>2 Corinthians 12:7-10 is where we find Paul’s \u201cthorn in the flesh\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is the Thorn in the Flesh<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
What was Thorn in the Flesh Sent For<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Infirmity Does Not Mean Sickness<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n