Article October 8, 1904 Issue

Paul's Thorn in the Flesh

LEWIS C. STRANG.

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 the Lord 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 Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.—II Corinthians, 12:7—10.

The important point in connection with this interesting statement by Paul is not, what was the thorn in the flesh, but did the apostle make his demonstration? Did he prove the omnipotence of good by overcoming the particular claim of evil which he designated as a thorn in the flesh?

We have been taught in the past that Paul failed in this instance to justify his faith by his works, and the argument has proceeded something after this fashion: God foresaw that Paul was likely to become exceedingly puffed up with pride because he had been considered worthy of a special revelation concerning the things of the Spirit. Consequently, to forestall this inevitable sin on Paul's part, God inflicted the apostle with a physical or mental irritant, which should serve the divine purpose of keeping the afflicted mortal properly humble by constantly reminding him that in spite of revelations he was only a worm. Paul, perceiving the divine wisdom of the infliction, rejoiced in it mightily, and welcomed all similar inflictions as a further means of spiritual salvation through the mortification of the flesh.

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