March 2022
Paul wrote a great deal of our New Testament. One thing most Christians know about him is he had a “thorn in his side.” 2 Corinthians 12:7, “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,”
What was this thorn that God let Paul be afflicted with? Ella Rose mast looked to early church leaders such as Clements and Polycarp who referred to the fact Paul had poor vision. Perhaps he was referring to his inability to see well enough to write, this would explain why the majority of his letters were dictated with others doing the actual writing.
Many have theorized that the thorn was a physical ailment. This may not be the best answer as Paul received floggings and beatings as he traveled and never wrote complaints about them.
The Bible uses thorns in other passages to indicate sinful people. The crown of thorns at the crucifixion could be symbolic of Jesus taking on the sins of the world. In the parable of the sower Jesus uses thorns to represent those people and things that stifle the Word of God in people’s lives, causing their faith to dry up.
In the Old Testament, Numbers 33:55, “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides.” Hosea 9:6, “For behold, they will go because of destruction; Egypt will gather them up…Weeds will take over their treasure of silver; thorns will be in their tents.”
In Acts 21 we see Paul being accused of wrongful acts. He was accused of trying to turn Jewish people from God. He was arrested and a plot to kill him was put in place. From this I think we can see then that Paul’s thorn was someone; perhaps many, who scoffed and tried to disprove his message of Jesus glory and salvation.
What happens when we talk of our faith and of Jesus? Do people tell us we are being foolish? Do they tell us we are misguided or deceiving ourselves? If they do does it cause us to limit who we discuss Christ with to only those who we know will not try to cause us tribulation? Does it cause us to not say anything to others about faith and God? Yet we have been told by Jesus to go out among the people. Acts 1:8, “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
No one likes to be made fun of. No one likes to be criticized for our beliefs but it is our responsibility to talk about Christ, to share the message of salvation through the cross. If you are made uncomfortable look to Paul and take heart, you are in grand company.
God Bless.