The majority of interpreters look at this as referring to Paul's eyesight.

What do you think?

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Benjamin P. Glaser, M. Div, Licentiate, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Member Fairmount ARP Church
Pittsburgh, PA

Deo Vindice

I think the Idea in the fact that Paul did not tell us himself was that we should not use time thinking about it.

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Martin - Reformed
Husband to the most godly, honorable and loyal wife Line
Searching for a Church
Webpage www.5solas.dk
Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net
Soli Deo Gloria

This has been addressed before:
What of that Elusive "Thorn in the Flesh?"
Paul's "thorn in the flesh"

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Jim
1689 LBCF
Independent Bible Church
North Texas, USA

'I didn't know Paul picked blackberries!'

Quote from a six year old in a Bible study last year.

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We shall not adjust our Bible to the age; but before we have done with it, by God's grace, we shall adjust the age to the Bible. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Lawrence Underwood, Jr.
Pastor - Providence Family Fellowship / Mobile, Alabama
1644/46 LBC
My Blog - Imprimis

This crossed my mind today. So, is poor eyesight a "messenger of Satan"? If so, what does that imply about all physical disabilities and ailments? Is my elderly christian friend suffering debilitation at the hands of a messenger of Satan? What about my kid's cold?

I don't know, just seeking clarification. If we weren't supposed to use time thinking about it, why did the Holy Spirit cause Paul to mention it?

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Brad
Member- Eagle Heights PCA
Winchester, VA

Pro 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

I heard once it was a disability of some sort

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Doug
Baptist
Hemet, Ca
Old Time Radio Podcast

It is mere speculation. Paul does not mention what the thorn was although scholars I have heard eyesight, epilepsy and even his wife! (Probably more tongue in cheek than serious theory). The important thing is not what it was but the purpose of the thorn which demonmstrated that God's grace was sufficient for Paul, for God's power was made perfect in weakness.

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Stuart
Elder, Lambeg Baptist, Northern Ireland, UK

In Him the fulness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form and in Him you are complete (Col 2.9-10)

The Christian is a person who makes it easy for others to believe in God. (RM M'Cheyne)

Well, I'm sure there are plenty of times where I am a thorn in my wife's side. I hope that doesn't make me a messenger of Satan....

Personally, since the Scripture doesn't tell us I think any attempt to ID it is speculative. Many say Eyesight, a few say a battle with Lust, others have even proposed Malaria as a possibility.

I think it's left "ambiguous" purposely. It's not really important what his affliction was. It's important that God's grace was sufficient for it and God's strength was made perfect in Paul's weakness. Such a comfort to us all to know that the same grace and strength are sufficient and perfect for us.

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Donald Jacobs
Roanoke VA.
Covenant Reformed Episcopal Church.

Cum vero infirmor tunc potens sum.

I am in agreement with those who say it doesn't matter what it was. But if we're going to speculate, doesn't it stand to reason that because it was sent to keep him from being conceited, it must have been something that afflicted him in some way that was connected with his pride? I wouldn't argue over something that none of us really knows about. But his eye sight or his health seem unlikely to me.

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Kevin - PCA - Mississippi

"What, for some, is sin, others do to the glory of God. And the good Dr. Pentecost's remarks notwithstanding, I intend to go home tonight and smoke a cigar to the glory of God. It is a kind of incense drifting to Heaven." - Charles Spurgeon

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" - 2 Corinthians 9:15

I heard it was homosexuality. Wish I was kidding.

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Frank
Under Care
P.C.A.
Maryland

That is the problem with speculating. It could have been anything (even that) but what we do know is that he battled against it, recognised his own sinful nature and longed to be free of it.

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Mike
London City Presbyterian Church
London
England

"Surely, we wish to be orthodox, but we must first learn what real orthodoxy is. Surely, we wish to be progressive, but we must first have a basis to progress from."

I was thinking the same thing, or maybe sandspurs.

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Raymond Victor Bottomly
Providence Reformed Baptist Church, Tacoma, WA

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

This shouldn't be a controversy- HIPAA regulations demand that the attending physician retain full records, and since Luke was the doctor of the group, there should be a record somewhere.

Of course, privacy issues come about as well, so Luke made sure they were properly hidden from public view. Thus the only way to know what ailed Paul is to read Acts backwards.

Theognome

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Bill Cunningham
Covenant Reformed Church, URC
Kansas City
There are three kinds of people- those who can count, and those who can't.