"Thorn in the flesh". What was it?

[praise_yeshua]

2Co 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
2Co 12:7 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.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 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.
2Co 12:10 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.

Before I give my "penny" on what Paul is referencing, I'd like to hear some opinions. I know most of opinions concerning this but it just hasn't ever "sat right" with me and my spirit. I've long thought there is "more than meets the eye" to be found in this.

Anyone want to share?

 

[jeremiah1five]

2Co 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
2Co 12:7 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.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 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.
2Co 12:10 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.

Before I give my "penny" on what Paul is referencing, I'd like to hear some opinions. I know most of opinions concerning this but it just hasn't ever "sat right" with me and my spirit. I've long thought there is "more than meets the eye" to be found in this.

Anyone want to share?

I believe you mean "THORN" in the flesh.

I would prefer to say he had an eye condition due to his losing his sight in white light.
Normal blindness see darkness. Saul didn't.

The cause:
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Acts 9:3.

The result:
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Acts 9:8–9.

The cure:
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Acts 9:17–18.

scales: Strong's [#3013] lepis from lepo (to peel); a flake.
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
Galatians 4:13–15.

As Scripture says, "no flesh shall glory in His Presence." Eyes are of the body, of the flesh. They see the physical world. But the light that "knocked" him off his horse caused him to lose his sight in [white] light. His appearance was possibly altered and may have been seen by others as "disturbing", such as someone who was cross-eyed, but to a different and greater degree. I can only think of aged dogs whose eyes become cloudy, white, eyeballs. That is my edumacated guesstimate.
I'm curious to know your thoughts.

(Maybe the Administrator can edit "torn" if you really meant "thorn."?)

 

[praise_yeshua]

I believe you mean "THORN" in the flesh.

I would prefer to say he had an eye condition due to his losing his sight in white light.
Normal blindness see darkness. Saul didn't.

The cause:
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
Acts 9:3.

The result:
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
Acts 9:8–9.

The cure:
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Acts 9:17–18.

scales: Strong's [#3013] lepis from lepo (to peel); a flake.
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
Galatians 4:13–15.

As Scripture says, "no flesh shall glory in His Presence." Eyes are of the body, of the flesh. They see the physical world. But the light that "knocked" him off his horse caused him to lose his sight in [white] light. His appearance was possibly altered and may have been seen by others as "disturbing", such as someone who was cross-eyed, but to a different and greater degree. I can only think of aged dogs whose eyes become cloudy, white, eyeballs. That is my edumacated guesstimate.
I'm curious to know your thoughts.

(Maybe the Administrator can edit "torn" if you really meant "thorn."?)

Both thorn and torn are relative in meaning. A Thorn tears and pierces. They both come from German into Old English. I didn't intend to make the mistake but I'm fine with it staying there. It might draw attention.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and correcting me.

I'll wait a couple of days and see if anyone else shares their thoughts. I'll then make the case for my position....

 

[civic]

I edited it so you won’t get a bunch of comments

 

[Tothalordbeallglory]

2Co 12:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
2Co 12:7 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.
2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 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.
2Co 12:10 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.

Before I give my "penny" on what Paul is referencing, I'd like to hear some opinions. I know most of opinions concerning this but it just hasn't ever "sat right" with me and my spirit. I've long thought there is "more than meets the eye" to be found in this.

Anyone want to share?

Whatever it was it was to keep paul humble .
Not to be exalted above measure .

 

[jeremiah1five]

Whatever it was it was to keep paul humble .
Not to be exalted above measure .

It may have kept Saul humble so that he does not exalt himself above 'measure' but too bad many today exalt Saul/Paul ABOVE what is his measure.

But tell me, exactly what was his "measure"?

 

[praise_yeshua]

It may have kept Saul humble so that he does not exalt himself above 'measure' but too bad many today exalt Saul/Paul ABOVE what is his measure.

But tell me, exactly what was his "measure"?

A better man than any of us. He was a principled Jew that wasn't a racist like Peter.

I'd love to compare Paul and Peter with you.

I'm nothing. I don't claim to be anything but a son. I'll wait till my Lord speaks of me. However, this is a losing battle for you. You hate Paul because he was right in what he said.

As far as the "thorn in the flesh"......

It is very real possibly that Paul was married. It is unlikely that Paul would have risen to the level he did among his peers without being married.

The separation and pain he felt in the "thorn in the flesh" could possibly have been the separation that came about between Paul and his wife in the work of Satan against his wife.

That is what Satan seeks to do. Satan seeks to separate those who love one another. It is why Satan targeted Eve. It is the appeal of the "Bride" of Christ and the great "mystery" of Christ and His Bride in everlasting love and union.

Mat 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Mat 10:36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.
Mat 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.