A New Ridiculous (or Ridiculously Convincing!) Theory about the Thorn in the Flesh

Last updated on: April 1, 2013 at 11:37 am by Nijay Gupta

A New Ridiculous (or Ridiculously Convincing!) Theory about the Thorn in the Flesh 2013-04-01T11:37:21-08:00 Nijay Gupta

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

OK, I had my students write up a text-study assignment on 2 Corinthians and at the end of the paper they could raise questions they had about the letter. Almost every student asked about the “thorn in the flesh” (12:7).

Now, I have been pretty strongly convinced for several years that the theory that makes the most sense is that the “thorn” is not a physical malady, but rather Paul’s persecutors who pester him in his ministry. This has some support from the metaphorical use of the word “thorn” in the LXX. It also makes sense of the kinds of things Paul boasts about in 2 Cor 12:10 (“insults…persecutions…”)

So, my favored theory is that the “thorn” is his his pesky opponents.

But I had another thought recently – perhaps a bit more tenuous, but what are blogs for if not floating such theories?

Here goes:

What if Paul is referring to the “revelations” he received when he met Christ on the way to Damascus.

What if the “thorn” is his blindness he received after that?

What if this example is not an ongoing problem, but a temporary one. His prayer for release would have happened in those days of blindness. Christ originally denied his prayer to force him to place his dependence newly on the God revealed to him.

Here is why I think this theory might work.

(1) The “revelations” could be related to his own initial experience of Christ; if he appealed to this event in 2 Corinthians, it could give credibility to his ministry and authority (something to boast in). He could underwrite his weakness and authority simultaneously.

(2) This would make sense of his subsequent blindness (for humility); he may have felt during that time he was being tested by God in his blindness, feeling that this punishment is also from Satan who perhaps accused him in that time. The fact the he waited and fasted during his blindness, by analogy to Jesus in the Gospels, could mean that he sensed he was being tested and wanted to withstand Satan’s attacks.

(3) one could imagine Paul asking for relief from his blindness. Obviously Paul did not stay blind, but perhaps Christ allowed him this extended period of blindness to teach him a lesson about a weakness-ministry.

(4) If Paul learned this weakness-ministry lesson later than the damascus road encounter, we might have detected that in his earlier letters, but from 1 Thess on we see his cruciform message clearly (and it seems from Acts that he started his ministry knowing this as well). Thus, it appears to be something he learned very early on. Indeed, Luke recounts how God tells Ananias that God will reveal to Paul how much he will suffer for the gospel (9:16).

(5) Paul plays around with so many light/darkness themes in the letter (esp chs 3, 6, 11) that it would fit well into his argument. The whole letter is about “seeing” and how powerful it would be if he could leverage his own copernican revelation about sight and wisdom. Rhetorically, this could be very powerful. Certainly his “Damascus road” revelation was something everyone knew about Paul. Paul could be slyly introducing this pretending to be coy: “There is this ‘guy’ I know…and he saw this ‘vision’… (hint, hint)…”

Problems with this theory

(1) The timing is not right (more than 14 years before) – but perhaps 14 is not an exact number.

(2) It is not clear how his blindness would be perceived as a “thorn” or a “messenger of Satan” (though all medical theories have this problem)

(3) His blindness ended so soon, when did he pray for his healing, and if he was rather quickly relieved of it (3 days), how much of a lasting lesson would it be? My theory works if he prays “three times” on the first day (being led by hand to Damascus) and he is told “no” that same day. Thus, he has two more days to “accept” his fate. By then he has “learned his lesson” and his sight can be restored. However, almost all theories about the thorn read it as a chronic problem. This is not absolutely necessary, but makes a lot of sense.

What do you think? Is it possible as a theory? Does it fit well into the wider shape of the letter? Have you heard anyone else ‘float’ this idea?

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 1, 2013

The Unbelievers, the unfaithful, and the Infidels (and 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)

Next Post

April 5, 2013 Who is the Phoebe that Paul Commends in Romans? (Gaventa Lecture Video)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category (Mis)Understanding Philippians 10 Things I Can't Live Without 2023 New Books 30 OT HB Scholars to Read and Follow 5 Books Series 50-2-Follow Academia Christian Theologians to Read and Follow Cruciform Scripture: Contributor Reflections Crux Sola TV Editors Behind Great Books in NT Studies Education Gendering the Holy Spirit Gupta FB Live Lectures In Faith and Doubt In Their Own Words Living the King Jesus Gospel My Top 6 OT Commentaries New Testament Resource Guide New Word Biblical Themes Nijay's A Very Library Christmas Shopping Guide Notes from an Editor Notes on New Books NTRG OT in the NT Paul Seminary Now The Bible in God's World The Word Felt Among Us SPENCER Translating Philippians Uncategorized Why I Use Accordance Women in Ministry

Select a Month March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz