We have all heard so much about the thorn in Paul's flesh, as being a physical sickness from God, to teach him a lesson. Many cessationalists (people that believe miracles, signs and wonders ceased) are using this as an excuse that God does not want us healed. But what are the actual verses saying that are quoted to support this mindset?
There is so much to debate on this subject, but because this article is linked with the message, Jesus Healed Them All - I will make only a few brief comments. The word for “infirmities” used here comes from the word “as-then-ace” and as a negative particle “sthenoo” - meaning “strength-less.” It truly could mean sickness but also means “without strength” which is certainly more in keeping with what Paul was saying. Paul's suffering was caused by the abundance of revelations that God showed him. Let us not forget that Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament. "The thorn" was a messenger of Satan, so it was not God that sent it. Paul never mentioned any physical sickness that he suffered of, nor in the following verses or elsewhere. In "2 Corinthians 11:23-30" - when he lists the sufferings he went through during his ministry years; physical illness is not listed. He ends the list calling them "all" as his "infirmity." Everything read here is persecution for preaching the gospel of Christ. We may conclude that the demon sent by Satan was using people in almost every city where Paul was ministering to persecute Paul. Perhaps the motivation behind the persecution was that those who heard the good news of the Gospel and saw the miracles performed through Paul, to be afraid to come to Christ, to not suffer the same persecution as Paul. On four occasions, Paul asked the churches to pray for his ministry as co-laborers, but he never asked for prayer for physical healing even once. Maybe because he was never really sick?
Paul wrote to the Galatians, that "... that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first." Let us remember that the cities of Lystra and Derbe are located in the province of Galatia. (Acts 14). In Lystra, the arrival of the Jews from Iconium and Antioch stirred up the crowd against Paul where they stoned him; even to death. When they considered him dead, they dragged his body out of the city. The disciples surrounded him (surely, they prayed for him) and Paul rose up and entered into the city. The next day, he went to Derbe and then to other cities of Galatia preaching the gospel and making more disciples. How would Paul have looked, after being hit with all kinds of stones, thrown by an angry crowd that wanted to kill him? It's very likely that he had a swollen and bruised head and an entire body of cuts and bruises and only the Lord knows what else... It could not have been pleasant to see. But Paul reminds the Galatians about the great love they were showing him, in spite of his looks after being stoned (probably to death). Next consider the verse that is commonly used to demonstrate that Paul was suffering from a common disease in those times, that was affecting the eyes - “For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me." In reality, Paul was saying that the church appreciated and loved him so much, that they would haven given him their most valuable possession: their eyes. It was an expression of the day. We are all familiar with expressions which say that the one person is the "apple of their eye" to another. This shows that one person is more valuable to another. Hebrews used to have the same expressions. But the use of it would not necessarily mean that Paul literally needed their eyes, because his were incurably ill ( as many say this was the disease that Paul named as the thorn that God didn't want to remove from him). In chapter 16 of Acts, we read that Paul returns to visit the churches of Galatia, yet he plainly states that only the first time have physical health problems. His second visit was at an interval between one to three years from the first visit and he was healthy. This next verse is often misconstrued:
The above verse is also used as alleged proof of Paul's alleged eye condition. Opinions are divided on how to translate the Greek term for "letter" which can equally be "a letter" of the alphabet or letter as an epistle. Paul could actually have been saying that he wrote a letter in great length, or that he wanted to emphasize the importance of what he wrote and ensure that his readers would pay serious attention to his warnings. Do you think that a great man of God who looked sickly and aroused pity by being led around from a condition that he could not hide (eyes being the most visible and glasses have not yet been invented) would cause crowds of sick people to come to him to be healed? Who would want to follow Paul's God, if he was so sick? I think we all know the answer.
So when Paul speaks about suffering, it was due to persecution, including his physical infirmity from Galatia, which was the effect of being stoned as unto death. Paul came to realize that suffering persecution is inevitable for Christians after he asked the Lord three times to remove the persecution from him and the Lord explained to him why He didn't. The second Epistle to Timothy was the last letter written by Paul, before his martyrdom, and the Galatians was second he wrote, after the epistles for the Thessalonians. C. Pușcaș For more information on Paul's thorn, see the article: Paul's Thorn In The Flesh.
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Jesus was not surprised by the disciples' cry of terror. He knew they wouldn't believe that He is the one who walks on the water as on solid ground. His gentle and loving voice calmed them so much that Peter not only believed that He is, but he was ready to do what his Lord was doing. At first, Peter believed that he could walk on water to get to where Jesus was. Therefore, he asked the Lord to call him. After the Lord gave him the "green light," he continued to be positive and excited. Peter relied on the "Come," calling and stepped out on the Word of Jesus, walking on the water and as long as he did not doubt, he remained on top of the water, living the miracle. Unfortunately, too soon he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the circumstances (the wind and the waves). Instantly, his logic and fear took over and as he lost his support base, he began to sink. It's easy to have faith to resolve the serious problems that we are going through, as long as we are surrounded by brothers full of faith and we are where the Lord's presence is strong. But what happens when we are alone and begin to think logically, considering our troubles from every angle, and remembering the failures of the past? If we do not stop these thoughts, doubt and unbelief will take control and will cause us to sink into the very problem we are fighting with.
God has provided spiritual weapons, strengthened by Him, so that they are really effective. The Bible, prayer, praise and worship, keeping a pure heart, without sin are a few of them. The Bible's promises are for those who live in obedience to God and the Christian authority in spiritual warfare is rooted in Jesus, who lives in the heart that is sincerely and completely surrendered to Him. It is not easy to forget it all and all the real troubles we are going through, but it is not impossible. God does not ask us to do what He does not equip us to do. We can take the thoughts of doubt captive, by proclaiming the truth of God's Word. The more we repeat the truth, the more real it will become for our mind and spirit. By doing so, we will strengthen our faith. The thoughts that we let to roam free in our minds are those that nourish our faith. Faith in what God can do to solve our problems or fear that we can't get out of the pit we are in. By focusing on failure and disaster, we are paving our road to destruction.
How many blessings and wonderful gifts are not received, because of not having the faith for them? Their lack of faith that “Jesus is the Christ' - deprived the people of Nazareth of the miracles that the Lord could have done for them. Around that city, only a few believed and were healed.
What “they thought they knew” in their minds as a result of the physical reality that they thought they knew, canceled all that Holy Spirit showed them during Jesus' ministry. By “reasoning” - they stepped away from the presence of God that had touched them in the synagogue while Jesus taught them. Afterward they chose to doubt Him. We are called to "walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). The Holy Spirit is always ready to help us, once we recognize that we need His help and call on Him!
Carmen Pușcaș
In Greek, "think about” means to consider, take account, weigh, meditate on a thing, with a view to obtaining it. We know that when we do that on all that is mentioned in the verse above, we can live joyful and fulfilled lives. The original term for "think about such things" in Greek, is "logizesthe" (the root of the English terms "logic, logical") and means to consider, take account, weigh, meditate on: (Thayer's Greek Lexicon Strongs NT - 3049: λογίζομαι). So, Paul, being led of the Holy Spirit, urges us to meditate and focus on all the good things; which enables us to not only live happy and fulfilled lives, but also to inherit eternal life. Why would it help us to think only about what is true? Jesus tells us that the devil is:
Jesus is "the truth." His words on the pages of the Bible are all believable and powerful.
When we think or speak a lie, we agree with the devil and give him the right to hurt us. Every lie is followed by consequences. The truth, instead, even if it costs us in the short term, brings us long-term benefits and our Lord will help to solve the difficult situations we face. As we live, focusing on truth, we change and grow in the Lord becoming more like Jesus. All that Paul listed in Philippians 4:8, shows that everything that is worthy to be honored, all that is pure and all that deserves to be loved and received are really intrinsic parts of the truth. We do ourselves a huge favor by concentrating on all these. The mind that is centered on truth, justice, purity, goodness, love, dedication, will produce pure thoughts, in obedience to God is a blessed place. Believing and knowing the truth are essential aspects of the Christian life. How can we agree with what God's Word says if we don't know it? How can we make the right decisions if we don't know what is right? How do we distinguish between thoughts that are from our Lord, our carnal nature or from the devil, if we don't know what the Scripture says? Truth leads us and reveals God to us. It opens our spiritual ears to hear what the Holy Spirit tells us. It guides us through the vast delusions and lies of this world. Knowing the truth, makes us truly free, because we no longer believe the devil's lies that would bind us and keep us bound. Dear Lord, please give us more hunger for reading and studying Your Word, so we can become more like You and can accomplish all that You want us to do! Amen. C. Pușcaș |
AuthorsSince we became Christians, the authors of this site, over the decades, with the help of the Holy Spirit, have learned deeper biblical truths and how to have a closer walk with Christ. Through the websites that we are writing on, we try to share with the readers who might be interested, messages about living life with Jesus Christ as Lord. BLOG LIST BY DATE
(THE DATES ARE LISTED IN FORMAT DD/MM/YYYY) RETURNING TO OUR FIRST LOVE 28/9/2023 WHY SHOULD WE READ THE BIBLE DAILY? 28/8/2023 GOD'S HEART 25/07/2023 FORGIVENESS IS IMPORTANT 22/6/2023 THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE 19/5/2023 REIGNING IN LIFE 25/4/2023 CAN WE HAVE PEACEFUL SLEEP? 3/25/2023 GOD WANTS US WELL 28/02/2023 TRUE PROSPERITY 23/01/2023 THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 30/12/2023 CAN YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 15/12/2022 BENEFITS OF THE BIBLE 28/11/2022 THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART 22/10/2022 THE SURRENDERED LIFE 18/9/2022 I WOULD HAVE PULLED JOSEPH OUT 13/8/2022 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 LET US PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES 16/5/2022 VICTORIOUS OR DEFEATED 18/3/2022 CHANGING WITH THE TIMES 2/22/2022 CONSIDERING THE PAST AND THE FUTURE 1/1/2022 THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR 14/12/2021 VICTORY IN SUFFERING 10/11/2021 HOW MUCH DO WE UNDERSTAND OTHERS? 8/10/2021 "LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH..." 10/9/21 CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES 19/08/2021 HOW DO WE HANDLE SUFFERING? 17/6/2021 FORGIVE US LORD, AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS 26/05/21 WHEN THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER DOES NOT COME AS WE ASKED 06/05/21 GOD'S WORD WORKS 26/3/2021 GOD WANTS US TO SUCCEED 15/2/2021 "PEACE TO THIS HOUSE" 26/1/2021 OUR CHOICES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE 5/1/2021 "COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY-LADEN" 8/12/2020 BEING THANKFUL 22/11/2020 WHAT DEFINES OUR LIVES AND US? 31/10/2020 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD 18/09/2020 "THE REST" WE FIND IN THE LORD 13/08/2020 HOW WE CAN FILTER OUR IN-TAKE 24/07/20 JESUS IS OUR ANCHOR IN STORMY TIMES 9/07/2020 CHOOSING TO REJOICE 23/06/2020 STRESSFUL TIMES AND OUR EMOTIONS 26/05/2020 BIRTH PAINS OF A ONE WORLD ORDER 12/5/2020 TEST ALL THINGS 22/04/2020 IN STRESSFUL TIMES 31/03/2020 STANDING FIRM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES 15/03/2020 GOD SENDS HIS ANGELS TO HELP US 28/02/2020 GOD KNOWS! 14/01/2020 OUR SAVIOR HAS MADE THE WAY 23/12/2019 FALL IS IN THE AIR 30/09/2019 WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING TO REMAIN CONSTANTLY VICTORIOUS IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK? 18/7/2019 LITTLE THINGS 01/07/2019 IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE 17/5/2019 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNEQUALLY YOKED? 1/2/2019 LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY 15/1/2019 FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT 4/12/2018 THE PRODIGAL SON 11/10/2018 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 HOW JESUS ANSWERED TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 GOD'S LOVE IS IMMEASURABLE 6/6/2018 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THEN THEIR EYES WERE OPENED... 26/3/2018 ENDURANCE! 15/02/2018 CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY 25/1/2018 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN TODAY 15/11/2017 THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 IS BAPTISM BY WATER A COMMAND OR NOT? 26/8/2017 THE DANGER OF UNHEALTHY FEAR 26/6/2017 HEALING IS GOD'S WILL 26/6/2017 WHAT DO WE TRUST IN? 13/6/2017 "NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN SNATCH US OUT OF THE HAND OF JESUS OR FATHER GOD!" 11/4/2017 "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 "GRACE UPON GRACE" 24/2/2017 TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, FROM HIM MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED 6/2/2017 WHAT MAY HARDEN THE HEART? 31/1/2017 WHO PAID MORE? 30/1/2017 IT IS HARD KICKING AGAINST THE GOADS 30/1/2017 JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN! 10/1/2017 LIVING TO PLEASE GOD! 6/12/2016 NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH US OUT OF GOD'S HAND! 2/12/2016 WHY DO WE HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR HEARTS? 9/11/2016DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 TRULY BELIEVING - ELIMINATING DOUBT 15/10/2016 ARE THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES FOR US, THE GENTILES, TOO? 14/10/2016 CHOOSING FAITH INSTEAD OF DOUBT 11/10/2016 LORD GOD IS MY REFUGE! 6/10/2016 GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED 17/9/2016 DOES IT MATTER HOW WE LIVE? 7/9/2016 PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH 26/8/2016 "WALKING ON WATER" 23/8/2016 WHATEVER IS TRUE... 5/8/2016 LIFE WITH JESUS IS WONDERFUL 29/7/2016 ANSWER TO PRAYER 23/7/2016 WHY PRAY? 22/7/2016 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRULY ”KNOWING” GOD 21/7/2016 WE NEED GOD'S PRESENCE 21/7/2016 GOD WILL NEVER FORSAKE US! 21/7/2016 THE TRUE MEANING OF FOLLOWING CHRIST 21/7/2016 THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD 21/7/2016 FLESH OR SPIRIT? 21/7/2016
CATEGORIES BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD ARE THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES FOR US, THE GENTILES, TOO? 14/10/2016 BENEFITS OF THE BIBLE 28/11/2022 GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED 17/9/2016 GOD'S WORD IS POWERFUL 1/11/2016 THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD 21/7/2016 WHY DO WE HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR HEARTS? 9/11/2016 WHY SHOULD WE READ THE BIBLE DAILY? 28/8/2023 CHRISTIAN LIVING "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 BEING THANKFUL 22/11/2020 DOES IT MATTER HOW WE LIVE? 7/9/2016 DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 FLESH OR SPIRIT? 21/7/2016 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 GOD WILL NEVER FORSAKE US! 21/7/2016 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 HOW MUCH DO WE UNDERSTAND OTHERS? 8/10/2021 HOW WE ARE MADE AND CHOOSING HOW WE RECEIVE 24/07/20 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD 18/09/2020 IS BAPTISM BY WATER A COMMAND OR NOT? 26/8/2017 IT IS HARD KICKING AGAINST THE GOADS 30/1/2017 THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE 19/5/2023 LIFE WITH JESUS IS WONDERFUL 29/7/2016 LITTLE THINGS 01/07/2019 LIVING TO PLEASE GOD! 6/12/2016 LORD GOD IS MY REFUGE! 6/10/2016 "LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH..." 10/9/21 "NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN SNATCH US OUT OF THE HAND OF JESUS OR FATHER GOD!" 11/4/2017 NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH US OUT OF GOD'S HAND! 2/12/2016 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 OUR CHOICES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE 5/1/2021 PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH 26/8/2016 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THE PRODIGAL SON 11/10/2018 RETURNING TO OUR FIRST LOVE 28/9/2023 THE SURRENDERED LIFE 18/9/2022 THE TRUE MEANING OF FOLLOWING CHRIST 21/7/2016 TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, FROM HIM MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED 6/2/2017 TRUE PROSPERITY 23/01/2023 WHATEVER IS TRUE... 5/8/2016 REIGNING IN LIFE 25/4/2023 WHAT DEFINES OUR LIVES AND US? 31/10/2020 WHAT MAY HARDEN THE HEART? 31/1/2017 FAITH & TRUST CHOOSING FAITH INSTEAD OF DOUBT 11/10/2016 CONSIDERING THE PAST AND THE FUTURE 1/1/22 CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES 19/08/2021 DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 TRULY BELIEVING - ELIMINATING DOUBT 15/10/2016 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 "THE REST" WE FIND IN THE LORD 13/08/2020 "WALKING ON WATER" 23/8/2016 WHAT DO WE TRUST IN? 13/6/2017 WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING TO REMAIN CONSTANTLY VICTORIOUS IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK? 18/7/2019 FEAR THE DANGER OF UNHEALTHY FEAR 26/6/2017 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 FORGIVENESS FORGIVE US LORD, AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS 26/05/21 FORGIVENESS IS IMPORTANT 22/6/2023 GOD, FATHER, SON & HOLY SPIRIT CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY 25/1/2018 "COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY-LADEN" 8/12/2020 GOD SENDS HIS ANGELS TO HELP US 28/02/2020 GOD KNOWS! 14/01/2020 GOD'S HEART 25/07/2023 HOW DID JESUS ANSWER TO TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN TODAY 15/11/2017 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRULY ”KNOWING” GOD 21/7/2016 THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 WE NEED GOD'S PRESENCE 21/7/2016 GRACE "GRACE UPON GRACE" 24/2/2017 WHO PAID MORE? 30/1/2017 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 HEALING HEALING IS GOD'S WILL 26/6/2017 GOD WANTS US WELL 28/02/2023 JOY, HAPPINESS CHOOSING TO REJOICE 23/06/2020 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 MISCELLANEOUS THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART 22/10/2022 CAN YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 15/12/2022 CAN WE HAVE PEACEFUL SLEEP? 3/25/2023 PERSEVERANCE AND STRENGTH THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 30/12/2023 "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 CHAINS OF SMOKE 11/11/2019 CHANGING WITH THE TIMES 2/22/2022 ENDURANCE! 15/02/2018 HOW DID JESUS ANSWER TO TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 I WOULD HAVE PULLED JOSEPH OUT 13/8/2022 IN STRESSFUL TIMES 31/3/2020 STANDING FIRM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES 15/03/2020 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 VICTORY IN SUFFERING 10/11/2021 VICTORIOUS OR DEFEATED 18/3/2022 PRAISE AND WORSHIP LET US PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES 16/5/2022 PRAYER ANSWER TO PRAYER 23/7/2016 WHEN THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER DOES NOT COME AS WE ASKED 06/05/21 WHY PRAY? 22/7/2016 SALVATION THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 TESTIMONIES, DREAMS, ETC JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN! 10/1/2017 VARIOUS GOD WANTS US TO SUCCEED 15/2/2021 FALL IS IN THE AIR 30/09/2019 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNEQUALLY YOKED? 1/2/2019 IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE 17/5/2019 OUR SAVIOR HAS MADE THE WAY 23/12/2019 "PEACE TO THIS HOUSE" 26/1/2021 Archives
September 2023
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