Subject: Divine Healing? |
Bible Note: I would never "throw out" a verse of scripture. However, we must rightly divide the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul was not sick. By that I mean that he was not referring to a sickness in 2 Corinthians 12:7. The term "thorn in the flesh" is best described as the slang of that period which can not be interpreted literally. Paul, since he was a well learned scholar in the practices of Judaism and what we know as the Old Testament, was probably quoting Numbers 33:55. "But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell."-Numbers 33:55 “Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.” -Joshua 23:13 “Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” -Judges 2:3 There is a rule in proper hermeneutics, or Bible interpretation, and that is that if the same phrase is used in the Bible multiple times referring to one thing, then it is more than likely that it means the same thing in all accounts of that phrase. There are two accounts of the usage of the term “thorn in the side” which I have listed above, and one usage of “thorns in your eyes” which means the same thing, just on a different part of the body. Since the terms "thorn in the side," “thorns in your eyes,” and "thorn in the flesh" have a similar enough meaning, this rule would apply. In all the Old Testament appearances of this word we find that they actually refer to people. Therefore, it is logical to say that Paul’s thorn was also a person, or group of people. Now on to whom Paul’s thorn was. If you read the book of Acts where it tells of Paul’s journeys you will see that groups of Jews stirred up the people against him. “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.” -Acts 13:50 “But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.” -Acts 14:2 “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.” -Acts 13:45 “And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,” -Acts 18:12 “And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.” -Acts 24:1 “Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,” -Acts 25:2 “And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove” -Acts 25:7 As you can see, the Jews cause quite a lot of trouble for Paul, which is why I firmly believe that they were his “thorn in the flesh” Where does it say that Timothy was sick? Also, I’ll have to get back to you when I get a chance to look at those verses in 1 Corinthians. Jesified |