Paul's Thorn?

The apostle Paul was burdened by some kind of self-described "thorn in the flesh" and prayed on three occasions that the Lord would remove it. He never says what that thorn is, but a few verses in today's reading have led many scholars to believe that he was afflicted by poor eyesight. In Galatians 4:13-15, Paul recounts how well the Galatian church cared for him when he was sick. Specifically he says, "I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible". This could be hyperbole, or a figure of speech, or a literal statement. Later, in Galatians 6:11, Paul writes "SEE WHAT LARGE LETTERS I USE...". Perhaps he could not see well and had to use large script in order to write at all.

Other speculations regarding Paul's thorn in the flesh range from incessant temptation, dogged opponents, chronic maladies (including eye problems as well as malaria, migraine headaches, and epilepsy), to a speech disability. No one can say for sure what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was, but it probably was a physical affliction. He later refers to the thorn as a "messenger of Satan" to keep him from "becoming conceited".

Tomorrow's reading: Acts 15:22-17:15