Paul's "thorn in the flesh"

[eddif]

So what was Paul doing that bring on him all the things he listed in v10 for Christ's sake. Preaching the Gospel.

I believe this scripture may bear witness to the scripture above (or vice versa) as to Paul's thorn in the flesh/side as a messanger of Satan/persecution.

Acts 16:16-23
:

I did agree that it was something more personal, and my post below is that answer. Some persecution is personal and some comes because of who we are.

I really don't see how persecution could be what Paul meant by a thorn in his flesh. Jesus was persecuted and hated first and stated that his followers would have to endure the same. As it was, it would seem that many, if not all, of the Apostles and early followers endured much similar persecution.

It would seem that his thorn in the flesh was something more personal to him, such as his eyesight, which really seems to be the best explanation.

I agree with you that Paul's thorn in the flesh is not directly for the church. In one sense this whole discussion is to understand the thorn in the flesh (our lives sometimes face similar issues).

I was writing to answer Deborah 13 and you were too. Your answer and mine are similar (yours kind of contains an answer stated as another question). Neither of us had read the others comment when we posted.
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My post below was an attempt to show that the thorn in Paul's flesh was somewhat more personal and seperate from a lot of suffering he went through.

We just do not think like God. I sure do not think I have arrived.

Part of the answer is probably here.

Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

Paul was beaten several times; he recovered and moved on.
Paul was bitten by a snake: no ill effects.
Shipwrecked; no real suffering listed
His prison time; listed no lasting effects
etc.

Paul was completing the suffering for the church and made it fine in the above list.
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The blindness started out as an (attention getter ?) method to move Paul to where he needed to be in Christ. I think that could make the eyesight in a little different category.

Next person.

eddif

The different category was the personal work in Paul's life. Thank goodness his initial blindness, healing and filling with the Holy Spirit put him on the right path.

Repentance puts us in need of Jesus (prepare the way of the Lord)
Belief in Jesus is for salvation (one name under heaven whereby we may be saved)
Receiving the Holy Spirit is for: empowerment for service
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Mispah. The preacher I mentioned was a real life Pentacostal preacher. One that had more power in his teaching than many national preachers today. He realized arguments would not win against Satan. Hopefully at the end of all this discussion each of us says Come Out to the unbelif and Be Healed in the Name of Jesus (plus other good biblical works).

Everyone hang in there.
eddif

 

[Mitspa]

I did agree that it was something more personal, and my post below is that answer. Some persecution is personal and some comes because of who we are.

I agree with you that Paul's thorn in the flesh is not directly for the church. In one sense this whole discussion is to understand the thorn in the flesh (our lives sometimes face similar issues).

I was writing to answer Deborah 13 and you were too. Your answer and mine are similar (yours kind of contains an answer stated as another question). Neither of us had read the others comment when we posted.
+++++++++++++++++

My post below was an attempt to show that the thorn in Paul's flesh was somewhat more personal and seperate from a lot of suffering he went through.

The different category was the personal work in Paul's life. Thank goodness his initial blindness, healing and filling with the Holy Spirit put him on the right path.

Repentance puts us in need of Jesus (prepare the way of the Lord)
Belief in Jesus is for salvation (one name under heaven whereby we may be saved)
Receiving the Holy Spirit is for: empowerment for service
+++++++++++++++++++++++

Mispah. The preacher I mentioned was a real life Pentacostal preacher. One that had more power in his teaching than many national preachers today. He realized arguments would not win against Satan. Hopefully at the end of all this discussion each of us says Come Out to the unbelif and Be Healed in the Name of Jesus (plus other good biblical works).

Everyone hang in there.
eddif

Yes ! my friend eddif, your preacher was real, mine is very real and is the dominant voice in most of the "church". I stand by my point that Pauls gospel declared that Christ had indeed overcome all sin. Sickness is a product of sin. now if you miss that? You will not understand the point of the thorn, why satan was allowed to bring this affliction? And the grace and power that grew from this affliction.

Now I say again if you claim the thorn, you should have the power! God Bless

 

[precepts]

2Cr 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.

Obviously an angel who I'm sure no one else was concious of but Paul. Why? Because their eyes and ears weren't exercised to it!

Hbr 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The reason for the verses I posted early, my previous verses :

Hbr 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Hbr 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Hbr 5:13 For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

The reason for:

Hbr 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

I know this from experience! This exercising of the senses is involved in tv props, subliminal messages, that opens the eyes and the ears to the movement of angels. This is all men born of God's thorn in the flesh. The rebirth of a spiritual consciousness to the 6th sense, the mark of the Beast!

For the innocent!

 

[ezra]

http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/pauls_thorn. read this article yes i agree with it

 

[Mitspa]

http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/pauls_thorn. read this article yes i agree with it

Yes I say that is a very in depth veiw!
please take no offense in this ezra? but I thought you was a baptist? A. W. is one of my mentors in the faith.

 

[ezra]

Yes I say that is a very in depth veiw!
please take no offense in this ezra? but I thought you was a baptist? A. W. is one of my mentors in the faith.

lol i take no offense i am ordained general baptist.... i listen to lots it makes no never mind mind to me what flavor any one is. if ya got a good word i will listen ..

 

[Mitspa]

lol i take no offense i am ordained general baptist.... i listen to lots it makes no never mind mind to me what flavor any one is. if ya got a good word i will listen ..

Amen to that!

 

[precepts]

Like I said it's for the innocent!

 

[ezra]

Like I said it's for the innocent!

what is?

 

[precepts]

ezra's quote:

what is?

What I wrote.

Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10 For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little:

The key words here is weaned from the milk!

1Cr 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.
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Hbr 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.