06 - Paul’s Weakness

Chapter 6 Paul’s Weakness When describing his weaknesses Paul used the Greek words: “astheneia” and astheneo¯, which come from the root Greek word“; as-then-ace’”. The basic meaning is strengthless”. Most of our Bible translations, relying on Greek scholarship, interchange the variety of definitions. The variety includes: want of strength, weakness, infirmity, or frailty of the body or soul, feebleness of health or sickness of the soul, a malady; disease. Of the many occurrences where these words appear in the New Testament, the King James translate them weak or weakness 29 times, sick or sickness 18 times, infirmities or infirmity 17 times, diseases 6 time, and impotent 2 times. As in the case of Bibles, translators have a certain liberty and tend to follow a particular preference. However, the contexts should dictate which definition fits as the proper meaning. It is fair to assume that on some occasions translating them as an illness does fit. Yet, in the seven occurrences in the Corinthian letters, each time the direct context implies a moral, spiritual, or social weakness. A sickness or disease does not fit. Why imply that God gave and left a physical illness with severe pain on Paul to teach him to stay humble? To me that makes no sense. Any parent today would be jailed for child abuse if they acted is such a way toward their child.

We really do not have to speculate or add to the word of God in regard to the thorn. Paul inventoried his infirmities on several occasions. The context of the listings tells a comprehensive story. Never did Paul claim to be sick. Never do the scriptures confirm that he had some disease. Here is one example of Paul’s own list of “astheneo¯”:

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, (astheneo) in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, (astheneia) then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10) A more detailed list is noted in the chapter before Paul spoke of the revelations and thorn. In 2 Corinthians 11:20-33, Paul gave his reasoned explanation for the reference to the thorn metaphor. Paul started by reminding his readers that they allow someone to hit them in the face. Then he listed his own struggle and the constant blows he experienced.

“…in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness…”

Among the many things listed, Paul does not cite a single sickness let alone a constant disease. Why do some ignore this and insists his thorn must have been a disease? Granted, the Greek word for “infirmity” is sometimes translated “illness” but more often it applies to a “weakness or feebleness” of soul. Paul includes that word three times in these two verses and it is not in reference to a sickness, but in regard to running for his life.

“Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities…In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.” (2 Corinthians 11:29-30)

Paul specifically said fleeing for his life, while in Damascus was one of his weaknesses. There is no logical way to suggest that event was a sickness. In his epistle to the Galatians, Paul used the phrase; “Through infirmity (weakness) of the flesh I preached the gospel”. Is it correct to interpret reference as a sickness? Absolutely Not! One is forcing that interpretation at the expense of the context. For instance, how could Paul’s illness preach the gospel? Does this interpretation fit; “I through illness of the flesh preached”? Paul was reinforcing what he had said in his opening remarks to the Galatians. When he came to them, he was weak in his physical appearance (and may well have felt weak in his soul). Nevertheless, he pointed out that he carried forth a heavenly message.

“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-12)

Some say, the idea that Paul had an eye disease is perfectly plausible in light of Paul’s own choice of words to the Galatians. “For I bear record that you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.” It is not that plausible. That statement is a figure of speech just like the “Thorn in the flesh” is a metaphor. They are metaphors, idioms used to stress a point. Paul was attesting to the love they had for him. He did not say he has a disease. It is like saying; “He would give his right arm to help you”, or “He would give the shirt off his back”.

Then at his closing remarks to the Galatians, Paul said; “see how large a letter I have written to you with my own hand”. This phrase is the source of another presumption that advanced the idea that it is plausible that Paul had an eye disease and needed to write in “big” letters so he could see what he was writing. Well the fact is a blind man can know what he is writing. In this case, Paul was acknowledging that he had written the “epistle” himself. It had nothing to do with how big he wrote the alphabets. Undoubtedly, Paul did not need God to give him an eye disease on top of all the other things he suffered from the devil, to humble him.

Agreeably, Paul suffered physically from many abuses, including stoning, beatings and whippings. No question, they left their mark on his physical appearance and limited his natural ability. Nevertheless, it is presumptuous to use Paul’s “Thorn in the flesh” as a doctrine to advocate Paul’s weakness was the mark of a sickness or disease.

Weakened by Distressing Opposition The historical record of Paul’s ministry, which includes the book of Acts and Paul’s own epistles, show he endured much opposition. Paul felt hopelessly powerless against them. Demonic hindrances dominated his history.

“But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.” (Romans 15:21-22)

Dear reader, it was not God closing a door on Paul. The devil was hindering Paul from effectively advancing his Gospel message.

“Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:18)

Paul said Satan hindered him. Are we to conclude or to allow anyone to uphold that this man, whom God used to write by inspiration, was ‘wrong” in his assessment? Both this text and 2 Corinthians 12:7 prove Paul knew, and knew by inspiration, that it was Satan who opposing him using continued blows.

Other research sources are familiar with the point of view that Paul’s weakness in his flesh was the opposition to his ministry. From Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary:

“A reference to some extreme difficulty “in the flesh” which the apostle Paul encountered in his ministry <2 Corinthians 12:7>. . . The purpose of this difficulty was to prevent Paul from being “exalted above measure.” The thorn was designated as a “messenger of Satan,” perhaps to indicate that Satan, as an adversary, resisted Paul’s ministry.” . . . “If the best translation is “in the flesh,” referring to the physical flesh, the thorn MAY REFER to some physical infirmity . . . An eye ailment seems to be supported by <Galatians 4:13-15>. If the translation is “for the flesh,” referring to the Pauline concept of man’s lower nature, the thorn May Refer to some painful experiences which are spiritual in nature, such as temptation or OPPOSITION of the Jews.”