What would a case of ophthalmia do to a person in the ancient world?
A vicious case of ophthalmia, common in the ancient world, would lead to a repulsive appearance with mattery eyes and would affect the person’s eyesight. Because antibiotics were unavailable, such a condition could persist, as suggested by the thorn in the flesh and the willingness to give one’s eyes.
Les explains that he thinks the individual had what we would probably call a vicious case of ophthalmia. It was very common in the ancient world. Since they did not have antibiotics and so forth, it would lead to a repulsive appearance, mattery eyes, and it affected his eyesight. Les points to Galatians 4:15, where the writer says the Galatians would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him, suggesting a need for eyes. He also notes Galatians 6:11, where the writer says he wrote in large print with his own hand.