God did not remove Paul's affliction because it was given to keep him from being exalted above measure through the abundance of his revelations.
Paul had been caught up into paradise and had heard words he was not permitted to utter. He would have liked to brag about that experience, but God did not permit it. The thorn in the flesh was a constant reminder that he was still a nobody in himself, so he would not become puffed up or reveal all that had been shown to him.
2 Corinthians 12:7 — This verse directly names the thorn in the flesh and says it was given so Paul would not be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations.
2 Corinthians 12:9 — This is God's answer to Paul's request—grace is sufficient, and God's strength is made perfect in weakness.
Paul describes his experience of being "caught up into paradise" and hearing "unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter" (2 Corinthians 12:4). He then writes, "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" (2 Corinthians 12:7). The Lord's answer to Paul's request for deliverance was: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul also describes a time in Asia when he was "pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life" and says the purpose was "that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead" (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). In his list of hardships he speaks of "weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Corinthians 11:27).
Les Feldick explains that Paul's experience in the third heaven was the background for the thorn. Paul would have liked to share what he saw and heard—he calls it glorying or bragging—but God did not permit it. Because Paul was human and naturally wanted to reveal these revelations, God gave him a "constant pestering thorn in the flesh" as a reminder: "Paul, don't you repeat these things. Don't you get puffed up." Les is careful to say God did not directly inflict the pain; He permitted a messenger of Satan to buffet Paul. The purpose was to remind Paul that in himself he is still a nobody, while the flip side is that in Christ believers become somebody. Les also draws on Paul's other afflictions. Paul was not miraculously healed in his own catastrophes, and even Timothy was not healed by Paul. In 2 Corinthians 1 Paul came to the point of despairing of life, and the outcome was that he would not trust in himself but in God who raises the dead. Paul's list of perils, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness shows his humanity—he was not a superstar, but the Lord sustained him through these things.
Paul had received revelations beyond what he could share. He had been caught up into paradise and heard words no man was permitted to utter, and he would have liked to brag about it. Les says God gave him a thorn as a constant reminder not to reveal all he had seen and heard, and not to become puffed up.
Les teaches that God did not put the thorn in Paul's flesh directly. A messenger of Satan buffeted Paul, just as Satan was allowed to afflict Job within God's limits. The purpose was to remind Paul that in himself he is a nobody; in Christ he becomes somebody.
In Asia Paul was pressed out of measure, above strength, so much that he despaired of life. Les says Paul did not think he would live to finish his ministry. The "sentence of death in ourselves" was intended so that Paul would not trust in himself, but in God who raises the dead.
Les points out that Paul did not heal Timothy, but gave him a remedy. Paul's own catastrophes did not result in miraculous healing; the Lord brought him through them. There was no sign of miraculous healing in these situations.
Paul listed perils from Jews and Gentiles, perils in the city, wilderness, sea, and among false brethren. He faced weariness, painfulness, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness. Les emphasizes Paul was human, not a superstar, and that these were real hardships.
Caught Up to the Third Heaven
Les explains that Paul had been caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, and that Paul would have liked to brag about it, but God did not permit it—setting the stage for the thorn in the flesh.
The Thorn in the Flesh
Les shows that the thorn in the flesh was given to keep Paul from being exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations and to remind him not to repeat those revelations.
Messenger of Satan
Les clarifies that God did not directly put the thorn in Paul's flesh; He permitted a messenger of Satan to buffet Paul so Paul would remember he is still a nobody in himself.
No Miraculous Healing for Paul or Timothy
Les notes that Paul did not heal Timothy and was not healed from his own catastrophes; the Lord brought him through them without demonstrating miraculous healing.
Pressed Out of Measure
Les emphasizes that Paul was pressed beyond his own strength and despaired of life in Asia, showing that the apostle faced real, overwhelming pressure.
Trust Not in Ourselves
Les says the sentence of death Paul experienced was intended to make him trust not in himself but in God who raises the dead.
Desire to Glory
Les points out that Paul was human and wanted to share what he had seen, but God had to do something physical so he would never forget he was not to share it.
Paul's Human Hardships
Les reads Paul's list of perils, weariness, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness to show that Paul was human and not a superstar in his ministry.
2 Corinthians 12:4: How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
This verse shows the magnitude of the revelation Paul received, which he was forbidden to share.
2 Corinthians 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.
This is the key verse explaining why Paul's affliction existed: to prevent pride from the abundance of revelations.
2 Corinthians 12:9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
This is God's answer to Paul's request, showing that grace and divine strength, not removal of weakness, were the provision.
2 Corinthians 1:8: For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
This describes how overwhelming Paul's pressure was, matching the idea that his afflictions went beyond his own strength.
2 Corinthians 1:9: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
This gives the purpose of Paul's death-like pressure: to drive him to trust God rather than himself.
2 Corinthians 11:27: In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
This lists the kinds of physical hardships Paul endured, showing his ministry was marked by suffering.
Because he had received an abundance of revelations, and the thorn kept him from being exalted above measure. Les says it was a constant reminder not to repeat the things God had shown him and not to become puffed up.
No. Les teaches that God permitted a messenger of Satan to buffet Paul, just as He permitted Satan to afflict Job within limits. God did not put the thorn in Paul's flesh directly.
The purpose was to keep Paul humble and dependent on God. God's strength is made perfect in weakness, and in Paul's pressures he learned not to trust in himself but in God who raises the dead. Les stresses that the Lord who permitted the affliction also had the strength to bring him through it.
According to Les, Paul was not healed from his own catastrophes; even Timothy was not healed by Paul. The Lord brought Paul through these hardships, but there was no sign of miraculous healing.
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