Thorn in the flesh

Biblical meaning

Paul mentions what the "thorn in his flesh" was in 2 Corinthians 12:6-7 when he said (Verse 6) "...lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. (Verse 7) And lest I should be exalted above measure through 'the abundance of revelations', there was given to me 'a thorn in the flesh'..." from "the abundance of revelations" and how people perceived him or "...man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me."

Paul does not specify the nature of his "thorn", and his other epistles do not directly address the topic. Throughout church history, there has been a significant amount of speculation about what Paul was referring to, although scholars such as Philip Edgcumbe Hughes, F. F. Bruce and Ralph P. Martin conclude that definite identification of the thorn is impossible with the evidence available. Other scholars such as B. J. Oropeza, M. David Litwa, and Paula R. Gooder suggest that the thorn refers to the messenger of Satan who harmed Paul during his third heaven experience.

The "thorn" is most commonly interpreted in relation to persecutions or hardships Paul faced.

Other interpretations include:

• Suggestions of "impiety": Easton's Bible Dictionary associates this interpretation with "Roman Catholic writers".
• Paul's agony over Jewish rejection of the gospel
• A reference to Paul's opponents
• A physical ailment
• A temptation to unbelief.

Modern usage

The phrase "thorn in the flesh" continues to be used as a metaphor for "a source of continual annoyance or trouble." It is synonymous with the phrase "thorn in the side", which is also of biblical origin, based on the description in Numbers 33:55. As an example usage, the Oxford English Dictionary cites E. M. Forster's 1924 novel A Passage to India, in which Nawab Bahadur says, "I can be a thorn in Mr. Turton's flesh, and if he asks me I accept the invitation."

References

References

1. {{bibleverse. 2Corinthians. 12:7-9. 9. 2 Corinthians 12:7–9 – [http://studybible.info/compare/2Corinthians%2012:7 multi-version compare]
2. {{bibleref. Ezekiel. 28:24. 9 – {{bibleverse. Joshua. 23:13. 9
3. Crystal, David. (2011). "The Story of English in 100 Words". Profile Books.
4. (January 2018). "Thorn, n.". Oxford University Press.
5. {{bibleverse. 2. Corinthians. 12:6-7. KJV
6. Hughes, Philip E.. (1962). "The Second Epistle to the Corinthians". Eerdmans.
7. Martin, Ralph P.. (2014). "2 Corinthians". Zondervan.
8. Bruce, Frederick F.. (2000). "Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free". Eerdmans.
9. Oropeza, B. J. (2016). ''Exploring Second Corinthians: Death and Life, Hardship and Rivalry.'' Atlanta: SBL Press, pp. 668-675 {{ISBN. 9780884141259
10. M. David Litwa (2011). “Paul’s Mosaic Ascent: An Interpretation of 2 Corinthians 12.7–9.” ''New Testament Studies'' 57 pp. 238–57
11. Gooder, Paula R. (2006). ''Only the Third Heaven? 2 Corinthians 12:1–10 and Heavenly Ascent.'' London: T&T Clark, 2006. {{ISBN. 0567042448.
12. Easton, Matthew George (1897), [https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/eastons-bible-dictionary/thorn-in-the-flesh.html "Thorn in the flesh"], ''Easton's Bible Dictionary'' (Third edition). T. Nelson and Sons, accessed on 1 July 2025
13. (2010). "Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins". Oxford University Press.
14. (January 2018). "Thorn, n.". Oxford University Press.