The inspiration for this reflection came from a question my sister-in law, Jana, asked. “What does ‘a thorn in the flesh’ mentioned by St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7 refer to?” I gave a brief, spontaneous reply, but wanted to explore the question further. What I discovered in my research took my understanding in another direction.
First of all, no widely-respected scholar of Scripture claims to know exactly the answer to this question. The context for this enigmatic statement is chapters 10 through 12 of the letter. Paul is writing from the mission field to the Gentiles to whom he has been called to preach the Gospel. Obviously, he is upset with some people who have come to the Christian community in Corinth claiming to be the real apostles of Jesus, but who are making unfair demands, including financial, on the community members and are using abusive tactics to try to “convert” the community away from what they had originally been taught.
Who are these religious invaders whom Paul labels “super-apostles”? It seems they are a hybrid of fundamentalist Jewish Christians who have embraced a “spirit-infused” style of presenting themselves. They are preaching a message that doesn’t match the Good News proclaimed by Jesus and his true followers, and their understanding of Jesus himself is wrong.
Some of the members of the Corinthian community are being taken in by their bold claims and seductive message. These outsiders offer a clear, strict, legalistic path to salvation, and back their preaching with showy, charismatic “signs.” They, unlike Paul, are aggressive in their approach and skillful in oral debate. These false-apostles are convincing in their arguments based on the Law of Moses. For them, to cling to a limited view of the past is the sure and secure way forward. “Only do this, and you will be saved!”
This becomes a personal attack on Paul who spent so much time giving birth to, nurturing, and providing guidance to this difficult community. These “so-called apostles” ridicule Paul and his work, pointing out his defects. Paul is angry, and he responds with a description of his apostolic credentials and the special graces he has received from God. He contrasts himself with his attackers. Yes, he is weak. He has flaws. But, unlike them, he has never tried to take advantage of the members of the communities he has evangelized.
As part of his defense to this community he loves and has dedicated so much time and effort to, Paul writes that God gave him a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan, to slap him (a public dishonor), so that he would not think too highly of himself because of all the graces God has given him. When Paul boasts, it’s about all that God has done, with, in and through him. So, what is this “thorn in the flesh”?
Speculation about this is rampant. It must be some physical ailment, perhaps epilepsy. It must be a speech impediment. It must be Paul’s terrible temperament. It must be depression…
In Paul’s view, flesh didn’t refer to the human body in itself. Hebrew culture valued material reality as God’s creation. It respected the body and emphasized care for it. Flesh signified human nature, which is weak, vulnerable, limited, prone to sin, and is opposite of spirit. In Israelite history, a persistent, antagonizing enemy of the people was called “a thorn in the side.” So, this seems to point to some person, perhaps in the Corinthian community or among those who have asserted undo influence among its members, who has publicly, repeatedly humiliated Paul (almost like a slap in the face), and has undermined his work on behalf of the true Gospel of Jesus the Christ, as the “thorn”.