What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "What did Paul mean by the "thorn in the flesh"?"
Answer
In the Scriptures the “thorn in the flesh” (according to 2 Corinthians 12:7) is described as a trial or a “messenger of Satan” that was imposed on Paul so that he would not become conceited in view of the abundance of revelations he had received. Regarding its exact physical nature, some interpreters suspect that it may have been a poor eyesight. God did not remove this thorn despite prayers, but gave Paul His grace and strength in weakness to endure the trial patiently.
Possible Interpretation as Visual Impairment
»Some hold that his “thorn in the flesh” was poor eyesight.«
Purpose of the Thorn: Protection from Self‑Exaltation
»If it was necessary for Paul to have a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, who would strike him with fists so that he would not become proud because of the abundance of revelations with which he had been blessed, then it is a reasonable conclusion that all who seek to walk with God and partake in all the spiritual blessings of the Christian age are likewise in danger of becoming proud and succumbing to the devil’s temptations.«
God’s Answer to the Prayer for Removal of the Thorn
»When Paul prayed that the thorn in his flesh might be removed, the Lord did not answer his prayer by taking away the thorn, but by giving him grace to endure the trial. “My grace,” He said, “is sufficient for you.” Paul rejoiced at this answer to his prayer and declared: “Therefore I would rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
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