Thorn in the Flesh

THORN IN THE FLESH. Paul’s description of a physical ailment that afflicted him and from which he prayed to be relieved (2Cor.12.7). Some hold that there are hints that it was an inflammation of the eyes. Paul generally dictated his letters, but signed them with his own hand (1Cor.16.21; 2Thess.3.17). He wrote the end of Galatians with his own hand, but apologized for the large handwriting (“what large letters,” Gal.6.11). His affliction was apparently not only painful but disfiguring. The Galatians did not despise him for it and would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to the apostle, were it possible (Gal.4.13-Gal.4.15). He says he was unable to recognize the high priest (Acts.23.5). Ramsay thought it was some form of recurring malarial fever.