Paul's Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:7

Abundance of revelations

2 Corinthians 12: 2-4, "I will come to visions and revelations"
Acts 22:17-18, "I was in a trance"
Galatians 1:11-12, "the gospel I preached came to me through revelation"
Ephesians 3:3, "by revelation He made known to me the mystery"

A thorn was given to me

2 Corinthians 10:10 "weak bodily presence and speech contemptible"
2 Corinthians 11:6 - "but his knowledge wasn't weak"
Acts 22:3 - he was educated "at the feet of Gamaliel"
1 Corinthians 9 - Eunuch for kingdom of Heaven (not married altho had a right; Matthew 19)

Eye Sight Impaired

Acts 9:8; 17 Paul lost his eye sight for a time
Acts 22:11, 13 Paul was blinded for a time
Galatians 4:13-15 "you would have given me your eyes"
Galatians 6:11 "I write with large letters"

Why didn't Paul use his apostolic powers to heal himself?

Acts 19:6, 11-12 clearly, Paul had apostolic powers given to him
Convenience wasn't the purpose of miracles but to generate faith,
See: John 2:11,23; 4:48-54; 11:45

Why didn't he use his power to heal a brother preacher?

Philippians 2:25-30 Epaphroditus was near death yet no miracle was worked to save him
Remember, convenience or show wasn't the purpose of miracles

Christianity and Persecution Go Hand-in-Hand

Look at Paul's history of persecution:
Acts 8:1-3; 22:4-5; 20; 26:9-11 how he persecuted the church
1 Timothy 1:15 Chief of sinners
2 Timothy 3:12 "Yes, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
Galatians 5:11 "why do I yet suffer persecution?"
Romans 8:35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [Shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"

Whatever the thorn was that Paul asked to have removed, God's reply was:

I'll give you something better Paul, "My grace" 2 Corinthians 12:9
He will do as much for you and me when:
We walk by faith, 2 Corinthians 5:7
We walk with God 1 John 1:3

The apostles and prophets before Jesus suffered. Do you think you won't?

-Bill Watkins