S5E49 - Understanding Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh with Ken Fish

[@missybrenner478]

I heard this line of teaching on this passage from another source this year and I’m so grateful you are using correct biblical scholarship to get to the real root of meaning! God’s truth sets us free hallelujah!

[@salvadaXgracia]

This is such excellent teaching! I came to basically the same conclusion about Paul's thorn myself after simply reading the passage in context, including the chapter before, and I couldn't believe that more people didn't know this already. Paul spoke mostly of the persecution including hurting him physically but also of hardships due to natural disasters like being shipwrecked. Paul called it a messenger of Satan. I am sure Satan could both stir up people against Paul and also stir up the forces of nature against him like when Jesus rebuked the wind and waves. But that is really fascinating to think God only allowed that thorn for a season and then removed it and that we can see it in Acts! Apparently God allowed it again though when Paul was imprisoned for two years and eventually beheaded. I would say anyone could get Paul's thorn if they became proud or even if there was a strong danger of them becoming proud.

[@susanneengel-schuster]

Great teaching, thank you.

[@loucjenk]

This is so good. Thank you Ken and Grant for spending time on teaching about this. The only person I have ever heard speak of these Old Testament scriptures which have the thorn in the flesh in them is Andrew Wommack. He did not go into detail like you have thank you so much .

[@lindasoukup7316]

I look forward to your new episodes every week.

[@loucjenk]

This is so good. Thank you Ken and Grant for spending time on teaching about this. The only person I have ever heard speak of these Old Testament scriptures which have the thorn in the flesh in them is Andrew Wommack. and he said it was persecution. He did not go into detail like you have thank you so much .

[@JeffrieMunson]

F.F. Bosworth said many years ago that the thorn was persecution.

[@Charity-vm4bt]

I heard it was a common Jewish idiom for persecution by those who rejected him, including "Judiazers" or Jewish Christians wanting to keep Mosaic law

[@jeanewhiteside1490]

Would Jobs life be revelation to us on this side of Jesus covenant, that Job was not able to stand in for his children in their partying because they needed to have their own relationship with the Father God as Job did? So they could be righteous as Job was? No one is without sin?? No one is righteous. No one?? Job did say “I need a friend that is closer than a brother?” And he repented for what??? Then he received a new life a new wife and more children? I have wondered if Paul’s sin was the shame and guilt he may have had for killing Christian’s before his conversion? Is that flesh? Jesus gave us His righteousness and keeps covenant with us who are His? I’m just wondering. But I love your teaching and would love to be in person sometime to partake face to face. ❤

[@PamelaSmith20010]

Seek Christ seek HIM because his Name is put on our forehead ! Its all about Jesus Christ

[@williamragle1608]

Not to come against this, I really respect you Ken and I have learned a lot from you. But I don't think you can suggest that God answered Paul's prayer regarding the thorn in the flesh the way do. Here's why. Acts chapter 18 happened chronologically before Paul wrote his first and second letters to the Corinthians. You must start the church before you can write letters to it. Paul is talking about his thorn in the flesh in his second letter. Therefore his thorn couldn't have been removed in Acts 18 because he still has it years later. I'll offer that the classic interpretation that Paul was talking about himself being caught up 14 years ago in 2 Corinthians 12 also doesn't make sense because Paul wasn't about false humility, and that's exactly what this is if he was boasting about this other person who was actually himself. The passage that actually ties both of these together is Acts 22 starting in verse 17 - Paul was defending himself at Jerusalem while in Roman custody, and he talks about being in a trance and having a dialogue with Jesus. I don't think Paul would have had an issue telling the Corinthians about his own experience if indeed it was he who had the experience. As it was, he's almost assuredly speaking about someone else, like he said he is in the text. Further, this passage also shows us that Paul's thorn in the flesh is still alive and well 4 chapters after you claim God released Paul of this thorn. Again, please don't take my comment as anything other than trying to be a good barean and searching out what you say to see if these things be so. Love you Ken, looking forward to ignition again next year!