Hi Everyone!
While I was putting a sermon together with regard to the Pauline Epistles, I came across II Corinthians 12:7-10 in Charles Thomson’s English Version of The New Testament translated from the Greek which states:
“But I forbear, lest any should ascribe to me beyond what he seeth me or heareth of me. Indeed that I might not be too much elated by the astonishing greatness of these revelations, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I might not be too much elated. For this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Whereupon He said to me, My Grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is perfected in weakness. Therefore, I will with the greatest pleasure, rather boast of my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may shelter me. I feel therefore a complacency in weaknesses, in reproaches, in difficulties, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ; for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
So, why does most of Christendom think that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was something physical? I have personally heard a lot of sermons in this regard with many different speculations. However, this Greek Translation of the New Testament clearly states that it was “A MESSENGER OF SATAN TO BUFFET ME (PAUL).”
it pays to use an original language version of both Testaments! For example, my choices are:
Charles Thomson’s English Translation of the Greek Septuagint Old Testament, which was published in 1808.
Charles Thomson’s English Translation of the Greek New Testament, which was published in 1808.
The Aramaic English New Testament, which was published in 2012.
The English Hexapla Exhibiting The Six Important English Translations of The New Testament: Wycliffe (1380); Tyndale (1534); Cranmer (1539); Genevan (1558); Angl-Rhemish (1582); and The Authorized Version (1611), which was published in 1841).
Anyway, just food for thought! Please do your own studies to show yourselves approved unto God!
YAHWEH Bless!
Justin