2 Corinthians 12:7

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. EXALTED ABOVE MEASURE, [ huperairoomai (G5229)] - 'overmuch uplifted.' How dangerous must self-exaltation be, when even the apostle required so much restraint. ABUNDANCE, [ huperbolee (G5236)] - 'the excess;' exceeding greatness. GIVEN TO ME - namely, by God (Job 5:6; Philippians 1:29). THORN IN THE FLESH ...

7._And lest through the superiority of revelations. _Here we have a _second _reason — that God, designing to repress in him every approach to insolence, subdued him with a rod. That rod he calls a _goad, _by a metaphor taken from oxen. The word _flesh _is, in the Greek, in the dative (898) Hence Erasmus has rendered it _“by _the flesh.” I prefer, however, to understand him as meaning, that the prickings of this _goad _were _in _his flesh. Now it is asked, what this _goad _was. Those act a ridiculous part, who think that Paul was tempted to lust. We must therefore repudiate that fancy. (899) Some have supposed, that he was harassed with frequent pains in the head. Chrysostom is rather inclined to think, that the reference is to Hymeneus and Alexander, and the like, because, instigated by the devil, they occasioned Paul very much annoya

7-10 The apostle gives an account of the method God took to keep him humble, and to prevent his being lifted up above measure, on account of the visions and revelations he had. We are not told what this thorn in the flesh was, whether some great trouble, or some great temptation. But God often brings this good out of evil, that the reproaches of our enemies help to hide pride from us. If God loves us, he will keep us from being exalted above measure; and spiritual burdens are ordered to cure spiritual pride. This thorn in the flesh is said to be a messenger of Satan which he sent for evil; but God designed it, and overruled it for good. Prayer is a salve for every sore, a remedy for every malady; and when we are afflicted with thorns in the flesh, we should give ourselves to prayer. If an answer be not given to the first prayer, nor to the second, we are to continue praying. Troubles ar...

Verse 2 Corinthians 12:7. _AND LEST I SHOULD BE EXALTED_] There were three evils to be guarded against: 1. The _contempt_ of his gifts and call by his _enemies_. 2. The _overweening fondness_ of his _friends_. And, 3. _Self-exultation_. _A THORN IN THE FLESH_] The word σκολοψ signifies a _stake_, and ανασκολοπιζεσθαι, to be _tied to a stake_ by way of punishment; and it is used, says _Schoettgen_, to signify the _most oppressive_ _afflictions_. Whatever it was, it was τησαρκι, _in the flesh_, i.e. of an _outward_ kind. It was neither _sin_ nor _sinfulness_, for this could not be _given him_ to prevent his being _exalted_ above measure; for _sin_ never had and never can have this tendency. What this _thorn in the flesh_ might be

AND LEST I SHOULD BE EXALTED - Lest I should be spiritually proud; lest I should become self-confident and vain, and suppose that I was a special favorite of Heaven. If Paul was in danger of spiritual pride, who is not? If it was necessary for God to adopt some special measures to keep him humble, we are not to be surprised that the same thing should occur in other cases. There is abundant reason to believe that Paul was naturally a proud man. He was by nature self-confident; trusting in his own talents and attainments, and eminently ambitious. When he became a Christian, therefore, one of his besetting sins would be pride; and as he had been especially favored in his call to the apostleship; in his success as a preacher; in the standing which he had among the other apostles, and in the revelations imparted to him, there was also special danger that he would become self-confident and pro...

EXPOSITION The revelations vouchsafed to him (2 Corinthians 12:1). The counteracting "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7). One more apology for glorying (2 Corinthians 12:11, 2 Corinthians 12:12). His disinterestedness (2 Corinthians 12:13). Indignant refutation of the charge that he had made gain of them through the agency of subordinates (2 Corinthians 12:16)

AND LEST I SHOULD BE EXALTED ABOVE MEASURE,.... Over much elated in his mind, and swelled with a vain conceit of himself: THROUGH THE ABUNDANCE OF THE REVELATIONS; for he had not only one or two, or a few, but an abundance of them; and which, as everything does but grace, tended to lift up his mind, to stir up the pride of his heart, and to entertain too high and exalted thoughts of himself. Pride is naturally in every man's heart; converted persons are not without it; knowledge, gifts, and revelations are apt to puff up with spiritual pride, unless counterbalanced and over poised by the grace of God. This great apostle was not out of danger by them, for he was not already perfect; wherefore to prevent an excess of pride and vanity in him on account of them, he says, THERE WAS GIVEN TO ME A THORN IN THE FLESH, THE MESSENGER OF SATAN TO BUFFET ME; many have been the thoughts and conject...

THORN It has been conjectured that Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was chronic ophthalmia, inducing bodily weakness, and a repulsive appearance (Galatians 4:15); (1 Corinthians 2:3); (1 Corinthians 2:4); (2 Corinthians 10:10). This cannot be positively known, and the reserve of Scripture is as sure a mark of inspiration as its revelations. Paul's particular "thorn" is not described that his consolations may avail for all to who any thorn is given....

2 CORINTHIANS 12:7 dio, {C} Although dio, is absent from such important witnesses as î46 D Y 88 614 itd, ar vg syrp, h copsa goth, the Committee preferred to retain the word in the text as the more difficult reading, attested, as it is, by Alexandrian and other witnesses (a A B G 33 81 1739 itg Euthalius). The excision of the conjunction seems to have occurred when copyists mistakenly began a new sentence with kai. th|/ u`perbolh|/ tw/n avpokalu,yewn, instead of taking these words with the preceding sentence....

3. REVELATION IN WHICH HE MIGHT GLORY. HIS APOSTLESHIP. CHAPTER 12 _ 1. Caught up to the Third Heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:1)_ 2. The Thorn in the Flesh. (2 Corinthians 12:7) 3. The Marks of His Apostleship. (2 Corinthians 12:11) 4. His Continued Deep Concern. (2 Corinthians 12:16 .) In the previous chapter the apostle gloried in that which in the eyes of man has no glory at all. From the ignominious experience of being let down in a basket he turns to another experience in which he was caught into the third heaven. “I will come to visions