Was Paul’s thorn in the flesh his bad eyesight?

Answer:

"Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-- was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:1-10 NAS95).

Since the event happened fourteen years earlier, this would be about when Paul was in Tarsus or with Barnabas in Antioch (Acts 9:29-30). It does not reference his conversion, which occurred about twenty years prior. Some wonder if it is the same event mentioned in Acts 22:17.

Though the vision happened to him, he was unable to comment on whether he physically went or only spiritually went. The vision was real enough that it seemed he was there, even if he might not have been. Repeating the statement is to emphasize it. Paul cannot answer questions about that; it isn’t material to his point anyway. What he does know is that he went to the third heaven. In the Bible, the word heaven is used in three different senses. There is the heaven where the birds fly; that is our atmosphere (Jeremiah 4:25). There is the heaven where the sun, moon, and stars reside; that is, outer space (Isaiah 13:10). And there is the heaven where God dwells, which is a spiritual realm (Hebrews 9:24).

The place was called “Paradise,” also mentioned in Luke 23:43 and Revelation 2:7. The same Greek word was used in the Septuagint translation to translate “garden.” He heard things that either could not be described (translated) or should not be spoken of – the Greek allows either translation. Either way, Paul wasn’t permitted to repeat what he heard. Why he was a witness to something that he wasn’t permitted to say is not told to us. But it does reinforce what Paul said in I Corinthians 2:9: that greater things are awaiting us in heaven than we can imagine.

To help Paul keep his pride in check, Satan was allowed to plague Paul through “a thorn in the flesh.” What Paul was referring to is never mentioned. However, Paul mentioned that he had a physical infirmity (Galatians 4:13-14). The use of the words “thorn” and “buffet” (to strike with the hand) seems to indicate that it was painful. It is unlikely that Paul refers to his eyesight since that isn't usually painful. Paul had asked three times for the problem to be removed, but his request was denied. Paul’s prayer was answered, but Jesus responded that his grace was enough for Paul because the Lord’s strength shines brightly through weakness.

Thus, Paul’s attitude toward his infirmity changed. What he once saw as a problem, he now sees as a way to bring glory to Christ. That attitude had spread to all areas of his life, realizing that his spiritual strength was greatest when he was physically weak (I Corinthians 2:3-4; II Corinthians 4:7; 13:4; Hebrews 11:34; I Peter 4:14).