A study of the apostle Paul's "Thorn in the Flesh"

In II Corinthians 12:7 the apostle Paul mentions, in passing, something that has captivated the minds of thinkers since its writing; Paul says that he has been given a "thorn in the flesh." Paul never speaks of his "thorn in the flesh" in any other letter, but this has not stoppe...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author Gibson, Cody
Format Dissertation
LanguageEnglish
Published ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2015
Subjects
Biblical studies
Religion
Theology
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Summary:In II Corinthians 12:7 the apostle Paul mentions, in passing, something that has captivated the minds of thinkers since its writing; Paul says that he has been given a "thorn in the flesh." Paul never speaks of his "thorn in the flesh" in any other letter, but this has not stopped people from seeking to explain this oblique reference. It is my contention that Paul does in fact reveal the identity of the "thorn in the flesh" in II Corinthians and that it was never intended, by Paul, to be a veiled reference. The history of interpretation of this phrase is ripe with variety but no answer has, to date, been able to quiet all debate. I intend to demonstrate that the best answer to this question is easily inferred from II Corinthians: that when Paul says "thorn in the flesh" he is referring to the Corinthian church.
ISBN:1321643616
9781321643619