Why did Paul say his thorn in the flesh was a “messenger of Satan to buffet me” (2 Corinthians 12:7)?

Even though the apostle Paul had planted the church in Corinth, deceitful ministers later infiltrated the church, forcing him to defend his apostolic ministry. These false teachers claimed that true apostleship was accompanied by special knowledge and revelation. Backed into a defensive position in 2 Corinthians 12:1–10, Paul reluctantly shares his experience of visions and revelations from the Lord. He states, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure” (verse 7, NKJV).

Paul’s revelations from God were so “surpassingly great” that he was tempted to become proud. The sin of pride could have easily brought on the downfall of Paul’s ministry (Proverbs 11:2; 16:18; 18:12). Therefore, God gave him a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. Bible scholars are uncertain of the exact nature of Paul’s thorn. It may have been a physical ailment such as an eye disease (see Galatians 4:15), a temptation to sin, emotional turmoil, demonic opposition, or even a person who tormented Paul. Whatever the thorn may have been, it was a source of extreme suffering and pain in Paul’s life. He called it “a messenger of Satan to buffet me” (NKJV, KJV).

Paul credited God with giving him the thorn because it ultimately served a good purpose, preventing him from becoming proud. Just as God permitted suffering in Paul’s life to bring balance and keep him in a place of humility, He sometimes allows us to experience suffering as an instrument for building Christlike character (Romans 5:1–5).

Yet, even though Paul’s thorn was given to him by God, he considers it to be “a messenger of Satan.” The Greek word (angelos), translated as “messenger” in 2 Corinthians 12:7, sometimes denotes an angel. Here, it may be a reference to an evil spirit harassing Paul, causing him physical or emotional torment. Perhaps the spirit dredged up guilt and shame over Paul’s past failures such as his relentless persecution of the early church before his conversion (see Acts 7:58; 8:1; 22:20; 26:10).

Paul identifies the source of the messenger as Satan, who is the adversary of God and His work in the world (see 2 Corinthians 4:4). God permitted Satan’s messenger to “buffet” Paul. This Greek verb (kolaphizē) means “to strike with the fist, to beat, to mistreat violently.” In its present subjunctive tense, the term suggests an ongoing infliction of pain, either chronic or recurring. Paul writes, “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away” (2 Corinthians 12:8, NLT). Three times recalls the number of times Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, asking the Father to “take this cup of suffering away from me” (see Mark 14:32–42, NLT).

Although Satan was doggedly determined to inflict harm on Paul, the apostle finds strength in his weakness and ultimate victory by trusting in God’s grace to help him endure the hardship. The Lord reassures Paul, saying, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). Paul had made his appeal to the Lord and then submitted to the experience, knowing God would use it for his good (see Romans 8:18–30).

God might sometime allow a messenger of Satan to buffet us. He permitted Satan to afflict Job (see Job 1—2). He let Joseph suffer evil at the hands of his brothers yet later reveal to them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good” (Genesis 50:20, NLT). Throughout the Bible, God demonstrates His power through human weakness (see Exodus 4:12–15; 1 Samuel 14:6–15). Whenever we experience ongoing affliction or pain like Paul, we can look for God’s good purpose in our suffering. Perhaps He is building our character, keeping us humble or dependent on Him, and teaching us to trust Him more. May we let Christ’s power rest on us, accomplish its good purpose in us, and become evident to others through our weakness.