What was Paul's thorn in the flesh?
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I told you what the demon was doing. Do you not listen to what people say?
There is a difference between ignoring scripture and understanding it within correct context. You rip scripture apart to fit your narrative. Pity, you may have learned from what others have said here.
Goodbye.
<wave>
There is a difference between ignoring scripture and understanding it within correct context. You rip scripture apart to fit your narrative. Pity, you may have learned from what others have said here.
Goodbye.
<wave>
What translation is that? What I've read so far is talking about "coveting"... which generally is not really talking about sexual lust. It's more of a "lusting" after material things. "8 But sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;"
I don't see any indication that sexual lust was Paul's thorn in the flesh. In fact, many scholars seem to think that Paul had little or no interest in women, romantically/sexually. He remained single, even being a well educated, desireable bachelor. He suggested that others would do well to remain single, if they could not give in to lust.... as apparently he did not. Otherwise, they would "do well" to marry.... as he did not. Lust, apparently, was no problem for Paul.
Most scholars think that it was his vision... he had problems with his vision....
He made a couple of references that indicate this. The aforementioned "you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me", and another where, to emphasize he was writing the letter himself, instead of dictating it to a scribe, he said "see what large letters I use, writing this with my own hand"...
He had vision problems.
A thorn in the flesh is just that.... a physical (fleshly) ailment.
I don't see any indication that sexual lust was Paul's thorn in the flesh. In fact, many scholars seem to think that Paul had little or no interest in women, romantically/sexually. He remained single, even being a well educated, desireable bachelor. He suggested that others would do well to remain single, if they could not give in to lust.... as apparently he did not. Otherwise, they would "do well" to marry.... as he did not. Lust, apparently, was no problem for Paul.
Most scholars think that it was his vision... he had problems with his vision....
He made a couple of references that indicate this. The aforementioned "you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me", and another where, to emphasize he was writing the letter himself, instead of dictating it to a scribe, he said "see what large letters I use, writing this with my own hand"...
He had vision problems.
A thorn in the flesh is just that.... a physical (fleshly) ailment.
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Granted, the interlinear is covetousness which includes a variety of things, sexual as well as others, but is a strong, insatiable desire and or appetite for whatever the object or objects of desire are. Whether sexual or non sexual, romans 7 defines Paul's thorn in the flesh in my view since he's discussing it in 1st person singular as relating to himself
Granted, the interlinear is covetousness which includes a variety of things, sexual as well as others, but is a strong, insatiable desire and or appetite for whatever the object or objects of desire are. Whether sexual or non sexual, romans 7 defines Paul's thorn in the flesh in my view since he's discussing it in 1st person singular as relating to himself
I think you are trying to ascribe some other topic to the topic at hand, in Rom 7. That whole discussion is about the law, and our response to it. He was discussing how we are not under the law, since Jesus saved us. He also was clarifying the role of the law, before Jesus came, and how the law helped shape lives.
"Far from it! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; " and he went on to explain just HOW the law helped shape lives... "for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” "
Paul was not giving some kind of testimony about HIS life and struggles, he was explaining in general how the law worked.
I see noting in this scripture that indicates he is talking about his personal affliction/thorn in the flesh.
"Far from it! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; " and he went on to explain just HOW the law helped shape lives... "for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” "
Paul was not giving some kind of testimony about HIS life and struggles, he was explaining in general how the law worked.
I see noting in this scripture that indicates he is talking about his personal affliction/thorn in the flesh.
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God's grace relates to everything - not just forgiveness.
Anything you might call a 'blessing' is because of God's grace. The fact that you are [physically] alive is due to God's grace. Your ability to think with your mind, take your next breath, and whatever ability your body has to do daily functional necessities are because of God's grace.
The fact that God gives people opportunity to come to Him before it is too late - yep - has everything to do with God's grace.
If it were not for God's grace, we would all be in the lake of fire right now - it would be "commit a sin, burn in hell [immediately]"...
Anything you might call a 'blessing' is because of God's grace. The fact that you are [physically] alive is due to God's grace. Your ability to think with your mind, take your next breath, and whatever ability your body has to do daily functional necessities are because of God's grace.
The fact that God gives people opportunity to come to Him before it is too late - yep - has everything to do with God's grace.
If it were not for God's grace, we would all be in the lake of fire right now - it would be "commit a sin, burn in hell [immediately]"...
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God's grace comes into play when it's undeserved such as in the forgiveness of sin. It has nothing to do with disease or other such bodily afflictions or suffering/persecuted as a Christian on his behalf. Paul besought the Lord 3 times to rid himself I'd IT, a single thing, that plagued him via Satan.
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And you are parsing words way too literally.
Saying "I" was just a manner of speaking....
If I was to run toward the edge of a cliff and not stop, I would fall off.
That doesn't mean that I have done that, or even contemplated that. It is just a manner of speaking.
I would not have even known about the certain death when falling off a cliff, but I knew the law of gravity, and that saved me....
Saying "I" was just a manner of speaking....
If I was to run toward the edge of a cliff and not stop, I would fall off.
That doesn't mean that I have done that, or even contemplated that. It is just a manner of speaking.
I would not have even known about the certain death when falling off a cliff, but I knew the law of gravity, and that saved me....