Many people have been taught that Paul's thorn was illness and that even as he prayed three times for it to depart without results, they are destined to have their own "thorn in the flesh" of sickness.
Marami ang nagsasabing ang tinik sa laman ni Pablo ay isang sakit at kahit na tatlong beses niyang idinalangin na ito na umalis ay walang nangyari, sila rin ay maaaring magkaroon ng “tinik sa laman” na sakit.