The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-03-18
SUNDAY MEDITATION

[NoTE.-No lesson is specified for March %.
We use this column for the exegesis Of an ex-
preston which has caused much trouble to
comment ators.l
PAUL's THORN IN THE FLESH.
Rev. J. s. Lemon, Ph.D.
Settled truths become monotonous. The
curious, mysterious, unexplained, hold our at
tention, and serve for mental discipline. We
may rejoice that every thing is not made plain.
We thus have fields for speculation and mental
jogging.
One thing is certain, we are not to under
stand st. Panl literally. He could have gotten
rid of real thorn better by the aid of a sur
geon than by prayer.
1t might seem as though this discussion is
useless. and that we would be choosing the better
part if we declared, with st. Augustine, our
ignorance. Augustine confessed, Sc nescire
quid Sit" The commentator. Scott, wrote {:
Had it seemed good to the Holy Spirit that
our curiosity should be fully gratifed in this
respect, He would have led the writer to be
more explicit; the general statement is more
suited for edifcation than if the particular
trial had been specified"
We might add that had the disorder been
specified, 1t would have saved many sincere,
conscientious commentators great deal of
trouble. His thorn in the flesh has been also a
thorn in the flesh to Bible students.
1t is quite clear that if ST. Paul had wanted
his complaint to be known he would have
specified it,. But it is not in good taste to give
details of disorder, and that particularly if
1T suggest anything unpleasant or disgusting.
We may add that if his trouble were some
physical chronic disease, and if people then
were as inclined as now to suggest all sorts OF
remedies, ST. Paul would have been deluged
with prescriptions had he made known his
physical ailment.
Sturgeon lin sermon on Cor, IL: 10, says:
" believe that the Apostle did not tell us what
his peculiar affection was that we may every
one feel that he had sympathy with us; that
we may everyone believe that ours is no new
grief"
Whatever it was, we are assured Gods grace
enabled him to bear it. But in darkness and
consequent dstrust a sufferer may argue that
his case is not identical with that of St. Paul,
and may feel that in his particular distress,
there is no guarantee of help. We may be sure,
however, that the case of st. Paul involves a
general principle, and take comfort whatever
our thorn in the flesh chance to be.
We are not sharers at all in the fantastic
notions which have been frequently ventilated
rs to st. PauPs trouble. OF several which may
have reason on their side. we may have q pref
erence for one
We know st. Paul was afflicted in some way
which caused him great modification in society.
There was some physical malady. Not simply
from a sense of pride, but mostly from fear of
not being so acceptable and useful minister
of the Gospel he was continually and greatly
distressed about his condition. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY some defect which was conspicuous,
caused attention of on-lookers. and excited
many ungracious remarks. We may infer
enemies mado some capital of the Apostles
affiiction. The trouble was so serious that st.
Paul made recovery a special subject for re-
peated prayers. Three special seasons of prayer
were devoted to this petition. But God in.
stead of favoring his prayer promised him grace
with which to bear his affection.
We have numerous general theories as to
what was the thorn in the flesh" to which
st. Paul alluded. We first indicate these. 1t
will be noticed they are not specific; state
definite disease disorder; give no means
by which to classify his particular annoying
thorn.
Some internal disease of which the marks
we're evinced only in langnor and physical
anguish. (McClintock and Strong.) Some vex-
atious bodily infrmity. (Smth's Bible Die
tionary.) DR.. Edward Robinson. in Greek and
English Lexicon of the New Testament, says,
=" Something which cxcites severe and constant
pain, probably some bodily infirmity." Then
he refers TO 9 Cor, 5: 10.
Some distressing and tedious bodily maiady.
(Alford.) So Emmerlng, Olsliausen, Ruckert,
de Wette, Beyschlag, Meyer, LANCE. Cruden ::
Some racking pain of body or terrors of con-
science. Ncander ipclineS to some inward
temptation. Barnes: Some bodily infrmity.'
one probably conspicuous and thus humiiating
to him when with other persons. Read Gal,
4: Ii. IA. Stackhouse: Some inGrmity of body,
visible to hearers, rendering him contem ptible.
Fausset and Brown: 1t was certainly
personal affecting him individually.
and not as an Apostle; causing at once acute
pain and shame. Scott: Personal defects, of
which he was conscious, which gave his enc
mics, especially the false Apostles, color for
reviling aud derding him. Cor, IL: 1875.
Conybcare and Uowson A painful bodily in.
trinity. Cyprian: Many and grievous tor
mcnts of the body.
LANCE says:
1.-The most probable snpposition is that he
had in view some very severe and painful
bodily suffering. which did not. however, pre-
vent his undergoing cxhansting labors and his
perssting in numerous lIardships But it is
utterly out of our power to determine precisely
in what this suffering consisted"
Bengel: Here st. Paul mentions something
special which weakened him with nirmities
aud met his exaltation with pain and disgrace,
even more SO. or certainly not less than. the
rage of lust, excited in the members of the
body or the most violent headaches"
1t will be noticed that all these suggested
disorders are such as affect the body, with the
exception of that suggested by Neander. The
general trend of excgcsis is toward some phys.
cal difficulty, disease, deformity.
We have the following theories. After each
theory have added the names of supporters of
said view. We have divided the theories into
two classes-a. The physical b. The mental.
Theories Relating to the Physical.
Earache.-Tertullian.
G0ut.-Rosenmuller.
Headache.-Ch Jerome, Gcumenius,
Pelagius, Teller.
am0rrhoids.-Bertholdt.
Hostility of enemes.-Beza, Chrysostom, CAL
VIM Erasmus, Fritzsche, Hcumenius, Pat
rick, Pelagius. Reiche. Schrader, Theodoret,
Theophylect, DR.. Adam Clarke.
Humpback.
Imped iment of speech.
Lithiasis.-Baxter, Luther.
Ophthalmia.-Farrar, Tuck.
Indictment to lust.-Aquinas, Bellarminc, Bisf-
ing, Estius, Corn. "a Lapde. Lyra.
c-dououreaux.-Bloomfie
Paralytic condition.-Bloomf Bull Lord.
Darlington. Benson, Doddridge, MacKnight,
Rosenmulcr, Sherlock, Slade.
Reaction from vision transf0rmation.-Dr Isaac
Watts.
Eplepsy.-Ewald, Hoffman,. Zegler, Holster,
Farrar, Encyclopedia Brit.
Theories Relating to the Mental.
Diabolical suggestions.-Calov GersoD. Lu.
Their.
Wedel
Impatience for Heaven.-Rcv. c. A. Dickcy, D.
d.