What was Paul's thorn? How did Paul find strength in weakness? Are there super apostles today? Is Christian Nationalism Christian?
"Thorny reminders" is based on 2 Corinthians 12:2-10.
I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— was caught up into paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Works Referenced
Brown, Alexandra R. “The Second Letter of Paul to the Colossians.” In The New Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha, 5th ed., edited by Michael D. Coogan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018.
Faithful America. “A Preacher’s Toolkit for Confronting Christian Nationalism.” Accessed July 6, 2024. https://act.faithfulamerica.org/signup/preachers-toolkit-christian-nationalism/.
Fredrickson, David E. “2 Corinthians.” In Fortress Commentary on the Bible: The Old Testament and Apocrypha, edited by Gale A. Yee, Hugh R. Page, Jr., Matthew J. M. Coomber. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014. Kindle edition.
Moss, Candida R. “Christly Possession and Weekend Bodies: Reconsideration of the Function of Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh (2 Cor. 12:7-10.” Journal of Religion, Disability & Health 16 (2012): 319-333.
Powery, Luke A. “Between Text and Sermon: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10.” Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology Vol. 77, No. 2 (2023): 184-186.
Sampley, J. Paul. “The Second Letter to the Corinthians.” In New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume IX. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015.
Stone, Matt and Trey Parker, writers. South Park. Season 2, episode 4, “You Will Respect My Authoritah!” Aired May 20, 1998.
Thomas, Johnn Christopher. “‘An Angel from Satan’: Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh (2 Corinthians 12.7-10).” Journal of Pentecostal Theology 9 (1996): 39-52.
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