In 2 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul states he was given a thorn in the flesh that God refused to remove. He said he was given this in order that he might not boast of having been caught up to the third heaven. He went on to say God’s peace is made perfect in weakness.
I don’t see this passage as a paradigm for accepting sickness, moral failure or defeat in general. Paul was not making a sweeping theological statement, nor was his intent to suggest that God humbles us through failure. On the contrary, Paul exhorts us in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to “stand firm and let nothing move us.” In numerous other passages, he similarly encourages us to persevere in the face of adversity. Either we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us or we cannot. Either we are more than conquerors, or we are not.
Paul’s thorn in the flesh did not provoke him to sin, or offend others, incidentally.
Additionally, Jesus states in absolute terms we can receive anything we can believe for. (Mark 11:24, John 15:7, John 14:13-14, Luke 11:9-10)
We don’t see a biblical precedent for waging a war we can’t win or fighting battles that end in defeat.
The Christ who lives in us knows no equal.
Therefore, for those who interpret this passage as an example of conditional surrender, I have two questions. Did God tell you the affliction your battling was meant to humble you?
Have you been caught up to the third heaven? Alan Smith
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