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By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
Verse Takeaways
1
A Gift for Humility
Commentators unanimously agree that God allowed this painful "thorn" for a specific purpose: to keep Paul from becoming proud over his incredible spiritual revelations. Paul describes it as being "given" to him, framing it as a severe mercy. This shows that God will use even painful means, which may feel like an attack from Satan, to protect His children from the destructive sin of pride.
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2 Corinthians
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8
18th Century
Presbyterian
And lest I should be exalted. Lest I should be spiritually proud; lest I should become self-confident and vain, and suppose that I was a s…
By reason of the exceeding greatness (τη υπερβολη). Instrumental case, "by the excess."
That I should not be exalte…
19th Century
Anglican
There was given to me a thorn in the flesh.—The vague mystery with which St. Paul thus surrounds the special form of “inf…
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Others might be tempted, “because of these surpassingly great revelations” (v.7) accorded to Paul, to form an estimate of him that outstripped the …
16th Century
Protestant
And lest through the superiority of revelations. Here we have a second reason—that God, designing to repress in him every approac…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And lest I should be exalted above measure Over much elated in his mind, and swelled with a vain conceit of himself:…
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The apostle gives an account of the method God took to keep him humble, and to prevent his being lifted up above measure, on account of the visions…
13th Century
Catholic
Here, he speaks of the remedy against pride. In this regard, he does three things:
