What was Paul's thorn in the flesh?

• A. A physical injury from a mission trip.
• B. A demon tormenting him.
• C. An unspecified affliction given to him due to the abundance of revelations.
• D. A financial hardship.

Answer: (C)

Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” is best understood as an unspecified affliction allowed to come to him because of the abundance of revelations. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul describes it as a thorn in the flesh, “the messenger of Satan to buffet me,” given to keep him from pride in light of his revelations. He asks God to remove it, but God replies that His grace is sufficient and that His power is made perfect in weakness. The key point is that the exact nature of the thorn isn’t defined in the text; it’s presented as an unspecified burden with a purpose—humbling Paul and pushing him toward reliance on divine grace. This fits the passage better than reading it as a definite physical injury, a demon specifically tormenting him, or a financial hardship.