Paavali
Paul's Thorn in the Flesh
Paul speaks of a thorn in the flesh given to him so that he would not become proud because of the overwhelming revelations he had received. Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away, but God answered that his grace is sufficient, for power is made perfect in weakness.
2. Korinttilaiskirje 12,1-10
1I have to boast. It gains nothing, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
Καυχᾶσθαι ⸀δεῖ· οὐ ⸂συμφέρον μέν⸃, ἐλεύσομαι ⸀δὲ εἰς ὀπτασίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψεις κυρίου.
2I know a man 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.
οἶδα ἄνθρωπον ἐν Χριστῷ πρὸ ἐτῶν δεκατεσσάρων— εἴτε ἐν σώματι οὐκ οἶδα, εἴτε ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος οὐκ οἶδα, ὁ θεὸς οἶδεν— ἁρπαγέντα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἕως τρίτου οὐρανοῦ.
3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know; God knows—
καὶ οἶδα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἄνθρωπον— εἴτε ἐν σώματι εἴτε ⸀χωρὶς τοῦ σώματος οὐκ οἶδα, ὁ θεὸς οἶδεν—
4was caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, things no one is permitted to speak.
ὅτι ἡρπάγη εἰς τὸν παράδεισον καὶ ἤκουσεν ἄρρητα ῥήματα ἃ οὐκ ἐξὸν ἀνθρώπῳ λαλῆσαι.
5About such a man I will boast, but about myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου καυχήσομαι, ὑπὲρ δὲ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ καυχήσομαι εἰ μὴ ἐν ταῖς ⸀ἀσθενείαις.
6Even if I did want to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I hold back, so that no one will think of me beyond what he sees in me or hears from me.
ἐὰν γὰρ θελήσω καυχήσασθαι, οὐκ ἔσομαι ἄφρων, ἀλήθειαν γὰρ ἐρῶ· φείδομαι δέ, μή τις εἰς ἐμὲ λογίσηται ὑπὲρ ὃ βλέπει με ἢ ἀκούει ⸀τι ἐξ ἐμοῦ,
7And to keep me from becoming conceited over the surpassing greatness of these revelations, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me—so that I would not become conceited.
καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων. ⸀διὸ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, ἄγγελος ⸀Σατανᾶ, ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ, ⸂ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι⸃.
8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it would leave me.
ὑπὲρ τούτου τρὶς τὸν κύριον παρεκάλεσα ἵνα ἀποστῇ ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ·
9But he said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to its fullness in weakness." So I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
καὶ εἴρηκέν μοι· Ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου· ἡ γὰρ ⸀δύναμις ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ ⸀τελεῖται. ἥδιστα οὖν μᾶλλον καυχήσομαι ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ⸀μου, ἵνα ἐπισκηνώσῃ ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
10That is why I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with hardships, with persecutions and distresses for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
διὸ εὐδοκῶ ἐν ἀσθενείαις, ἐν ὕβρεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν διωγμοῖς ⸀καὶ στενοχωρίαις, ὑπὲρ Χριστοῦ· ὅταν γὰρ ἀσθενῶ, τότε δυνατός εἰμι.