Difficult biblical passages for me, can someone explain?

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This is second part of a similar question. Can anyone answer this for me please?

What is this thorn in the flesh Apostle Paul is talking about?

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 2 Cor 12:7

How could one be delivered to Satan so as not to learn to blaspheme?

Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Tim 1:20

Was John actually assumed or taken into heaven to see the visions?

1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. Rev 4:1-2

Does this verse mean that the Lord our God has an immortal SOUL too aside from having a SPIRIT?

4The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test, the children of man. 5The LORD tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 6Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. Psalm 11:4-6

Your replies have been a blessing for me. God bless the work of your hands. Thank you.
 
ElCid said:
This is second part of a similar question. Can anyone answer this for me please?

What is this thorn in the flesh Apostle Paul is talking about?

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 2 Cor 12:7
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This is my interpretation with the help of the Catholic Study Bible.

But as for the quote from Corinthians, this thorn in Paul’s side could be interpreted several ways. Basically the context shows that Paul was given a special knowledge – God revealed Himself especially to Paul in some way.

What Paul says here, then, is that God gave him a weakness, or, the weakness in Paul was not overcome, so that Paul may experience humility in the strength and power of Christ. “… for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Certainly, Paul was most privileged in terms of spiritual revelation, but this does not make him more holy in terms of morality and the such. Paul was human. This thorn could specifically mean a previous weakness – I heard that Paul often dealt with lustful tendencies. Or, this thorn could, as the study bible commentary states, a third person who kept him in check. Or, this thorn could be an actual “angel of Satan,” sent to beat Paul down into humility. Whatever the case may be, the nature of this thorn is not important. What is important is that Paul used his weaknesses to achieve strength and Christ.

This is perfectly fluid with the rest of the epistle. Paul is setting himself up as an example. He’s saying to them, “Look, I know that it’s tough, I feel it too. But when you admit your weakness and your turn to Christ, you will find strength.”
 
If you read all of Paul’s writings it becomes very clear that a special revelation(s) from Christ was his guiding force inspiring his life and his apostolic ministries and writings. These revelation were so unique that it was almost impossible, for Paul, to express them in human terms - they were so “Other”. So often he ends up being rather vague.

About his “thorn” I guess it would be safe to say what the nature of his “Thorn” will never be know and can only be speculated on, therefore, in my opinion, one theory is as good as another if it is reasonable. As for me, I tend to go with a more modern scholarship’s thinking that is was some sort of physical handicap he had to live with through out his life. Epilespy seems to be a strong candidate. Remember, during the time of Paul, many natural deseases or injuries were seen as acts or punishments or disciplines from God.

However, as I wrote above, I would accept any reasonable opinion. More, what I believe is truely important in not the exact nature of his torment but how he handled it with humility and utter faith that God’s grace will allow him to over come what ever it was.
 
ElCid said:
What is this thorn in the flesh Apostle Paul is talking about?

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 2 Cor 12:7

He also may have had poor eyesight (a physical infirmity). In Galatians 6:11, he writes with large letters.

How could one be delivered to Satan so as not to learn to blaspheme?

Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Tim 1:20

They were excommunicated for blasphemy. If they repented and confessed, they could have been allowed back into the Church.

Was John actually assumed or taken into heaven to see the visions?

1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. Rev 4:1-2

John had a vision of heaven.
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ElCid said:
How could one be delivered to Satan so as not to learn to blaspheme?

Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Tim 1:20
Click to expand...
This might be better understood in light of 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 “in the name of (our) Lord Jesus: when you have gathered together and I am with you in spirit with the power of the Lord Jesus,
5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.”
The sinner is expelled from the Church (excommunicated) so that during his lifetime he might be able to experience the painful results of his sin, and so repent while repentance is still possible.

I kind of liken it to a doctor scaring a patient who is living unhealthily in order to persuade the patient to have a healthier lifestyle while it is still possible to avoid the really problematic health conditions.
Was John actually assumed or taken into heaven to see the visions?

1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. Rev 4:1-2
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He had a vision. St. Paul at one point said he was taken up to “the third heaven.” I am not sure what this means. I imagine that even the people who have such experience find that it’s hard to figure out exactly what happened.
Does this verse mean that the Lord our God has an immortal SOUL too aside from having a SPIRIT?

4The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test, the children of man. 5The LORD tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 6Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. Psalm 11:4-6
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These verses use very figurative language. I wouldn’t take this as a revelation that God has a soul any more than I would take it as a revelation that God has eyelids.
 
Yes, about “delivering unto Satan”, I have read Catholic Encylopeida that said that when we sin mortally, God “spiritually blinds us”, by witholding his grace from us that would enlighten us to our errors, because we wouldn’t listen anyway. Hence, we will then pursue the created good to its exhaustion, and when we have exhausted it and it becomes apparent the created good cannot ultimately satisfy us, THEN God hits us with grace and says, “Now do you see that that which you turned to and away from Me cannot satisfy you, and that only I, with my Infinite Love can?”

I think it’s like the prodigal son. When the prodigal son disowns the father and leaves to indulge in the flesh and the world, the Father does not run after the son and say, “plesae come back, I love you…” because the son’s mind is made up. So the father must wait until the son has exhausted the “inheritance” (a created good) and come into the situation of famine in order to demonstrate to the son his ultimate need of the father.

does that help?
 
ElCid said:
This is second part of a similar question. Can anyone answer this for me please?

What is this thorn in the flesh Apostle Paul is talking about?

Your replies have been a blessing for me. God bless the work of your hands. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Dear Cid,
I believe it has been suggested that Paul was a victim of epilepsy.
This could account for his attacks of blindness also.
Epilepsy was seen as demon possession. Rememder the official’s only son, who foamed at the mouth, and cast himself in the fire.
 
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