What was Paul's thorn in the flesh?

Paul mentions a thorn in the flesh in the verse below,

2 Cor.12:7 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.

The thorn was given to Paul to keep him humble, to prevent him from becoming too exalted in the flesh and in the calling that the Lord had given him. In this context, what was the thorn that kept Paul humbled? Who were the messengers of Satan that buffeted him and kept his flesh from being exalted through the revelations he received? 

The thorn in Paul's flesh was not (as many believe) his poor eyesight as mentioned in Gal.4:15, but rather, the thorn were the Jewish messengers of Satan, who were constantly buffeting him. These messengers were the religious Jews who incessantly undermined his work in the grace gospel. These men spread lies and deceit causing new believers in Paul's gospel to doubt their faith and draw back into the law, as clearly depicted in Galatians. Paul had to speak out aggressively to defend the content of his letters,

Gal.1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

... and ...

Gal.5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

See the following for more examples of opposition and persecution in regard to his doctrine: Acts 9:29; Acts 13:50; Acts 14:5; Acts 14:19; Acts 16:22; Acts 18:12; Acts 21:27-40; Acts 22:22; 2 Corinthians 4:9; 2 Timothy 3:11.

Also, due to the opposition on his doctrine, Paul had to constantly qualify himself as an apostle and one called of God for this task,

Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),

Galatians 1:11-18 11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. ... 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, ...

Romans 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,

Galatians 2:8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles),

1 Timothy 2:7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Even today, there are multitudes that oppose the calling and ministry of Paul. peopl and denominations question his doctrine, saying it opposes that which Christ taught, saying it has no place in the Bible, saying he was not qualified to be an apostle, and on and on...

In response to this six-part article I posted on Paul's Credibility, one seems to get the expected backlash from doubters or the scriptural novices who attempt to provide advice and commentary but end up skewing or falsely smearing his calling and ministry. Here is another recent example (verbatim), another 'thorn in the flesh', who commented the following on the linked article above,

COMMENT:

GOD made a covenant with Abraham, that he will make the protogyny of Abraham prosperous in the land and as much as the stars. The legacy that Abraham had with God was to have someone carry his legacy forward in terms of belief.

Paul is not from the bloodline of Abraham and as such cannot write his Gospels as he was not physically anointed by Jesus.

PAUL claims that a bright light spoke to him, and his assistance heard the voice and in another verse, they heard nothing. Paul although he was in Jerusalem at the time never saw Jesus or heard Jesus speak, he also claims that Satan can come in the form of a light to mislead people.

With regards to God's legacy, it was only meant for the family of Abraham, and both Mary and Joseph where from the lineage of David who was the family of Abraham.

Was Paul circumcised….?

REPLY:

Paul's Lineage and circumcision

TX for your comment, but your entire argument about Paul's lineage is nullified by this one passage of scripture,

Phil.3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Another scripture that shows his lineage and passion for his people, the Jews, is found in Romans,

Rom.9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Paul was more of a Jew than many of his peers.

Paul's Calling and Doctrine

Paul saw the risen Lord on the road to Damascus, and then again in visions and even possibly in death. it is at these times that he received his doctrine by divine revelation. He spent 3-years separated from influence in Arabia where he received the initial revelations of his calling. Thereafter, the risen Lord would provide him with additional progressive revelations in regard to the doctrine of the Gentiles

2 Corinthians 12:1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

As for Paul's calling and the words (epistles) that he wrote, they are the inspired words of the glorified Christ, even acknowledged by the apostle Peter as being ‘scripture’,

Peter says:

2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Paul says:

1 Cor.14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Paul was divinely chosen by the risen Christ (Acts 9:15). 

Gal.1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

One can easily explain the scenario of Paul’s companions hearing, but not hearing the Lord speak to Saul. The companions heard something, a noise, but did not hear legible words. It's the same scenario when Israel was encamped around Sinai. The people heard thunder and rumblings, but Moses, who was on the mountain, heard God’s words in a legible form.

I hope this sheds a bit more light on the above comment and will help you to reconsider that Paul was called by the Lord not to complement the work of the 12-apostles but rather for a completely different ministry, one that was to the Gentiles and had a different message and purpose. Paul’s calling is as valid as that of the 12. Without Paul’s ministry and the gospel he proclaimed, the Gentiles would be utterly lost and without hope and salvation.

Eph.2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 BUT NOW in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Praise God for Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. (Rom.11:13)