2 Corinthians 12:7–10
My Grace Is Sufficient
The big idea
Paul asked three times for the thorn to be removed, was told no, and came to regard the no as the answer.
Context you need before you preach it
Paul has been forced into reluctant self-defence against "super-apostles" who boast about visions and credentials. He parodies the form: if he must boast, he will boast about weakness.
Scripture never identifies the thorn. That silence is useful — the passage serves people with any affliction precisely because it names none.
The outline
A thorn given to keep him from exalting himself
v. 7Note the double attribution — a messenger of Satan, and given for a purpose. The text holds both without resolving them.
Three times I asked
v. 8Repeated, serious prayer by an apostle. This is not casual asking, and it is the same number as Gethsemane.
My grace is sufficient — the answer is no
v. 9aThe thorn stays. What is given instead is sufficiency, and the tense implies continuous supply.
Therefore I will boast in weakness
vv. 9b–10The reversal is complete. He does not merely accept it; he comes to prefer the terms.
Application
- God's answer to a legitimate request was no, given to an apostle. That is permission for everyone else.
- Sufficient grace is not the same as removed difficulty, and conflating them produces disappointed Christians.
- The point of the thorn was to keep him from self-exaltation — an uncomfortable reason worth preaching honestly.
Where preachers go wrong on this text
- Speculating confidently about what the thorn was. Scripture withheld it deliberately.
- Preaching it as though weakness is easy once you have the right perspective. Paul asked three times.
- Using it to discourage someone from seeking treatment or relief. Paul prayed for removal, repeatedly, and was not rebuked for it.
Other ways to structure it
The outline above is one defensible reading, not the only one. If it does not fit the congregation in front of you, these are legitimate alternatives:
- Preach it as a sermon on unanswered prayer, paired with Gethsemane.
- Preach it as a sermon on chronic illness or disability, which it serves unusually well.
- Preach the whole boasting argument from 11:16 to see what Paul is parodying.
Illustrations that fit this text
Frequently asked questions
What was Paul's thorn in the flesh?
Scripture does not say, and the guesses — eye trouble, malaria, a persistent opponent, a temptation — are all speculation. The omission looks deliberate: because it is unnamed, anyone carrying anything can stand inside the passage.
You have preached this passage before
Probably more than once, and the earlier version had a line in it you would want back. Transcribe your sermons and every text you have ever preached becomes searchable by reference — $19/month for as many as you preach, and the first one is free.
More from 2 Corinthians
Preaching resources for 2 Corinthians — themes, famous chapters, and background for the whole book.