Jesus' Words Only

Was Paul Conned that Satan Was Jesus? Pt2 in 2 Cor. 12:7 Jesus Will Not Cast Out Angel of Satan

Aug 2, 2022

Video Description

2 Cor. 12:7 -- Jesus refuses to release Paul from Angel of Satan.

Paul speaks about a ‘man’ who had revelations that were ‘unspeakable.’ Then Paul clarifies he is speaking about himself. He said that his pride could get the better of himself due to the exceeding unspeakable revelations. For this reason, Satan torments him with a stinger to keep Paul humble. Paul then explains he asked the “Lord” for release multiple times from this “angel of Satan” but the Lord refused, finally saying “my grace is sufficient for you.” Hence, this becomes the only example in Paul’s epistles where Paul is likely quoting the Damascus Jesus. Here is the entire passage to consider — 2 Corinthians 12:1-9:

12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I 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. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger [i.e., in Greek “Angelos”] of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor. 12:1-9 ESV).

The bolded portion again represents the only words from this “Lord,” presumably the Damascus Jesus. This “man” caught up in the heavens is evidently Paul. Paul does not come out and say this directly, apparently to be ‘humble’ about the superior revelation he had received. It is obviously Paul because Paul speaks about his own revelations after speaking of this man’s “revelations.” Paul then speaks about the purpose of an Angel of Satan to “torment” Paul to keep Paul humble. It is a physical “thorn in the flesh” that Satan’s Angel uses to torment Paul. Regardless, whatever were these revelations from the ‘Lord,’ Paul says they are “unspeakable.” This helps explain why Paul never quotes the Lord Jesus in Paul’s epistles to support any of Paul’s doctrines.

One thing for sure: the message and action of this “Jesus” cannot be a guide to the church at large. For Jesus never leaves demons in control of a believer if Jesus is asked to cast out a demon. If Paul needed to control humility, Jesus would not use an Angel of Satan on that errand of virtue. And why would an Angel of Satan join in such an effort to keep Paul humble? This is a most strange passage.

As Dickason says, rather than this verse being inspiration for any of us, instead it can be read so Paul’s “apostolic mission [is cast] under suspicion.” (C. Fred Dickason, Demon Possession and the Christian (Crossway, 1989) at 120.)

It is such a notorious verse that could never apply to true Christians, other Christian scholars lament that “12:7 is notoriously difficult, prompting Barrett to write ‘it can hardly be in the form Paul intended it....’” (David L. Barr, The Reality of the Apocalypse (Society of Biblical Lit, 2006) at 105.)

Thus, the only time Paul quotes Jesus in his epistles that is not from a gospel record, it is a verse that certainly is not a message for the church at large. It is for Paul alone. Christians have a right to expect Jesus would give them freedom from demonic influences. Paul’s situation appears to defy any explanation if Paul met the true Jesus outside Damascus.

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