Somebody told me that he was a womanizer, and actually begged God to take this sin away from him. But God refused in order to teach him a lesson in humility.
Has anyone else heard anything to this effect?
2006-06-05 17:51:51 · 9 answers · asked by ThatGuy 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I will say that my source is a Catholic priest. . .so maybe.
2006-06-05 17:53:39 · update #1
That story is the product of someone's imagination and a perversion of the Scriptures. Probably the person who made it up had a problem in that area himself and "read into" the Scriptures to give himself some sort of justification for his own sins. Compare these two passages. The first one is where this false teaching has it's shaky foundation.
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. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
Many scholars have wrestled with trying to determine exactly what the "thorn" in Paul's flesh was and no one has come up with a definitive answer but only a plethora of theories. That he might have been a womanizer doesn't even make it to the top 10 of that list of possibilities. Then look at what Paul said about himself and marriage and fornication.
"Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. " 1 Corinthians 7:1-7
Paul had what is known as the gift of celibacy or staying single without being overcome by lust. Jesus talked about this to his disciples although He didn't use that term for it.
"For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." Matthew 19:12
Notice that Jesus doesn't make this a command to give up having sex in order to serve God but says for those who are able to receive it, let them receive it.
2006-06-05 19:08:57 · answer #1 · answered by Martin S 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It would help if you read the New Testament then you would know if someone was filling you with just a bunch of opinionated tripe.
No, Paul was not a womanizer. He kept his self celibate. As for begging God to take away his sin and God refusing to do so.., this also is silly misinformation.
Paul was asking God to remove a (figurative) thorn from his flesh. If you read the whole chapter instead of reading the set passage, one easily sees what was going on.
Paul was talking about puffed up preachers who had the attitude of "Look at me! I am a great man of God!".., proud self centered apostates.
Paul further states that a messenger was sent to buffet him in the flesh - and asked God to remove this thorn in his flesh. This messenger was an evil spirit tempting him to think more highly of himself than he should, just like those self centered apostates he mentioned earlier.
This constant self battle between ego and humility kept Paul leveled out with the proper perspective - so God did not remove this messenger (thorn) who was tempting him to take pride in his self (flesh).
If the Old English in the King James Bible throws you - get an NIV Bible (New International Version) as it will open up a whole new enjoyable dynamic in your Bible reading.
READ THESE TWO CHAPTERS for a perspective....,
2006-06-06 01:16:03 · answer #2 · answered by Victor ious 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, not true. And I don't trust Catholic priests, especially with small children. The thorn in his flesh Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 12:7 may well have been an eye malady since he needed to dictate most of his letters to people like Onesimus or Luke, usually signing them only with his signature.
2006-06-06 01:22:36 · answer #3 · answered by jzyehoshua1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say that this Catholic Priest has an extremely vivid
imagination.
I Corinthians 13;8a, Love never fails.
2006-06-06 01:01:06 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
St. Paul is a Pharasee, a Pharasee means separated and his duty is to obey the commanments. Therefore Paul was not a womanizer. If he did this he will be put into death by stoning.
2006-06-06 03:58:50 · answer #5 · answered by mea 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure, but I believe God won't take certain sins away from us so he can teach us a lesson.
2006-06-06 00:54:22 · answer #6 · answered by lees girl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Is that the 'thorn in the side' he referred to?
2006-06-06 00:52:46 · answer #7 · answered by lenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about his praying... its quite possible.
Personally, I dislike Paul...and Augustine... they were jerks.
2006-06-06 00:56:35 · answer #8 · answered by magicwriter65 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
.Dude this is my first experience hearing like that sorry
2006-06-06 00:58:23 · answer #9 · answered by cryptsymbolxxx 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋