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#1) When I referred to the question >>Was Paul "Mentally Ill"?<< I was not trying to convey that Paul was mentally ill, but hearing voices that accuses him continuously.
I would say that society and believers today would call a person hearing voices as accusing him as mentally ill, but they woud be wrong.
#2) I disagree with you because I fail to see how failing eyesight would keep any believer from thinking highly of him than he ought to think. We don't towards anyone today, but would we give pause if that person we hold in high esteem hears voices in accusing him continuously? Would we fear what sciety would think of us if we did not hold it against him but yet not exalt him higher than we ought to think because it is God ministering through him and us as well?
So in spite of your sound rebuttal about speculation, just know that is how I see those that attributed Paul's thorn in the flesh as failing eyesight when obviously, there are other "infirmities" ( plural ) and not just his failing eyesight that can be referenced in scripture by.
But I agree with you that it is a speculation to attribute the messenger of Satan as buffetting Paul as hearing voices that accuses him, but I do not see anything else matching that description befitting an infirmity among other referenced infirmities that he was suffering from other than that.
And I still respect Paul as my fellow brother in Christ, but I do not exalt Paul because he had said plainly that it is God ministering through him for which he should not get any credit for.
1 Corinthians 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase....21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's; 23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
One thing that should be considered as an important side note is not to deem a believer that is labled "mentally ill" as less than us which is what society tend to influence people to do, because whatever we do or not do to the least of the brethren, we are doing it to Jesus. Even I need the Lord's help to do right by Him.
I would say that society and believers today would call a person hearing voices as accusing him as mentally ill, but they woud be wrong.
#2) I disagree with you because I fail to see how failing eyesight would keep any believer from thinking highly of him than he ought to think. We don't towards anyone today, but would we give pause if that person we hold in high esteem hears voices in accusing him continuously? Would we fear what sciety would think of us if we did not hold it against him but yet not exalt him higher than we ought to think because it is God ministering through him and us as well?
So in spite of your sound rebuttal about speculation, just know that is how I see those that attributed Paul's thorn in the flesh as failing eyesight when obviously, there are other "infirmities" ( plural ) and not just his failing eyesight that can be referenced in scripture by.
But I agree with you that it is a speculation to attribute the messenger of Satan as buffetting Paul as hearing voices that accuses him, but I do not see anything else matching that description befitting an infirmity among other referenced infirmities that he was suffering from other than that.
And I still respect Paul as my fellow brother in Christ, but I do not exalt Paul because he had said plainly that it is God ministering through him for which he should not get any credit for.
1 Corinthians 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase....21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's; 23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
One thing that should be considered as an important side note is not to deem a believer that is labled "mentally ill" as less than us which is what society tend to influence people to do, because whatever we do or not do to the least of the brethren, we are doing it to Jesus. Even I need the Lord's help to do right by Him.
Luke 1:4 KJV
(4) That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.