God as the Life of the Body 709
The Experience of PaulIf we accept the Biblical teaching that our bodies are the members
of Christ, we cannot but also acknowledge the teaching that the life
of Christ flows through them. The life of Christ flows from the Head
to the body, supplying energy and vitality to it. Since our bodies are
members of that body, life naturally flows to them. This however
needs to be appropriated by faith. The measure of faith by which we
receive this life will determine the measure in which we actually
experience it. From the Scriptures we have learned that the life of the
Lord Jesus can be appropriated for the believer’s body, but this
requires faith. Doubtless Christians, when first exposed to such
teachings, are struck with surprise. Yet we cannot dilute what the
Word distinctly teaches. An examination of Paul’s experience can
assure us of the preciousness and reality of the teaching.
Paul, in referring to his physical condition, remarked about a thorn
in his flesh. Three times he entreated the Lord concerning this, that it
should be removed. But the Lord answered him, “My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” And
in response the Apostle said, “I will all the more gladly boast of my
weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me... for when
I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12.9-10). We need not inquire
what that thorn was because the Bible does not divulge it. One point
however is certain: the consequence of this thorn on the Apostle was
that it weakened his body. The “weakness” here referred to is
physical in nature. The same word is used in Matthew 8.17. The
Corinthians were well acquainted with Paul’s bodily frailty (2 Cor.
10.10). Paul himself acknowledged that when he was with them the
first time he was physically weak (1 Cor. 2.3). His debility cannot be
due to any lack of spiritual power, for both Corinthian letters reveal a
powerful spiritual vigor in the Apostle.
From just these few passages we can gain insight into Paul’s
physical condition. He was very weak in body, but did he remain