σκόλοψ

σκόλοψ, οπος, ὁ (Hom. et al.; Artem.; PGM 36, 152; 270; LXX) orig. ‘anything pointed’ such as a ‘(pointed) stake’, then someth. that causes serious annoyance thorn, splinter, etc., specif. of an injurious foreign body (SIG 1168, 92; Num 33:55 σκόλοπες ἐν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς; Sext. Emp. in BGU 380, 8 τὸν πόδαν πονεῖς ἀπὸ σκολάπου; Aesop, Fab. 187 P.; 363 P.=Babrius no. 136, 18 L-P.; Artem. 3, 33; Cyranides p. 112, 24 a prescription for removing σκόλοπας κ. ἀκάνθας.—Field, Notes 187). Paul alludes to his illness (s. κολαφίζω 2 and also EMerrins, St. Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh: BiblSacr 64, 1907, 661–92. For varying viewpoints s. CBruston, L’Écharde de St. Paul: RTQR 21, 1912, 441ff; PJoüon, RSR 15, 1925, 532f; CNash, Paul’s ‘Thorn in the Flesh’: RevExp 28, ’31, 33–51; PMenoud, Studia Paulina [JdeZwaan Festschr.] ’53, 163–71; HClavier, ibid. 66–82; TMullins, JBL 76, ’57, 299–303; AHisey and JBeck, Journ. of Bible and Religion 29, ’61, 125–29; JThierry, D. Dorn im Fleisch, NovT 5, ’62, 301–10; MBarré, CBQ 42, ’80, 216–27; VFurnish, II Corinthians (AB) ’84, 547–50; DPark, NovT 22, ’80, 179–83; UHeckel, ZNW 84, ’93, 65–92. Lack of details makes impossible a truly scientific analysis of Paul’s σκ.) in ἐδόθη μοι σκ. τῇ σαρκί a thorn in the flesh was given to me 2 Cor 12:7. The fact that Celsus uses the word σκ. (2, 55; 68) w. evident scorn (Origen has σταυρός) to mean the cross of Jesus, can scarcely indicate that Paul is using it in that sense here, since he always says σταυρός elsewh. (against ASchlatter, Pls, d. Bote J. Chr. ’34, 666). Lucian also, in Peregr. 13, 337, contemptuously of the ἀνεσκολοπισμένος ἐκεῖνος σοφιστής. Cp. 11, 334 ἄνθρωπος ἀνασκολοπισθείς. A believer does not use that sort of language.—DELG. M-M. TW.