Picture description: Thorns
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“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”
A thorn in your side is someone or something that causes trouble or makes life difficult for you.
Paul the apostle was converted to Christianity on his road to Damascus when Jesus Christ revealed himself to him. A devoted Christian with great faith, he suffered pain in his flesh throughout his life. For three times he asked God to take away the pain from him, but God did not, for God replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul boasted all the more gladly about his pain, because in weaknesses and hardships he could see God’s power in him. Hence his famous saying, “For when I am weak, I am strong.”
pain Paul strong suffering thorn weak
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Chinese Bible (???)
A lot of phrases, such as "two-edged sword" and " an eye for an eye", are taken from the English Bible. Learning the stories behind these idioms is fun, and can help boost your vocabulary. Click here to find out now!