Oścień z powodu ciała (2 Kor 12, 7–10). Kontekst, struktura, miejsce i funkcja w argumentacji Pawła

The conducted study has shown the validity of interpreting the syntagma σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί as a dativus cause. It has also undertaken to interpret it in connection with the Pauline theology of the cross, which the Apostle developed in the earlier canonical First Letter to the Corinthians (1:18–2:16). The thorn given because of the flesh accomplishes Paul’s conformation to Christ in suffering. He confirmed his compassion with Christ by giving encouragement to follow Him as he does (1 Cor 4:16; 11:1; 1 Th 1:6). A significant result of the study undertaken has been the indication of the presence of prosapodosis, which logically explains the unnecessary redundancy in the text surrounding the phrase σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, which is not reflected in modern translations yielding the synonymous translation of the repetitive syntagma ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι. It has been shown that this construction in the text is not only a vehicle for irony, but also a means of attracting attention, indicating the essence of the message.