Exegesis of II Corinthians 12:7

The rest of the time sarx is used in the worldly or carnal sense, perhaps most notably to our context in 2 Cor 11:18. Therefore in our text, it seems best to understand sarx in the worldly sense and not in the physical body sense.14.
             Now, what to do with the dative? Is τῇ σαρκί to be understood as locative dative15 or the dative of disadvantage? In other words, is Paul using the dative to explain where the thorn is located or to explain some function of the thorn? One would think that the most natural way to exhibit a locative use of the dative would be to add the preposition en (in).16 Furthermore, based on the previous conclusion about using the worldly sense of sarx, the locative would make no sense. However, the dative of disadvantage does fit well.17 τῇ σαρκί would then refer to something that was a disadvantage for Paul's worldliness. .
             Putting the phrase σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί all together with the evidence thus presented, the reader is to understand Paul to be speaking about a painful hindrance or irritant that Paul experiences, causing a disadvantage for his worldly nature. .
             Next consider the phrase that is in direct relation with σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί which is ἄγγελος Σατανᾶ. Found in apposition to σκόλοψ this phrase, one would hope, should help explain the meaning of "thorn for the flesh." The denotation of the phrase is fairly easy. The phrase is defined as a messenger or angel of Satan.18 The connotation of this phrase brings us back into ambiguity. If we understand σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί to be metaphorical, then maybe ἄγγελος Σατανᾶ would be concrete.19 If so, Paul understood his thorn for the flesh to be some type of demonic force in his life. This ever present messenger from Satan that Paul pleaded with the Lord to take away was inflicting pain in Paul's life through many persecutions and hardships, but at the same time was hindering his worldly flesh in some way.