2 Corinthians 12:1-6
1: Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
3: And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—4: was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5: On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
6: For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.
Paul, though feeling it was necessary for him to boast like this, said it was not profitable. He didn’t think it accomplished anything worthwhile, yet he felt he must tell them these things in order for them to understand his position and calling. Not that the visions and revelations he’d had gave him any authority, but they come from the Lord who did give him his authority, so he continued.
He told of a “man in Christ,” meaning a Christian, and more specifically himself. He didn’t want to admit this was him, though he did admit it. Paul went out of his way to be sure they understood his motive wasn’t to boast in himself. He didn’t want them to just take his word for it, or judge him by more than what they’d seen for themselves, yet he felt it was necessary to inform them, even partially, of what he had experienced.
He said whether he was in the body or not he didn’t know, but he was caught up to the third heaven. This is not a physical place, but in the spiritual realm between heaven and earth (Ezekiel 8:3). In this place he was brought into Paradise (Luke 23:43, Rev. 2:7) where he heard things he couldn’t describe or repeat. So, he had been in this place, not knowing whether he was in his body or not, experienced visions and revelations of the Lord, entered into Paradise, yet couldn't talk about the specifics of what was said. Whether that was because it was just meant specifically for him, or that it was beyond human expression we can’t say for sure. Maybe it’s a little of both.
We see Paul’s struggle here that he didn’t want to say, "Hey, look, I’ve seen, heard, and experienced these awesome things that I can’t completely share with you, but just trust me." It wouldn’t be foolish boasting if he did share more because he would be speaking the truth, yet he refrained from saying more because he didn’t want them to give him credit for more than what they personally witnessed in him. He didn’t expect that riding the wave of his visions and revelations, no matter how glorious, would benefit them. He wanted them to hop on to the wave of glory with him, or their own wave, so they would know and experience the glories of the Lord like he had and continued to do.
2: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
3: And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—4: was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5: On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.
6: For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.
***
Paul, though feeling it was necessary for him to boast like this, said it was not profitable. He didn’t think it accomplished anything worthwhile, yet he felt he must tell them these things in order for them to understand his position and calling. Not that the visions and revelations he’d had gave him any authority, but they come from the Lord who did give him his authority, so he continued.
He told of a “man in Christ,” meaning a Christian, and more specifically himself. He didn’t want to admit this was him, though he did admit it. Paul went out of his way to be sure they understood his motive wasn’t to boast in himself. He didn’t want them to just take his word for it, or judge him by more than what they’d seen for themselves, yet he felt it was necessary to inform them, even partially, of what he had experienced.
He said whether he was in the body or not he didn’t know, but he was caught up to the third heaven. This is not a physical place, but in the spiritual realm between heaven and earth (Ezekiel 8:3). In this place he was brought into Paradise (Luke 23:43, Rev. 2:7) where he heard things he couldn’t describe or repeat. So, he had been in this place, not knowing whether he was in his body or not, experienced visions and revelations of the Lord, entered into Paradise, yet couldn't talk about the specifics of what was said. Whether that was because it was just meant specifically for him, or that it was beyond human expression we can’t say for sure. Maybe it’s a little of both.
We see Paul’s struggle here that he didn’t want to say, "Hey, look, I’ve seen, heard, and experienced these awesome things that I can’t completely share with you, but just trust me." It wouldn’t be foolish boasting if he did share more because he would be speaking the truth, yet he refrained from saying more because he didn’t want them to give him credit for more than what they personally witnessed in him. He didn’t expect that riding the wave of his visions and revelations, no matter how glorious, would benefit them. He wanted them to hop on to the wave of glory with him, or their own wave, so they would know and experience the glories of the Lord like he had and continued to do.
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