How do you interpret this Scripture?

Question

King James Version: 2 Corinthians 12:2. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. ------- New American Bible: 2 Corinthians 12:2. I know someone in Christ who, fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows), was caught up to the third heaven.

Answer 1

It's St. Paul talking about himself in the third person.

Answer 2

I think Paul is speaking of a man who visited heaven while still alive over 14 years ago because the man (verse 4) "heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." Paul could not know what the man heard if the man did not tell him, though the man did not tell him specificly because that would be unlawful.

Notice also, it says "the third heaven." There are three heavens in the Bible. The first or "open firmament of heaven" is the sky in Genesis 1:20. The second is space. The third is where God lives. There was a layer of water between Earth and space when God first made the world. It fell down during the flood and is gone now. But the water deflected the ultraviolet light, which slows aging. The pre-flood world was much different from what we have and the human body was less corrupted by sin and disease. There was a lot more groundwater too (Psalms 24:1) and the faultlines are places where "the fountains of the great deep were broken up" (Genesis 7:11) so there probably weren't any natural disasters before the flood. This is why people lived so much longer back then; often over 900 years. That's a good study too (the pre-flood world) if you are interested.

Answer 3

Paul is speaking about someone (he's not referring to himself, I don't think) who was caught up into heaven. God took him into heaven either in his physical body, or his soul (out of his body) Paul isn't sure which, and told him some things that noone is permitted to tell. That is basically what Paul said, although I don't know what 'the third heaven is'. I can only imagine that it is saying that heaven, as it is right now, is complex and maybe there are parts where only God can be as those who are not Holy cannot be? Not sure about that, that last bit is just my opinion.

Answer 4

2-4 None of the visions recorded in Acts can be identified with the one related here, since it occurred fourteen years before the time of writing--i.e., during the ten so-called "silent years" (A.D. 35-45) that Paul spent in Syria and Cilicia (Gal 1:21).
Paul's expression "a man in Christ" refers to himself. How do we know? (1) He knew the exact time the revelation took place (v. 2) and that its content was beyond words, even if it were permissible to try to communicate it (v. 4). (2) The revelation was directly related to the receipt of a "thorn," which was given to Paul (v. 7). (3) Paul would not likely feel embarrassment (cf. v. 1) about boasting on another person's behalf (cf. v. 5a). (4) For Paul to relate a remarkable experience that happened to someone unknown to the Corinthians would scarcely fit the context.
The scene of the vision was the "hidden Paradise" of Jewish thought--the abode of the righteous dead that is here located within the third heaven. If Paul was quite certain of the location of the vision, he was uncertain about whether the experience happened to him in his body or apart from it (vv. 2b, 3b). Consciousness of God totally eclipsed any awareness of the physical world of space and time.
What Paul heard (and saw?), human words were inadequate to relate (v. 4b). Furthermore, he was not permitted to try to share the content of the revelation, perhaps because it had been designed for him alone, to fortify him for future service and sufferings (Ac 9:16; Ro 8:18). Glimpses the NT does give of the coming glory are intended to strengthen faith and promote holiness (cf. 2Pe 3:10-14; 1 Jn 3:2-3), not satisfy curiosity.

Answer 5

he means himself, though in modesty he speaks as of a third person. Whether in the body or out of the body I know not - It is equally possible with God to present distant things to the imagination in the body, as if the soul were absent from it, and present with them; or to transport both soul and body for what time he pleases to heaven; or to transport the soul only thither for a season, and in the mean time to preserve the body fit for its re - entrance. But since the apostle himself did not know whether his soul was in the body, or whether one or both were actually in heaven, it would be vain curiosity for us to attempt determining it. The third heaven - Where God is; far above the aerial and the starry heaven. Some suppose it was here the apostle was let into the mystery of the future state of the church; and received his orders to turn from the Jews and go to the gentiles.

Answer 6

Paul talking about himself being taken "in the Spirit" to the Third earth age 2 pet 3:13. You can read about all three ages in 2 pet 3.

Just as John was taken "in the Spirit " to the Lords Day and shown things that must come to pass.

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Answer 7

The context seems to support that Paul was talking about himself. Perhaps he was referring to his experience in Acts Chapter 14:19,20 when he was stoned and left for dead. What he is saying is that he was caught up to the third heaven, the heaven of God, and heard things it was not possible to express in human speech. When he says whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know, only God knows; what he means is he was unsure if his spirit actually left his body and he was physically dead while his spirit experienced these things in heaven, or whether his spirit was still in his body and the things he was experiencing were coming to him by way of a vision.

Answer 8

That scripture is quite mind-boggling, isn't it?
Don't worry about it; everything will be known in time or eternity.
There are other spheres of reality than the ones we experience in our temporal state on this earth.
The Bible has many other references to these planes of existence and occasionally mentions a little of what happens there, but not enough to really explain things to the curious human mind. Till God chooses otherwise, we have to let it go at that.

Answer 9

Paul describes one of the special revelations that the Lord Jesus had given to him. With the expressions man in Christ and such a one, Paul may refer indirectly to himself. Because the visions were given to him by the Lord, he did not want to speak as if they were his own doing.

Answer 10

It's the Apostle Paul talking about his vision of heaven.

Answer 11

this dude 14 years ago, i don't know if he was real or a spirit, he went up to heaven. or 3rd heaven whatever that is.

seems to be missing some important action to be more than an isolated sentence, it's fairly inocuous aloe.