1Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I 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. 3And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. 6For 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 had a vision and a revelation from the Lord. A man in spirit or in body who saw paradise the third heaven and heard inexpressible words of which he was not permitted to speak.
From David Guzik commentary;
"we should not be surprised if God should speak to us through some type of visions and revelations of the Lord."
"But we do understand that such experiences are subjective and prone to misunderstanding and misapplication.
Paul describes this experience in the third person instead of the first person"
Paul didn't want to take glory from this experience so he humbly presented it in the third person.
"ii. The important thing to notice is that Paul kept quiet about this for fourteen years, and now he mentions it reluctantly."
"Paul is using terminology common in that day, which referred to the "blue sky" as the first heaven, the "starry sky" as the second heaven, and the place where God lived and reigned as the third heaven."
"ii. So what did Paul hear? We don't know! They were inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. God didn't want us to know, so He didn't give Paul permission to speak."
j. Why was Paul given this vision? First, he was given it for you and me so that we would benefit from what the Lord showed Paul. Secondly, he was given it because what God told him through this vision sustained him through all the trials of ministry and enabled Paul to give everything God wanted him to give to all generations. This vision helped Paul finish his course.
Read the full commentary here:
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/guzik/2_corinthians/12.htm
Tomorrow we learn why Paul was given a thorn in the flesh!
Blessings
David
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