2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:1-21 . REVELATIONS IN WHICH HE MIGHT GLORY: BUT HE RATHER GLORIES IN INFIRMITIES, AS CALLING FORTH CHRIST'S POWER: SIGNS OF HIS APOSTLESHIP: HIS DISINTERESTEDNESS: NOT THAT HE IS EXCUSING HIMSELF TO THEM; BUT HE DOES ALL FOR THEIR GOOD, LEST HE SHOULD FIND THEM NOT SUCH AS HE DESIRED, AND SO SHOULD HAVE TO BE SEVERE AT HIS COMING.

1. He proceeds to illustrate the "glorying in infirmities" ( 2 Corinthians 11:30 ). He gave one instance which might expose him to ridicule ( 2 Corinthians 11:33 ); he now gives another, but this one connected with a glorious revelation of which it was the sequel: but he dwells not on the glory done to himself, but on the infirmity which followed it, as displaying Christ's power. The oldest manuscripts read, "I MUST NEEDS boast (or glory) though it be not expedient; for I will come." The "for" gives a proof that it is "not expedient to boast": I will take the case of revelations, in which if anywhere boasting might be thought harmless. "Visions" refers to things seen: "revelations," to things heard (compare 1 Samuel 9:15 ) or revealed in any way. In "visions" their signification was not always vouchsafed; in "revelations" there was always an unveiling of truths before hidden ( Daniel 2:19 Daniel 2:31 ). All parts of Scripture alike are matter of inspiration; but not all of revelation. There are degrees of revelation; but not of inspiration.
of--that is, from the Lord; Christ, 2 Corinthians 12:2 .

2. Translate, "I know," not "I knew."
a man--meaning himself. But he purposely thus distinguishes between the rapt and glorified person of 2 Corinthians 12:2 2 Corinthians 12:4 , and himself the infirmity-laden victim of the "thorn in the flesh" ( 2 Corinthians 12:7 ). Such glory belonged not to him, but the weakness did. Nay, he did not even know whether he was in or out of the body when the glory was put upon him, so far was the glory from being his [ALFORD]. His spiritual self was his highest and truest self: the flesh with its infirmity merely his temporary self ( Romans 7:25 ). Here, however, the latter is the prominent thought.
in Christ--a Christian ( Romans 16:7 ).
above--rather, simply "fourteen years ago." This Epistle was written A.D. 55-57. Fourteen years before will bring the vision to A.D. 41-43, the time of his second visit to Jerusalem ( Acts 22:17 ). He had long been intimate with the Corinthians, yet had never mentioned this revelation before: it was not a matter lightly to be spoken of.
I cannot tell--rather as Greek, "I know not." If in the body, he must have been caught up bodily; if out of the body, as seems to be Paul's opinion, his spirit must have been caught up out of the body. At all events he recognizes the possibility of conscious receptivity in disembodied spirits.
caught up--( Acts 8:39 ).
to the third heaven--even to, &c. These raptures (note the plural, "visions," "revelations," 2 Corinthians 12:1 ) had two degrees: first he was caught up "to the third heaven," and from thence to "Paradise" ( 2 Corinthians 12:4 ) [CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, Miscellanies, 5.427], which seems to denote an inner recess of the third heaven [BENGEL] ( Luke 23:43 , Revelation 2:7 ). Paul was permitted not only to "hear" the things of Paradise, but to see also in some degree the things of the third heaven (compare "visions," 2 Corinthians 12:1 ). The occurrence TWICE of "whether in the body . . . I know not, God knoweth," and of "lest I should be exalted above measure," marks two stages in the revelation. "Ignorance of the mode does not set aside the certain knowledge of the fact. The apostles were ignorant of many things" [BENGEL]. The first heaven is that of the clouds, the air; the second, that of the stars, the sky; the third is spiritual ( Ephesians 4:10 ).

3. Translate, "I know."
out of--Most of the oldest manuscripts read "apart from."