Daily Devotions
2 Corinthians
"I know a man in Christ..."
Text: 2 Corinthians 12:2
A CAREFULLY-WORDED TESTIMONY
Paul knew that the Corinthians had been adversely affected by false teachers to evaluate the worth of a person by his ability to testify of having visions. He had already taught them that one should not glory in self. But the problem could not be easily resolved. Thus, he shared about a special experience he had, in the hope that he could instruct the Corinthians.
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-
whether in the body I do not know,
or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows-
such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
And I know such a man-
whether in the body or out of the body I do not know- God knows-
how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words,
which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Of such a one I will boast;
yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.”
2 Corinthians 12:2-5
1. Deliberate obscurity of language
a) Paul refused to elaborate on the identity of the subject “a man in Christ”.
i) Was he speaking of himself?
ii) Why was he using the third person pronoun “he”?
iii) Was it a special friend?
b) Note the expression “Whether in the body or out of the body I do not know- God knows”
i) Was it an “out-of-body” experience?
ii) Was he in the body when this was experienced?
2. Understanding two identical expressions
a) “The third heaven”
i) The first heaven is a reference to our atmosphere.
ii) The second heaven is a realm beyond our immediate atmosphere.
iii) The third heaven is a reference to where God is (which we normally call “Heaven”).
b) “Paradise”
The Lord Jesus promised the thief on the next cross that he would be in paradise (Luke 23:43).
c) There were things heard (and seen) that were impossible, indeed, “not lawful for man to utter”.
3. “Yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities”
Paul refused to “boast” about this experience. It becomes obvious that Paul was speaking about a personal experience. But this was not something he would boast about. But if he should ever boast, it would be about how God has helped him in bearing with all his infirmities!