2 Corinthians Chapter 12 · Verse 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.
Original Language Analysis
οἶδεν
I knew
G1492
οἶδεν
I knew
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
1 of 27
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
πρὸ
above
G4253
πρὸ
above
Strong's:
G4253
Word #:
5 of 27
"fore", i.e., in front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to
σώματος
of the body
G4983
σώματος
of the body
Strong's:
G4983
Word #:
10 of 27
the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively
οὐκ
I cannot
G3756
οὐκ
I cannot
Strong's:
G3756
Word #:
11 of 27
the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not
οἶδεν
I knew
G1492
οἶδεν
I knew
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
12 of 27
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
ἐκτὸς
out
G1622
ἐκτὸς
out
Strong's:
G1622
Word #:
14 of 27
the exterior; figuratively (as a preposition) aside from, besides
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σώματος
of the body
G4983
σώματος
of the body
Strong's:
G4983
Word #:
16 of 27
the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively
οὐκ
I cannot
G3756
οὐκ
I cannot
Strong's:
G3756
Word #:
17 of 27
the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not
οἶδεν
I knew
G1492
οἶδεν
I knew
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
18 of 27
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεὸς
God
G2316
θεὸς
God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
20 of 27
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
οἶδεν
I knew
G1492
οἶδεν
I knew
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
21 of 27
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
23 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοιοῦτον
such an one
G5108
τοιοῦτον
such an one
Strong's:
G5108
Word #:
24 of 27
truly this, i.e., of this sort (to denote character or individuality)
ἕως
to
G2193
ἕως
to
Strong's:
G2193
Word #:
25 of 27
a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place)
Cross References
Acts 22:17And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;Revelation 4:2And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.2 Corinthians 11:11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.1 Thessalonians 4:17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.Isaiah 57:15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.1 Kings 18:12And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.Revelation 12:5And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.Ezekiel 11:24Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.1 Kings 8:27But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
Historical Context
"Fourteen years ago" dates this vision to AD 41-42, possibly during Paul's "silent years" in Syria and Cilicia (Galatians 1:21, Acts 9:30) before Barnabas brought him to Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). Jewish apocalyptic literature (1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, Testament of Levi) described heavenly journeys, but Paul's reticence contrasts sharply—he kept this private for 14 years, only disclosing it under duress.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Paul's 14-year silence about this experience teach about the proper relationship between extraordinary spiritual encounters and public ministry?
- Why does Paul emphasize the passive "caught up" rather than presenting himself as a spiritual seeker who achieved mystical ascent?
- How does uncertainty about bodily presence ("whether in the body, I cannot tell") guard against both materialism and Gnostic denial of physical reality?
Analysis & Commentary
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. Paul's transparent third-person reference—"a man in Christ"—demonstrates the humility he's arguing for: even recounting the most exalted experience, he distances himself from self-promotion. The phrase harpagenta (ἁρπαγέντα, "caught up") is passive voice—Paul didn't ascend; he was seized by divine initiative.
The third heaven reflects Jewish cosmology: the first heaven is earth's atmosphere (birds fly there), the second is stellar space (sun, moon, stars), the third is God's dwelling—the shamayim ha-shamayim ("heaven of heavens," Deuteronomy 10:14, 1 Kings 8:27). Paul experienced what Moses saw on Sinai (Exodus 24:9-11), what Isaiah witnessed (Isaiah 6:1-5), what Ezekiel beheld (Ezekiel 1)—the unveiled presence of God.
His repeated whether in the body, I cannot tell isn't false humility but phenomenological honesty: the experience so transcended normal consciousness that bodily location became irrelevant. This echoes 5:6-8's tension between being "present in the body" versus "present with the Lord."