The Truth comes to Corinth Part 2 Volume 42

Paul’s ultimate but reluctant Boast of going to Heaven

2 Corinthians 12:1-6 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 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. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. KJV

As we learned from this most gracious and humble Apostle in the last 12 verses of Chapter 11, it was totally against his very renewed, redeemed, and resurrected nature to speak with high regard concerning himself and what he had accomplished for Jesus Christ. Here in the beginning of Chapter 12 we see that same reluctance continue in Paul’s second letter to this Church that he planted in the city of Corinth enduring much hardship in so doing. Paul starts off by saying that it was not “expedient” or the Greek word sumphero for him to boast or glory in what he did and endured for Christ sake and that of the truth of the Gospel of Grace. The Greek word sumphero means profitable or to be better off or to one’s advantage. Paul wants them to fully understand that he does not get any profit or advantage or special treatment from our Lord Jesus Christ because of all the sufferings and hardship he endured in proclaiming the “true Gospel” to the world, for we already documented what he wrote in Philippians 1:29 in a previous study.

However, Paul now wanted to reveal to them his ultimate boast. Paul declares to them that he was taken up into Heaven or the third Heaven (the realm of God’s Throne) where he heard unspeakable words or words that cannot be translated into human language and comprehended or understood. Perhaps the reason for him declaring the words to be unspeakable and not lawful for a man to utter (2 Corinthians 12:4) is because God the Father made it known to him that these words he heard were strictly for his hearing and were not meant for him to share with others. Paul had been given other visions from our Lord Jesus Christ such as he described and documented for us in Acts 16:9 and Acts 18:9, but none of the previous visions compared to this one. What awaited Paul and every born again son or daughter on our entrance into Heaven, Paul was given a glimpse. Paul had no clue whether he was still in his physical body or it was just his spirit man in Heaven, but he was certain that he was before the very Throne of God the Father. God the Father’s Throne and Rule in the third Heaven was unveiled or made visible to the Apostle Paul and this boast he wanted the Corinthian believers to know, so that he would be clearly distinguished from the false apostles who had no revelations from God to speak of or declare to the believers at Corinth.

Paul’s reluctance was because he never wanted them to see him or think of him as highly exalted above them, but he was just their “fellowlabourer” or the Greek word sunergos which means a companion in work or helper in getting out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul did not want all of his boasting to be judged as him exalting himself, but it was for the sole purpose of making known his authenticity to the faction of the Corinthian Church who were being lied to, snared, and trapped by the Judiazers. Paul’s reluctance was so strong in revealing his entrance into Heaven that he declared it in this manner “I knew a man” (2 Corinthians 12:2-3), as if the man were not him, but he spoke of himself in the third person.

Paul spoke of what happened to him as being “caught up” or the Greek word harpazo which means to catch away or catch up or to be pulled up or plucked or even to take by force and this same word is used by Dr. Luke in the book of Acts when he wrote of what happened to Phillip in the desert between Jerusalem and Gaza after he had baptized the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:39) and this is why Paul could not discern whether he was still in his body or out of his body. Paul would boast of the man who was deemed worthy to hear such revelations in Heaven. However, Paul’s reluctance to disclose this truth was because he had seen firsthand in Lystra (where he was stoned to death) after he spoke to the lame man and he had risen up and walked, the people there wanted to worship him as a god (Acts 14:8-18) and also on the island of Malta after he shook off the viper bite (Acts 28:1-6). Paul at all times in all places wanted to decrease that Christ might increase (John 3:30) and likewise as he declared to the Philippian Church he forgot or dismissed from his mind all things “in the past”, those that were good and bad and continued his voyage or journey to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Philippians 3:13-14).

My own Personal Note: In the last part of the previous Chapter Paul declared that he was stoned once (2 Corinthians 11:25) and in Acts Dr. Luke documents it in this manner, “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead” (Acts 14:19) and the very next verse reads, “But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe” (Acts 14:20). I believe Paul died here as he was stoned in Lystra and this is where God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit snatched him up to the third Heaven to hear these inexpressible words.

“I wish each of you to estimate me by “what he sees” my present acts and “hears” my teaching to be; not by my boasting of past revelations. They who allow themselves to be thought of more highly than is lawful, defraud themselves of the honor which is at God’s disposal [Bengel] (John 5:44; John 12:43).” JFB Commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…