2Cor 12:2-4 | RWP | e4.org | I know a man ( οιδα ανθρωπον ). Paul singles out one incident of ecstasy in his own experience that he declines to describe. He alludes to it in this indirect way as if it were some other personality. Fourteen years ago ( προ ετων δεκατεσσαρων ). Idiomatic way of putting it, the preposition προ (before) before the date (Robertson, Grammar , p. 621f.) as in . The date was probably while Paul was at Tarsus ( ; ). We have no details of that period. Caught up ( αρπαγεντα ). Second aorist passive participle of αρπαζω , to seize (see on ). Even to the third heaven ( εως τριτου ουρανου ). It is unlikely that Paul alludes to the idea of seven heavens held by some Jews ( Test. of the Twelve Pat. , Levi ii. iii.). He seems to mean the highest heaven where God is (Plummer).

‏ 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

I know a man ( οιδα ανθρωπον ). Paul singles out one incident of ecstasy in his own experience that he declines to describe. He alludes to it in this indirect way as if it were some other personality.

Fourteen years ago ( προ ετων δεκατεσσαρων ). Idiomatic way of putting it, the preposition προ (before) before the date (Robertson, Grammar, p. 621f.) as in Joh 12:1. The date was probably while Paul was at Tarsus (Ac 9:30; 11:25). We have no details of that period.

Caught up ( αρπαγεντα ). Second aorist passive participle of αρπαζω, to seize (see on Mt 11:12).

Even to the third heaven ( εως τριτου ουρανου ). It is unlikely that Paul alludes to the idea of seven heavens held by some Jews (Test. of the Twelve Pat., Levi ii. iii.). He seems to mean the highest heaven where God is (Plummer).

I do not know ( ουκ οιδα ). Paul declines to pass on his precise condition in this trance. We had best leave it as he has told it.

Into Paradise ( εις παραδεισον ). See on Lu 23:43 for this interesting word. Paul apparently uses paradise as the equivalent of the third heaven in verse 2. Some Jews (Book of the Secrets of Enoch, chapter viii) make Paradise in the third heaven. The rabbis had various ideas (two heavens, three, seven). We need not commit Paul to any "celestial gradation" (Vincent).

Unspeakable words ( αρρητα ρηματα ). Old verbal adjective ( α privative, ρητος from ρεω ), only here in N.T.

Not lawful ( ουκ εξον ). Copula εστιν omitted. Hence Paul does

not give these words.