What does 2 Corinthians 12:2 mean?

Explanation

2 Corinthians 12:2 presents the apostle Paul discussing a vision he had, or an experience of being taken up to heaven.

He refers to himself in the third person as "a man in Christ" and specifies that this event occurred "above fourteen years ago".

The passage is notably ambiguous as he admits uncertainty whether he was "in the body" or "out of the body" when this happened, Paul himself does not claim to understand the nature of this experience.

The "third heaven" is thought to be the highest level of heaven, where God Himself resides, as opposed to the first heaven (the sky) and the second heaven (outer space).

The phrase "God knoweth" indicates that only God truly knows the nature of his experience. Paul's hesitance to define the experience more clearly suggests that he regarded it as mysterious and ultimately beyond human comprehension.

Historical Context

This verse from 2 Corinthians is believed to have been written by Paul approximately in AD 55–57, a time when he was defending his apostleship and responding to his detractors in the church of Corinth. This community was experiencing internal strife and questioning Paul's authority and credentials.

During this period, mystical experiences and visions were highly regarded as signs of divine authority in both Jewish and Hellenistic culture.

By sharing this extraordinary experience, Paul bolsters his spiritual credentials, but he does so in a way that maintains humility, not claiming full understanding.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse can be viewed through different lenses.

Pauline Theology: In Paul's theology, experiences like these serve to validate an apostle's authority and connection with Christ.

However, the ambivalence in his words also reinforces the idea that such experiences are subordinate to the revelation of Christ and the Gospel.

Mystical Theology: Some see this as evidence of the early Christian mystical tradition, in which personal religious experience holds significant value.

Eschatological Viewpoint: Others interpret it eschatologically, speculating about the afterlife and the nature of heaven, suggesting division into different realms or "heavens."

Practical Applications

Though the passage recounts Paul's unique mystical experience, it can still have practical applications. It can inspire believers to remain open to the mysterious ways in which God can work. It teaches humility in spiritual experiences,

• Recognizing that there are things about God and spirituality that are beyond human understanding.
• Encouraging believers to focus on the certainty of God's existence and sovereignty rather than the details of mysterious experiences.
• Suggesting the importance of personal spiritual experiences, but grounding them within the context of established religious teachings.

Cross-References

• Ephesians 4:10: "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things."
• Revelation 2:7: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
• 1 Thessalonians 4:17: "Then 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."

Language Study

Key words in the Greek text include:

• "Har-pa-gē-thē" (ἁρπαγέντα): Translated as "caught up", this word has a forceful connotation, suggesting being taken or snatched away powerfully.
• "Tri-tos" (τρίτος): Means "third", used here to qualify "heaven" (ouranos), differentiating it from other levels.
• "Ouk oida" (οὐκ οἶδα): Meaning "I do not know" or "I cannot tell," these words reveal Paul's admitted uncertainty about the nature of his experience.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of multiple heavens is not unique to Christianity and can be found in various other religious traditions.

For instance, in Judaism, texts like the Ascension of Isaiah describe multiple heavens, and in Islam, the Mi'raj recounts the Prophet Muhammad's journey through seven heavens.

Ancient myths from various cultures have also depicted heavens or realms where gods reside, indicating a general human fascination with the idea of a multi-layered cosmos.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understandings of the universe challenge the ancient cosmologies implied by biblical references to multiple heavens.

Theologians and believers who engage with the text often do so allegorically rather than literally in light of the scientific view of the universe as a vast, singular physical space.

They may interpret the "third heaven" as a metaphorical space or a state of spiritual closeness to God rather than a literal physical realm.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians provide various interpretations of this passage:

• John Calvin viewed the term "third heaven" as simply denoting the seat of God and the blessed, distinguishing it from the observable skies and outer space.
• Charles Spurgeon emphasized the secrecy and sacredness of Paul's vision, arguing that it was an unspeakable experience that was not to be trivialized or fully understood by mortals.
• Contemporary scholars, such as NT Wright, often discuss the cultural context of such visions and caution against reading modern scientific understandings into the ancient text.

For Wright and others, passages like 2 Corinthians 12:2 speak more to the mystery of divine-human interaction than to cosmological realities.