John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 12:2

"I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven." — 2 Corinthians 12:2 (ASV)

I knew a man in Christ. Since he desired to limit himself, he merely singles out one instance. He handles even that instance in such a way as to show that he does not bring it forward from inclination. For why does he speak in the person of another rather than in his own? It is as if he had said, “I would have preferred to be silent; I would have preferred to keep the whole matter suppressed within my own mind, but those people will not allow me. I will mention it, therefore, so to speak, in a stammering way, so that it may be seen that I speak under constraint.”

Some think that the clause in Christ is introduced to confirm what he says. I view it rather as referring to his disposition, suggesting that Paul is not focused on himself here but looks to Christ exclusively.

When he confesses that he does not know whether he was in the body, or out of the body, he thereby expresses more distinctly the greatness of the revelation. For he means that God dealt with him in such a way that he himself did not understand the manner of it.

Nor should this appear incredible to us, since He sometimes manifests Himself to us in such a way that the manner of His doing so is, nevertheless, hidden from our view. At the same time, this does not at all detract from the assurance of faith, which rests simply on this single point—that we are aware that God speaks to us.

Moreover, let us learn from this that we must seek the knowledge of only those things that are necessary to know, and leave other things to God (Deuteronomy 29:29). He says, then, that he does not know whether he was wholly taken up—soul and body—into heaven, or whether it was his soul only that was caught up.

Fourteen years ago. Some also inquire about the place, but it is not for us to satisfy their curiosity.

The Lord manifested Himself to Paul in the beginning by a vision when He intended to convert him from Judaism to the faith of the gospel. However, Paul was not yet admitted into those secrets then, as he even needed to be instructed by Ananias in the first rudiments (Acts 9:12). That vision, therefore, was nothing but a preparation, with the aim of making him teachable.

It may be that, in this instance, he refers to that vision, which he also mentions, according to Luke’s narrative (Acts 22:17). There is no need, however, for us to give ourselves much trouble about these conjectures, as we see that Paul himself kept silent about it for fourteen years. He would not have said one word about it if the unreasonableness of malicious people had not constrained him.

Even to the third heaven. He does not distinguish here between the different heavens in the manner of the philosophers, so as to assign to each planet its own heaven. On the other hand, the number three is used (κατ’ ἐξοχήν) by way of eminence, to denote what is highest and most complete.

Moreover, the term heaven, taken by itself, denotes here the blessed and glorious kingdom of God, which is above all the spheres, the firmament itself, and even the entire framework of the world.

Paul, however, not content with the simple term, adds that he had reached even the greatest height and the innermost recesses. For our faith scales heaven and enters it, and those who are superior to others in knowledge attain a higher degree and elevation; but to reach the third heavens has been granted to very few.