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. (2 Corinthians 12:2)
Or, “paradise” (v. 4; see on Luke 23:43). The first “heaven” of Scripture is the atmosphere, the second is that of the stars, and the third the abode of God and heavenly beings. Paul was “caught up” to the presence of God.
Whether in the body.
In vision there is complete absence of sensibility to earthly surroundings. The perception of things seen and heard in vision, and at times participation in the scenes presented, are fully as real to the consciousness as the normal sensory experiences of life.
Fourteen years ago.
Some 20 years or more before, Paul had met Christ on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1-7). The date of this epistle is about 57 A.D. Fourteen years previous would be about the time Barnabas brought Paul to Antioch (Acts 11:25, 26). For a tentative chronology of Paul’s life and ministry see pp. 97-102.
I knew a man.
That Paul is speaking of himself is evident from
(1) the fact that this reference to visions is in the midst of an account of events connected with his own life and ministry;
(2) the fact that in v. 7 he designates these visions and revelations as made directly to himself; and
(3) the fact that he uses the third person in order to avoid the appearance of boasting.
John, on account of his Christian modesty and humility, similarly avoided identifying himself (John 13:23, 24; 19:26; 21:20).