THIRD HEAVEN

II Corinthians 12:1-10

Third = tritos meaning third

Heaven = ouranos meaning highest heaven where God is

Paradise = paradeisos meaning park, garden ground, sum total of blessedness, dwelling place of God, equivalent of the third heaven (See: Revelation 2:7; II Corinthians 12:4)

  1. 12:1 "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory, I will come to visions (optasias=visions, late word from optazo, as in Luke 1:22 & Acts 26:19) and revelations(apokalupseis=unveilings, from apokalupto as in Revelation l:1; See II Thessalonians 1:7; I Corinthians 1:7; I Corinthians 14:26. Also see visions of Christ as in Acts 9:3; 18:9; Acts 22:17; Acts 27:23. See speaking by direct revelation as in I Corinthians 11:23, 15:3; Galatians 1:12: Ephesians 3:3)of the Lord."
  2. 12:2 "I knew(oida= to have seen or perceived; suggests fullness of knowledge) a man in Christ above fourteen years ago(Probably while Paul was at Tarsus, See: Acts 9:30, 11:25), (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up(harpagenta = to seize by force) to the third heaven.*(See note below)" (ouranou = highest heaven where God is)
  3. 12:3 "And I knew (oida = to have seen or perceived; suggests fullness of knowledge) such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell (ouk oida = I do not know): God knoweth; (oida = to have seen or perceived; suggests fullness of knowledge)"
  4. 12:4 "How that he was caught up (harpagenta = to seize by force) into paradise (paradeison = Paul uses paradise as the equivalent of the third heaven as above in II Corinthians 12:2), and heard unspeakable words (arreta remata = from arrhetos = unspoken, in connection to Greek mysteries, words too sacred to be uttered), which it is not lawful (ouk exon = from exesti meaning not permitted) for a man to utter (laleo = to speak)." Note other references: Luke 23:43; Revelation 2:7
  5. 12:5 "Of such an one will I glory ( See: Moffet translation- "Of an experience like that I am prepared to boast): yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. (Paul will only glory in the things mentioned above, the things of his weakness as in II Corinthians 11:30) (See: Phillips translation - "But I have made up my mind not to boast of anything personal, except of what may be called my weaknesses." and again Moffet reads: "But not of myself personally, not except as regards my weaknesses.")
  6. 12:6 "For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear (pheidomai = to spare, to refrain from something), lest any man should think of me above (huper = meaning over, more than, exceeding) that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me."
  7. 12:7 "And lest I should be exalted above measure (huperairo = high, lofty, highly esteemed, lift up beyond) through the abundance (huperbole = a throwing beyond, from huper, over and ballo, to throw) of the revelations (apokalupsis = an uncovering), there was given to me a thorn (skolops = anything pointed, a splinter, a stake, indicating physical, painful, humiliating) in the flesh, the messenger (angelos = an angel, one sent, in the sense of agent, affliction personified) of Satan to buffet (kolaphizo = to strike with clenched hands or fist) me, lest I should be exalted above measure (huperairo = to lift up or beyond)."
  8. 12:8 "For this thing I besought (parakaleo =to call to one's side) the Lord thrice, that it might depart (aphistemi = to place off from for good) from me."
  9. 12:9 "And he said unto me (eireken = Perfect active indicative, as if a final word), My grace (charis = Divine favor, strength, power) is sufficient (arkei = enough, suffices and abides), for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (teleitai = to finish, perfected, power is continually increased as the weakness grows). Most gladly therefore will I rather glory (kauchaomai = to boast) in my infirmities (astheneia = weakness, indicating inability to produce results), that the power (dunamis = power, ability) of Christ may rest upon (episkenosei to fix a tent or habitation upon, abiding upon, as if the shechinah of the Lord overshadowed) me."
  10. 12:10 "Therefore I take pleasure (dio eudoko = to be well pleased, to think it good) in infirmities (astneia = weakness, indicating inability to produce results), in reproaches (hubris = insolence, injury, harm), in necessities (anake = what must needs be, needful, distress, pain), in persecutions (diosmos = to put to flight, to drive away, pursue), in distresses (stenochoreo = strait place or state, anguish) for Christ's sake (huper = in behalf of): for when I am weak (astheneo = to be without strength) then am I strong (dunatos = able, powerful)."

*NOTE: Three heavens in the New Testament:

  1. The atmosphere surrounding the earth, where clouds gather as in Matthew 6:2 "Behold the fowls of the air:"
  2. The outer space of heavenly bodies in which , moon and stars are fixed as in Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:" and Revelation 6:13 "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind."
  3. The place above and beyond the physical dimension of being where God's presence is fully manifested as in Matthew 6:9 "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name..."