Question from a friend of WordTruth Press:
>>> What is the "third heaven" mentioned by Paul?
WordTruth Press Response:
In 2 Corinthians 12:2, the Apostle Paul writes:
I
know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not
know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was
caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the
body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— how he was caught
up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful
for a man to utter. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4, NKJV)
During this time, people referred to the sky above the earth as the "first
heaven," the stars in the night sky (the universe) as the "second heaven,"
and to the place where God and His angels dwell as the "third heaven."
In this passage of 2 Corinthians, Paul is countering the arguments and
false claims made by his persecutors. As Paul went through the land
proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, many detractors came behind him
trying to invalidate his message and his character. This is the final
push of his message to testify to the truthfulness of his message and character
in Christ -- "Boasting
is necessary, though it is not profitable" (2 Cor. 12:1, NAS).
Looking at the chronology of Paul's life, this may have been at the
time he was apparently stoned to death in Lystra (Acts 14:19-20). Perhaps
Paul was shown this vision to keep him going in the face of brutal opposition
by the Judaizers. Fourteen years prior to writing 2 Corinthians,
Paul was stoned -- apparently to death -- in Lystra. It could well be during
this moment, God gave Paul a revelation of Heaven. Unlike the false apostles
who tried to discredit him, Paul said that he was not permitted to even
speak of the glory he saw (2 Cor. 12:4).
Hope this helps to understand this passage.
May God bless you with His wisdom and the courage to follow Jesus!
Randy Lariscy :-)
President - WordTruth Press℠
© Copyright 6/4/2002, Randy Lariscy.
