• 2 Corinthians 12:2
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 2 οἶδα I have known ἄνθρωπον man ἐν in Χριστῷ Christ πρὸ before ἐτῶν years δεκατεσσάρων,— fourteen,— εἴτε whether ἐν in σώματι body οὐκ not οἶδα, I have known, εἴτε or ἐκτὸς outside τοῦ of the σώματος body οὐκ not οἶδα, I have known, ὁ the θεὸς God οἶδεν,— has known,— ἁρπαγέντα having been snatched away τὸν the τοιοῦτον such (one) ἕως until τρίτου third οὐρανοῦ. heaven.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:2
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 2 I know a man in Christ Who fourteen years ago Whether in the body I know not, Or out of the body I know not, God knoweth Such a one as this caught away as far as the third heaven;

  • 2 Corinthians 12:2
    King James Version

    • 2 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 Study Notes—Chapter 12
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 12:2

      a man: Paul does not name the man who received this supernatural vision, but the context strongly suggests that Paul is referring to himself. In defending his qualifications as an apostle against the attacks of such opposers as the “superfine apostles” (2Co 11:5, 23), Paul cites as evidence the “supernatural visions and revelations of the Lord” that he has received (2Co 12:1). Since the Bible does not speak of any other person who had such an experience, Paul is logically the man here described.

      the third heaven: In the Scriptures, “heaven” may refer to the physical heavens or to the spiritual heavens, the place where Jehovah and his angels live. (Ge 11:4; Isa 63:15) However, the word may also refer to a government, whether ruled by man or by God. (Isa 14:12; Da 4:25, 26) Here Paul is apparently describing a revelation of something in the future, a revelation that he received through a vision. (2Co 12:1) At times, the Scriptures repeat things three times to add intensity or strength. (Isa 6:3; Eze 21:27; Re 4:8) It seems, then, that “the third heaven” that Paul saw was the ultimate government, God’s Messianic Kingdom, the heavenly government made up of Jesus Christ and his 144,000 corulers.​—Isa 65:17; 66:22; 2Pe 3:13; Re 14:1-5.