2 Corinthians 12:4

2 Corinthians 12:4

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

a. ASV: How that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. YLT: That he was caught away to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak.   [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Classic Amplified: Was caught up into paradise, and he heard utterances beyond the power of man to put into words, which man is not permitted to utter.  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Peshitta Eastern Text: How that he was caught up to paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

e. NLT: That I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.  [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

1. “How that he was caught up into paradise…”

a. How that [Strong: 3754 hóti, hot'-ee; neuter of G3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:—as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

b. caught up [Strong: 726   harpázō, har-pad'-zo; from a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications):—catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).] [Thayer: to seize, carry off by force, to seize on, claim for one's self eagerly, to snatch out or away.]

1). This same Greek word is used in both instances in this passage in verse 2 and also 4. This same Greek word is also used in the verse speaking of the rapture of the church and also in Revelation concerning the child caught up to heaven.

a). 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

b). Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

c. into [Strong: 1519 eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:—(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with.]

d. [Strong: 3588. [ton] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [ton] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé, Hē, hē, hai, tas.]

e. paradise [Strong: 3857 parádeisos, par-ad'-i-sos; of Oriental origin (compare H6508); a park, i.e. (specially), an Eden (place of future happiness, "paradise"):—paradise.] [Thayer: among the Persians a grand enclosure or preserve, hunting ground, park, shady and well watered, in which wild animals, were kept for the hunt; it was enclosed by walls and furnished with towers for the hunters, a garden, pleasure ground, grove, park, the part of Hades which was thought by the later Jews to be the abode of the souls of pious until the resurrection: but some understand this to be a heavenly paradise, he upper regions of the heavens. According to the early church Fathers, the paradise in which our first parents dwelt before the fall still exists, neither on the earth or in the heavens, but above and beyond the world, heaven.]

1). Jesus himself not only believed this but also taught it in Luke 16 in the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

a). Luke 16:19-31 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

16:20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

2). While Jesus was on the cross he told the repentant thief because of his repentance the thief would be with Him in paradise.

a). Luke 23:39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

3). When Jesus died he did not go to heaven, he went to hell. Paradise at this time was still in the heart of the earth. While the repentant thief went to paradise/Abrahams’ bosom when he died, jesus went to hell.  

a). Acts 2:29-32  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

4). When he rose from the dead he ascended to heaven to place his blood upon the mercy seat in heaven. He came back to earth and was here for 40 days.

a). Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

5). After the forty days he ascended into heaven.

a). Acts 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

b). Luke 24:50, 51 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

6). When Jesus ascended into heaven at the end of the forty days after his resurrection, he freed those who were held in paradise, he took them to heaven with him. It also looks like he took the whole of paradise with him to heaven. Before his death and resurrection, paradise was located in the heart of the earth, which is where all the righteous were held after their deaths. After his ascension we see paradise in heaven. 

a). Ephesians 4:8-11 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

4:9 Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

7). This same Greek word is used three times in the New Testament.

a). Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

b). Revelation 12:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise G3857 of God.

(1) It seems that “paradise” which was located in the heart of the earth to house the righteous dead was relocated to heaven after the resurrection of Christ.

8). Paul was taken to heaven in an out of body experience. There are other examples of having out of body experiences in Scripture. Paul had an out of body experience that he described in his first letter to the Corinthians.

a). 1 Corinthians 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed.

9). Ezekiel had an out of body experience and was taken to Jerusalem by the Spirit of God, yet his physical body stayed in Babylon. The experience actually begins in chapter 8, but it concludes in 11.

a). Ezekiel 11:1-25 

10). Getting back to the passage in 2 Corinthians 12:4, I personally believe that Paul was transported in the Spirit to heaven. There are Scriptural instances of saints being translated over large distances in their physical bodies by the Spirit of God.

a). Elijah: 2 Kings 2:1-18; Phillip: Acts 8:39, 40; 

11). When the Apostle Paul was caught up to heaven he did not know if he was in his physical body or out of it.

a). 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 I knew a man in Christ Above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which is not lawful for a man to utter. 

2. “...and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

a.  and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. heard [Strong: 191 akoúō, ak-oo'-o; a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):—give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.]

c. unspeakable [Strong: 731 árrhētos, ar'-hray-tos; from G1 (as a negative particle) and the same as G4490; unsaid, i.e. (by implication) inexpressible:—unspeakable.]

d. words [Strong: 4487 rhēma, hray'-mah; from G4483; an utterance (individually, collectively or specially),; by implication, a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negative naught whatever:—+ evil, + nothing, saying, word.]

e. which [Strong: 3739 hós, hos; probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:—one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

f. [it is] not [Strong: 3756  ou, oo; a primary word; the absolute negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not:—+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

g. lawful [Strong: 1832 éxesti, ex'-es-tee; third person singular present indicative of a compound of G1537 and G1510; so also ἐξόν exón ex-on' neuter present participle of the same (with or without some form of G1510 expressed); impersonally, it is right (through the figurative idea of being out in public):—be lawful, let, × may(-est).]

h. [for a] man [Strong: 444 ánthrōpos, anth'-ro-pos; from G435 and ὤψ ṓps (the countenance; from G3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being:—certain, man.]

i. [to] utter [Strong: 2980 laléō, lal-eh'-o; a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:—preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.]

1). What Paul heard spoken while he was in heaven he was not permitted to tell. Yet John wrote the book of Revelation from what he heard and saw.