The Third Heaven - 2 Corinthians 12:1-6

12:1-2 - Paul has commented on the baselessness of attacks on his physical appearance, he has given examples of extreme endurance for the sake of the gospel, but now he switches his focus to spiritual matters. Interestingly, when his topic switched, so did his attitude. While speaking about “visions and revelations of the Lord,” suddenly he’s speaking in the third person, saying, “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago… such an one caught up to the third heaven.” The article about this chapter from gospeldoctrine.com says, “After a dozen or more examples of dramatic persecution, we might expect a half dozen episodes of dramatic revelation just to drive his point home. Instead, Paul’s awe, humility, and gratitude for having received those revelations turn him from aggressiveness to reverence- even reticence. The fact that he describes the vision as happening to ‘a man in Christ’ is such an evidence of that humility, though he is obviously speaking of himself. The passage makes no sense if it isn’t his own revelation, since he’s reminding the Corinthians of his credentials contrasted to those of the ‘false apostles.’” The fact that Paul would take credit for being beaten, which probably wasn’t the manliest way to be victimized, but wouldn’t take credit for being given certain gifts of God, is telling of his character. In verse 1, Paul uses the plural “visions” and “revelations,” and because he discusses both the “third heaven” and “paradise,” it is suggested in the reading that he is referring to two different places seen in two different visions. To me, it’s not super clear that he isn’t referring to the same place in the same vision using two different words, especially when we consider translations and the different times and speaking styles. But it does raise a good point that the “third heaven” and “paradise” are different places serving different purposes. Paradise is the place where spirits go after they die to enjoy God’s love and glory and also to preach the gospel to those who still need to hear it. This place comes immediately after mortal death but precedes the final judgment and is a “holding” place for the continuance of the work of God. The “third heaven” implies that there is a first and second heaven, and is the celestial kingdom. This is the final resting place of the righteous and where God dwells for the eternities. 12:3-4 - What he saw during these visions were so sacred in nature that he doesn’t describe them in detail, but I think the word “paradise” is a sufficient explanation as to the nature of the things he saw. There are absolutely experiences that we are not supposed to discuss willy-nilly with others. The article quotes Hugh Nibley as commenting, “it is apparent that something is being withheld, and it is also apparent that it is being held back not arbitrarily but for a good reason, namely, that people are not ready to receive it.” I have thought a lot about this, especially when it comes to knowing who God is and his feelings toward us. Why not let us feel His love from the beginning? Why does he wait until we are “ready” to let us know? I don’t have a perfect answer for that, but I know that when I learned this, it changed my life, and I would imagine that because it’s such powerful information, knowing prematurely can negate portions of our agency or cause us to sin against greater knowledge that we weren’t ready for, which would be unjust. Interesting. Now Paul says that “his friend” didn’t know whether or not he was in or out of his body when he saw these visions. The article quotes Bruce R. McConkie as recalling a similar experience happening to Peter when he was commanded to take the gospel to the gentiles, Joseph Smith when he had the first vision, “Balaam when he saw the coming of Christ and the triumph of Israel.” I don’t know why people would have to be in a trance or transfigured when they have visions, maybe it’s because they are so physically draining. Like when Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon had that vision about the celestial kingdom, and afterward Sidney was exhausted and Joseph commented that Sidney wasn’t as used to it as he was, that’s why he was so tired. I hadn’t considered that before, but it makes sense. 12:5-6 - Over the last several verses in both chapters, Paul feels like he might have sounded “a fool” because it might sound like he’s bragging about himself. He recognizes this and notes, “yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.” These infirmities are what has enabled God to work miracles in his life and in his personal character. This is what we will talk about tomorrow.