I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),
Parallel Translations
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I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),
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And I knowe the same man (whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell god knoweth)
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And I knowe such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth)
Cross-references
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Explain this verse (12 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in…
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
Ver. 3. Whether in the body, &c.] So far did he forget and neglect his own body, which is so dear and near a thing, in comparison of that incomparable delight he then took in the Lord. "Oh that joy! O my God, when shall I be with thee!" These were the dying words of the last Lord Harrington, that was in heaven beforehand. "Oh the joys, the joys, the unspeakable joys that I feel in my soul!" said another that was even entering into heaven, and had a foretaste of eternal life. Peter in the transfiguration was so transported, that he never thought of a tabernacle for himself, Mat 17:4; he cared not to lie without doors, so he might longer enjoy that glimpse of heaven’s glory.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain How that he was caught up into paradise: some…
How that he was caught up into paradise: some by
paradise understand a place distinct from
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the third heaven before mentioned, and think the apostle here speaks of more visions than one; but they speak much more probably, who interpret it of the third heaven before mentioned, called paradise, in regard of the delight and pleasures of it. Thus the term is used by our Saviour to the thief upon the cross, Luk 23:43, and thus it is used, Rev 2:7.
And heard unspeakable words; what these unspeakable words, or things, were, which the apostle heard in this ecstasy, is vainly inquired; whenas the apostle hath told us twice, that he could not tell whether he was in or out of the body; and that the words or things were such as were unspeakable.
Which it is not lawful for a man to utter; such as were either impossible to be uttered, or at least which he was prohibited to utter; so they could be made known to none but only to him that heard them. If any inquireth, for what purpose God showed them to Paul, if he might not communicate them for the good of others? The answer is easy; that this vision might be for his own confirmation, as sent of God, and for his consolation under all those hazards and dangers which he was to undergo in the ministry of the gospel, to which God had called him.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Of such an one will I glory,.... The apostle…
Of such an one will I glory,.... The apostle in great modesty seems to speak of some other person, and not himself, as caught up into the third heaven, when he yet means himself; and does as it were distinguish himself from himself; himself in paradise from himself on earth; his sense is, that though he might lawfully glory of such a person so highly exalted and favoured, yet since this was his own case, he chose to forbear, and say no more of it:
yet of myself I will not glory; though he could, and might, and did glory in the Lord, who had done such great things for him; as that he was in Christ, and knew himself to be so, had been rapt up into heaven, and heard things unutterable; yet he would not glory of these things as from himself, as owing to any merit or worthiness of his, but as instances of mere favour, grace, and goodness; if he gloried of anything of himself in his present state and condition, it should be of his weaknesses:
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but in mine infirmities; not his sinful ones, for these he mourned over, and was humbled before God and man under a sense of; but his many pressing difficulties of life, heavy reproaches, very great afflictions, and violent persecutions he endured for Christ's sake; see Co2 12:10.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Yea, I knew such a man - That at…
Yea, I knew such a man - That at another time.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain And I knew such a man - It is…
And I knew such a man - It is not uncommon to repeat a solemn affirmation in order that it may be made more emphatic. This is done here. Paul repeats the idea, that he was intimately acquainted with such a man, and that he did not know whether he was in the body or out of the body. All that was known to God.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Translate, "I know."
Translate, "I know."
out of--Most of the oldest manuscripts read "apart from."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 3. And—It is a strange idea held by some…
3. And—It is a strange idea held by some commentators, endorsed by Alford, that St. Paul here twice states the same narrative. Less absurd, but quite unsupported, is the idea that the two are different parts of one vision. The formal beginning of both narratives, assigning both to the same year, obviously indicates that they were not at the same time. Nor were the two visits to the same region. To the question why Paul should visit paradise later than the third heaven, it might in answer be asked, Why should he see paradise first? To see the heaven of heavens—to stand in the body, for the moment glorified, by the side of Enoch, Elijah, Christ, and, perhaps, Moses—to know with them, by a divine intuition, all that the first two knew—to realize the realities of eternity, were the first and main thing. To visit paradise—the intermediate state, the place of departed, disembodied spirits—was the after-thought. The former was, perhaps, necessary as a qualification for Paul’s apostolicity; the latter only important. As to him was visibly disclosed the Son of God in his glorified person, so to him were revealed, in glimpse, the arcana of the highest heaven, and the lower mysteries of paradise.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (3) And I knew such a man.—Better, as before,…
(3) And I knew such a man.—Better, as before, I know.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 3. I know such a man. Why does he…
3. I know such a man. Why does he not use the first person? Because it would seem more like he was glorying in his own exaltation.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain And I know such a man (whether in the…
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth) ;
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
Paul continues to speak of himself as though he were speaking of someone else.
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this man ... was caught up into paradise
This can be stated in active form. Possible meanings are 1) "God took this man ... into paradise" or 2) "an angel took this man ... into paradise." If possible, it would be best not to name the one who took the man: "someone took ... paradise" or "they took ... paradise."
caught up
suddenly and forcefully held and taken
paradise
Possible meanings are 1) heaven or 2) the third heaven or 3) a special place in heaven.
of such a person
"of that person"
I will not boast, except about my weaknesses
This can be stated in positive form. AT: "I will boast only of my weaknesses"
translationWords
body
God
holy
boast
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 12:3-4 Paul wasn’t sure whether he was in a…
12:3-4 Paul wasn’t sure whether he was in a trance or actually taken to heaven. • But I do know that I was caught up: Literally But I know such a man, that he was caught up; see study note on 12:2.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.