2 Corinthians 12 4

2 Corinthians 12:4 kjv

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

2 Corinthians 12:4 nkjv

how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

2 Corinthians 12:4 niv

was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.

2 Corinthians 12:4 esv

and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

2 Corinthians 12:4 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.

2 Corinthians 12 verses

2 Corinthians 12 4 Meaning

In this verse, Paul recounts an extraordinary experience where he was forcefully taken to paradise. During this profound spiritual transport, he heard divine utterances, referred to as "unspeakable words," which were so sacred and transcendent that it was not permissible or fitting for any human being to express them verbally. This highlights a realm of divine mystery and revelation beyond human comprehension and authorized communication.

2 Corinthians 12 4 Context

This verse is part of Paul's reluctant defense of his apostleship against "super-apostles" or false teachers in Corinth who were challenging his authority and boasting in their own spiritual experiences and achievements. In 2 Corinthians chapters 10-13, Paul engages in what he calls "foolish boasting," using sarcasm and paradox to highlight the genuine markers of a true apostle (suffering, weakness, reliance on God) versus the superficial boasts of his opponents.

Specifically, in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Paul shares this personal and highly sacred account of being "caught up" to illustrate that if he were to boast in visions and revelations, he had grounds far surpassing his detractors. However, he immediately shifts from the grand vision (vv. 2-4) to his "thorn in the flesh" (vv. 7-10), demonstrating his preferred method of boasting in weakness rather than strength or extraordinary spiritual experiences. The reluctance to speak of this specific vision until compelled to by his opponents underscores its profound and intimate nature, not meant for common discourse or personal exaltation. The historical context includes the challenges to early Christian authority, the rise of competing teachers, and the importance of establishing genuine spiritual credentials amidst various claims and manifestations.

2 Corinthians 12 4 Word analysis

• how that (πῶς - pōs): An adverb used here to introduce an indirect question, "how it was that," detailing the manner of the experience.
• he was caught up (ἁρπαγέντα - harpagenta): This aorist passive participle signifies a sudden, forceful, and involuntary (on Paul's part) abduction or transportation. It denotes an external, divine agency at work. The term (harpázō) is also used for the "rapture" of believers in 1 Th 4:17.
• into (εἰς - eis): A preposition indicating movement towards and entry into a specific destination.
• paradise (παράδεισον - paradeison): A Persian loanword (paradeisos) referring to an enclosed park, pleasure-garden, or orchard, like the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:8). In later Judaism and the New Testament, it came to signify the dwelling place of the righteous after death (Lk 23:43, Rev 2:7) or, as here, a heavenly realm of blessedness equivalent to the "third heaven" mentioned in 2 Cor 12:2. It symbolizes intimate fellowship with God.
• and (καί - kai): A conjunction, linking the experience of being caught up with the subsequent event.
• heard (ἤκουσεν - ēkousen): A verb in the aorist active, indicating a direct act of hearing. It emphasizes that the experience included an auditory component, direct communication.
• unspeakable (ἄρρητα - arrhēta): From the Greek a (not) and rhētos (spoken). It means "unutterable, not to be spoken, secret, inexpressible." This is not merely a statement of human inability to articulate, but an intrinsic quality of the words, implying their sacredness and divine profundity.
• words (ῥήματα - rhēmata): Denotes spoken utterances, messages, or pronouncements. These were not vague impressions but distinct verbal communications.
• which (ἅ - ha): A relative pronoun, connecting the "words" to the following clause.
• it is not lawful (οὐκ ἐξὸν - ouk exhon): Ouk is the negation "not," and exon means "it is permissible," "it is lawful," "it is proper," or "it is morally right." The phrase emphatically declares a divine prohibition. It’s a command to maintain secrecy, not a lament of human limitations.
• for a man (ἀνθρώπῳ - anthrōpō): The dative case "to a man" implies that this prohibition applies universally to humanity. It indicates a clear boundary between divine secrets and human disclosure.
• to utter (λαλῆσαι - lalēsai): An aorist active infinitive meaning "to speak, to tell, to proclaim." It specifies the action of verbalizing the content of the "unspeakable words."

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "he was caught up into paradise": This phrase details a profound, supernatural journey. "Caught up" emphasizes the divine initiative and Paul's passive reception. "Paradise" indicates the high spiritual nature of the destination, a place of divine blessedness and intimate presence of God, signifying proximity to the Creator, equivalent to the "third heaven." This isn't an earthly garden but a spiritual realm.
• "and heard unspeakable words": This describes the core of the divine communication Paul received. The words were actual spoken messages ("words"), not merely feelings or visions. "Unspeakable" implies their transcendent nature, either too sacred, too profound, or too advanced for human language and comprehension to fully grasp or convey without diminishment.
• "which it is not lawful for a man to utter": This clause provides the crucial constraint and reason for Paul's silence. The restriction is divinely imposed and concerns what is morally or divinely "lawful." It indicates a boundary of revelation where some truths are reserved for God, even when revealed to a privileged individual, because they are not meant for general human dissemination, perhaps because of their sacredness, their nature (prophetic, eternal), or humanity's inability to bear or understand them fully.

2 Corinthians 12 4 Bonus section

• The passage reveals a fascinating aspect of divine revelation: it's not always meant to be shared. There are truths that God reveals to individuals for their own spiritual benefit or understanding that are not intended for the broader community, perhaps until a future time or for specific, unrevealed purposes.
• The fact that Paul kept this experience private for fourteen years before reluctantly mentioning it speaks volumes about his character and his view of spiritual experiences. He wasn't one to casually boast or sensationalize; he used it only when absolutely necessary to defend his legitimate apostolic credentials against those who were boasting.
• The connection between "paradise" (a blessed, often eschatological place) and the "third heaven" (God's abode) reinforces the idea that true ultimate spiritual encounters lead to direct communion with God, foreshadowing the believer's future glory and presence with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12 4 Commentary

2 Corinthians 12:4 provides a rare glimpse into Paul's profound encounter with the divine, distinct from his conversion experience. This journey into "paradise" (or the "third heaven" from v. 2) denotes an intimate communion with God's very presence, far surpassing common human experience. The "unspeakable words" were actual divine utterances, but their unique character lies in the prohibition against their disclosure. It's not merely that Paul lacked the vocabulary to describe them; rather, God actively forbade their articulation, signifying an inviolable sacred boundary. This silence is a mark of authenticity and reverence.

This verse teaches that not all divine revelation is meant for public dissemination; some truths remain sacred mysteries reserved by God's sovereign will, highlighting God's absolute control over His self-disclosure. Paul's humility in withholding the content of this ultimate revelation, even while defensively referring to it, starkly contrasts with his opponents' superficial boasts. It underscores that true spiritual authority and intimacy with God lead not to self-exaltation, but to a profound respect for divine boundaries and an embracing of human weakness, where God's power is truly manifested. The experience in paradise serves as a profound source of internal spiritual fortitude for Paul during his challenging ministry.