Devine Scripture

2 Corinthians 12:3

What does 2 Corinthians 12:3 mean?

A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 12:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 2 Corinthians 12:3 means

Paul repeats that he knows such a man and again stresses uncertainty about whether the experience was in or out of the body. The repetition underscores his determination not to speculate beyond what God has made clear. He will not turn a holy mystery into a spectacle. By anchoring everything in God’s knowledge—“God knoweth”—he models mature reverence. Spiritual experiences are not laboratory specimens to be dissected for admiration; they are gifts held under God’s authority. This posture protects both the experience and the church: it discourages competitive boasting and invites trust in the Lord, who knows precisely what He has done even when the participant cannot explain it.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I have knowledge of such a man (if he was in the body, or out of the body, I am not able to say, but God only),

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and I have known such a man--whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known, --

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth):

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I know such a man, (whether in [the] body or out of the body I know not,God knows;)

Context

Verse 3 functions as a deliberate echo of verse 2, slowing the pace and highlighting Paul’s guarded manner. It prepares the reader to receive the next verse’s content about Paradise with the same reverent restraint. The flow from verses 1–4 is progressive: declaration of revelations, the event stated, the uncertainty reaffirmed, then the content’s sacredness affirmed. This builds to verse 5, where Paul states the only ground on which he will personally boast—his weaknesses. The careful repetition here intensifies the contrast soon to come between surpassing privilege and chosen humility for the church’s sake.

v.2I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.

v.3This passage

v.4how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

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