2 Corinthians 12:2 (WEB)
I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.
Fathers and councils · 31
Tertullian
“It, too, has eyes and ears of its own, by means of which Paul must have heard and seen the Lord; it has, moreover all the other members of the body by the help of which it effects all processes of thinking and all activity in dreams.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2–4.
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Origen
“It does not, however, belong to our present object to explain why Paul says, “Whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not: God knoweth.”” — editor's note: Cf. 2 Cor. xii. 2.
Read the whole comment- Origen, Against Celsus VI.21Book VI
“The Scriptures which are current in the Churches of God do not speak of “seven” heavens, or of any definite number at all, but they do appear to teach the existence of “heavens,” whether that means the “spheres” of those bodies which the Greeks call “planets,” or something more mysterious.” — editor's note: [But see 2 Cor. xii. 2, and also Irenæus, vol. i. p. 405.]
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Irenaeus of Lyons
“…all the Scriptures loudly proclaim; and Paul expressly testifies that there are spiritual things when he declares that he was caught up into the third heaven, and again, that he was carried away to paradise, and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2, 3, 4.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
- Athanasius of Alexandria, Against the Arians III.5Discourse III
“The Apostle in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians writes, ‘I knew a man in Christ, above fourteen years ago, whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know; God knoweth.’” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2. S. Augustine understands the passage differently, i.e. that S. Paul really did not know whether or not he was in the body. Gen. ad lit. xii. 14.
Read the whole comment “And we who have learned this, let us be mindful of the Apostle when he says, ‘whether in the body I know not, or whether out of the body I know not; God knoweth.’” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2.
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John Damascene
“…the Scripture speaks of heaven, and heaven of heaven, and heavens of heavens, and the blessed Paul says that he was snatched away to the third heaven, we say that in the cosmogony of the universe we accept the creation of a heaven which the foreign philosophers, appropriating the views of Moses, call a…” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2.
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Catena Aurea on John
- Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
“For unless any in some sense die to this life, either by leaving the body altogether, or by being so withdrawn and alienated from carnal perceptions, that he may well not know, as the Apostle says, whether he be in the body or out of the body, (2 Cor. 12:2) he cannot be carried away, and borne aloft to that vision.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
“He saith, We shall see greater things than these: (2 Cor. 12:2.” — the author cites it
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“For Peter was there, who carrieth the keys of heaven: and nothing wonderful, for Paul was there, who was caught up to the third heaven, and into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful far a man to utter.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2, 4.
Read the whole comment“Elias was taken up only to heaven; but Paul both into heaven, and into paradise (for it behoved the disciples of Jesus to receive more manifold grace), and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for man to utter.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2, 4.
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Eusebius of Caesarea
“…even unto the sights of the third heaven, had been carried to the very paradise of God, and had been deemed worthy to hear unspeakable utterances there.” — editor's note: See 2 Cor. xii. 2–4.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences XI–XVII XVII.24Conference XVII
“…even unto the third heaven: and I know such a man, that he was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for man to utter.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2–4.
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Gregory the Great
“…Paul had already ascended into the third heaven, had also been caught up into Paradise, and heard secret words which it was not lawful for a man to speak (2 Cor. xii. 2, &c.), and yet, still fearful, he said, I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, while preaching to others, I…” — the author cites it
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Ambrose of Milan
“I cannot deny the one; the other I fear to search into, for if Paul says that the words which he heard when caught up into the third heaven might not be uttered, how can we explain the secret of this generation from and of the Father, which we can neither hear nor attain to with our understanding?” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2–5.
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Augustine of Hippo
“He was already there who said that he was “caught up into the third Heaven, and there heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2, 4.
Read the whole comment“…whereof he himself speaking, saith, that he knew a man caught up even unto the third Heaven; but whether in the body, or whether out of the body, he knew not: but that he being caught up into Paradise, heard ineffable words, which it was not lawful for a man to speak.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2.
Read the whole comment“One man regardeth the day to the Lord; another receives a clearer draught from the breast of the Lord; another is caught up even to the third heaven, and hears unspeakable words.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2–4.
Read the whole comment“Thus the Apostle says, that he “was caught up into the third heaven, and heard ineffable words.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2–4.
Read the whole comment“Behold Paul ascending: “I know a man in Christ fourteen years ago was caught up into the third heaven (whether in the body, or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth), and that he heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2–4.
Read the whole comment“At all events, he speaks thus of himself: “I knew a man in Christ fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up into the third heaven.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2.
Read the whole comment“…it to be that whereof he had said that he was caught up into the third heavens, and there heard unspeakable words “which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2, 4.
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Basil the Great
“As for myself, far from not believing in a second, I seek for the third whereon the blessed Paul was found worthy to gaze.” — editor's note: cf. 2 Cor. xii. 2.
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John Chrysostom
“For he says, “I knew a man fourteen years ago, whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not.” ( 2 Cor. xii. 2.)” — the author cites it
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Jerome
“But, you say, “we read that Saint Paul was caught up to the third heaven, into paradise.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2, 4.
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Hilary of Poitiers
“He who had been caught up into the third heaven and had heard unspeakable words, reveals to the perception of human understanding as much as human nature can receive.” — editor's note: Cf. 2 Cor. xii. 2, 4.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“…fully preached the Gospel, even though he had been prematurely caught up to the third heaven, and had a vision of Paradise, and had heard unspeakable words.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2, 4.
Read the whole comment“In this way then shalt thou discourse of God; even wert thou a Moses and a god to Pharaoh; even wert thou caught up like Paul to the Third Heaven, and hadst heard unspeakable words; even wert thou raised above them both, and exalted to Angelic or Archangelic place and dignity.” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2.
Read the whole comment“XV. Speak of God with Paul, who was caught up to the third Heaven, and who sometimes counts up the Three Persons, and that in varied order, not keeping the same order, but reckoning one and the same Person now first, now second, now third; and for what purpose?” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2.
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Clement of Alexandria
“How then, if that is truly the promise after our departure hence, say they that they know “what eye hath not known, nor hath entered into the mind of man,” who have not perceived by the Spirit, but received from instruction “what ear hath not heard,” or that ear alone which “was rapt up into the third heaven?”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2–4.
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Hippolytus of Rome
“Paul the apostle, he says, knew of this gate, partially opening it in a mystery, and stating “that he was caught up by an angel, and ascended as far as the second and third heaven into paradise itself; and that he beheld sights and heard unspeakable words which it would not be possible for man to declare.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 2.
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Cross-references · 37
Cited together in Life of Antony §26.
Cited together in Life of Antony §26.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.30.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith II.6.
Cited together in Against Celsus VI.21.
Cited together in Against Celsus VI.21.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 61.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith II.6.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.30 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.30.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith II.6.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith II.6.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith II.6.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith II.6.
Cited together in Against Celsus I.48.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII VII.14.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 61.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.30.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.30 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Against Celsus I.48.
Cited together in Against Celsus I.48.
Cited together in Against Heresies II.30.
Cited together in Against Celsus I.48.
Cited together in Epistles, Books I–VIII VII.14.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 1:18 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Celsus I.48.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 1:47–51 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 1:47–51 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 1:47–51 (5) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 1:47–51 (5) (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.
Cited together in Against Celsus I.48.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 61.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 61.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 61.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 61.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 61.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 1:47–51 (5) (Catena Aurea).