ACC ~ 2 Corinthians 12 v2

THE THIRD HEAVEN. AMBROSIASTER: Paul mentions both things because either is possible. It may seem to someone that it is nothing much to be caught up into the third heaven, since that is where the moon is, but that is not right. What this means is that he was caught up beyond all the stars of the universe into the heaven which is third in the hierarchy of spiritual heavens. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

IN OR OUT OF THE BODY. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul specifies that it was fourteen years before in order to show that he would not normally have spoken about it at all had he not been provoked. And even then, notice that there are some things he is still ignorant about. He knows that he was in paradise, but whether he was in the body or not he cannot tell. Why did this happen to him? I think it was probably so that he would not feel inferior to the other apostles, who had all been with Christ while he was on earth. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 26.1-2.

FOURTEEN YEARS BEFORE. PELAGIUS: You see how pressed Paul was to make his point, if he had to recall something which had happened as long as fourteen years before. COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 12.

INEFFABLE WONDERS. GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS: Had Paul been able to express the experiences gained from the third heaven and his progress, ascent or assumption to it, we should perhaps have known more about God—if this really was the secret meaning of his rapture. But since they were ineffable, let them have the tribute of our silence. Let us give this much attention to Paul when he says: “We know in part and we prophesy in part.” This and the like is the confession of one who is no mere layman in knowledge, of one who threatens to give proof of Christ speaking in him,of a great champion and teacher of truth. THEOLOGICAL ORATION 28

2 Cor