ACC ~ 2 Corinthians 12 v4

NO ONE CAN UTTER. ORIGEN: This means that they cannot be expressed in a human language. ON FIRST PRINCIPLES 2.7.4.

THE APPEARANCE OF PARADISE. THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: He saw the beautiful appearance of paradise, the dances of the saints in it and the harmonious sound of its hymnody. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

THINGS HE SAW. THEODORET OF CYR: Some argue that here Paul is referring to things which he actually saw, like the beauty of paradise and the choirs of the saints which are to be found there. COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 348.

A FIRSTHAND REVELATION. OECUMENIUS: So much for those who write false revelations! PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

NOT AUDIBLE SOUNDS. ISAAC OF NINEVEH: All that is heard by the ears can be spoken. He did not hear audible sounds, nor did he see a vision composed of the corporeal images of sense perception, but it was by the intuitions of the understanding, being in rapture, while his will had no fellowship with the body. ASCETICAL HOMILIES 4.

THE WONDER OF THE RESURRECTION BODY. AUGUSTINE: But, even if the angels, whose nature is simple and spiritual, are said to have tongues with which they sing praises to their Lord and Creator and give him unceasing thanks, much more must the spiritualized bodies of men do so after the resurrection. For all the members of their glorified flesh will have tongues in their mouths, and they will give voice to their speaking tongues, and thus they will utter divine praises, the outpouring in words of their love and of the joys that fill even their senses. Doubtless the Lord will add this to the grace and glory of his saints in the time of his kingdom, that the more perfectly they attain to this blessed condition of body by a happy transformation, the more fully will they sing with tongue and voice. Being established in their spiritual bodies, they may speak, perchance, not with the tongues of men but with those of angels, such as the apostle heard in paradise. LETTER 94.

PAUL AND ELIJAH. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM: Elijah was taken up to heaven only, but Paul into heaven and paradise (for it was but fitting that the disciples of Jesus should receive more manifold grace) and “heard secret words that man may not repeat.” But Paul came down again from heaven, not because he was unworthy to abide in the third heaven but after enjoying gifts beyond man’s lot. CATECHETICAL LECTURES 14.16.

2 Cor