A moment the veil grew thin
Paul in the Third Heaven
Paul was caught up into paradise and heard words unspeakable, yet he speaks of it almost reluctantly, in the third person, and pairs it with a thorn in the flesh. It is a lesson in the humility that even the highest revelations require.
“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.”2 Corinthians 12:2
What happened
What happened. In 2 Corinthians 12, forced by the boasting of false apostles to defend his ministry, Paul reluctantly tells of a man in Christ, above fourteen years ago, who was caught up to the third heaven. He does not even claim to know the manner of it: whether in the body, I cannot tell, or whether out of the body, I cannot tell, God knoweth. He says this man was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Though he clearly means himself, Paul distances the account, saying, Of such an one will I glory, yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. Then he tells why he was not lifted up with pride: there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. Three times he prayed for it to depart, and the Lord answered, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. So Paul concludes, Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
What it opened
What it opened. This passage opens something surprising: not a catalogue of heavenly secrets, but a school of humility. Paul was granted an extraordinary glimpse of paradise, yet he refuses to trade on it, will not describe it, and calls its words unlawful to utter. What he dwells on instead is the thorn and the sufficiency of grace. The very greatness of the revelation was matched by a humbling weakness, lest he be exalted above measure. The purpose here is a warning against spiritual pride and a comfort for the weak: God's power is perfected not in our exalted experiences but in our infirmities. We must honor Paul's reticence. He does not sensationalize heaven or invite others to seek such raptures; he all but hides the experience and boasts rather in his weakness. This guards us against a religion of thrilling encounters and turns us toward the ordinary grace that is sufficient. The open heaven Paul touched taught him to lean harder on Christ on earth, and that is the lesson it leaves with us.
How it points to Christ
How it points to Christ. Paul heard unspeakable words in paradise, yet the word he prized and preached was the audible answer of Christ, My grace is sufficient for thee. The One who is Himself the open heaven, of whom He said, ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man (John 1:51), meets Paul not in the third heaven only but in the thorn, and there the power of Christ rests upon him. This is the pattern of the gospel: strength made perfect in weakness, the cross before the crown. Paul does not need to store up a private paradise, for through Christ he already has boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh (Hebrews 10:19-20). The access every believer has in Christ is greater than any rapture kept secret, for it is open, sure, and shared. So Paul glories not in what he saw above, but in the crucified and risen Lord whose grace is enough below.
Questions people ask
What is the third heaven Paul was caught up to?
Paul equates it with paradise, the very presence of God. Ancient speech could describe the sky and the starry heavens, and then the dwelling place of God beyond them. Paul is pointing to being taken into God's own presence, though he deliberately refuses to describe what he saw or heard.
Why is Paul so reluctant to describe the experience?
Because he refuses to boast in himself or trade on private revelations, and because the words he heard were not lawful to utter. His restraint is a rebuke to spiritual showmanship. He would rather glory in his weaknesses, so that the power of Christ, not his own experience, is exalted.
Why did God give Paul a thorn after such a revelation?
To keep him humble, lest he be exalted above measure. The thorn was the counterweight to the vision, and through it Paul learned that God's grace is sufficient and His strength is perfected in weakness. It teaches that God often keeps His most-used servants low, that they may lean wholly on Christ.