TH ROUGH TH E BIBLE
New
Sècond
Testament
with
Corinthians
m
DR. WILLIAM EVANS
(U
way of ordinary seeing, visions with the aid of the most perfect helps, be cause these’ visions which the apostle saw are essentially supernatural in their character (cf. Acts 9:4-6; 16:9; 18:9; 23:11; 27:23), revelations which, in this case, were communicated by means of the vision. The point is that Paul was exceptionally enlightened by the Lord, and the reason is found in his exceptional call and mission, and this accounts for his reluctance to narrate these experiences.” What these revela tions were, we do not know. If it was unlawful to utter them, it is certainly foolish for us to seek to find out what Paul saw and heard. That the man whom Paul “ knows” (not “ knew” ) is the apostle himself, is clear from 12:7. The sublime positiveness of the apostle is refreshing and is evident by the repe tition of the word “ know.” By “ vis ions” is meant something seen, by “ rev elations,” something heard. Paul’s “ thorn in the flesh,” “ the mes senger of Satan” “ to buffet him,” “ lest he should be exalted above measure by reason of the abundance of the revela tions granted him,” has many and vari ous interpretations. It has been defined as epilepsy; fits of ill temper; the strug gle for continency; stings of conscience because of his past life, especially as a persecutor of the Church of God; pains in the ear and head; a severe affliction of the eyes, and hypochondria. Evi dently, it was “ a stake in the flesh,” that is, a bodily affliction, a “ thorn,” not “ thorns,” a j ’crown of thorns,” but some particular, specific bodily ailment. Just as in the case of Job Satan is per-
In our study of 2 Corinthians we have considered Introductory matters, the Synopsis of the book, the Introduction (1:1-14), the first main division: “ Mat ters concerning the Apostle’s Visit to the Church at Corinth” (1 :15 ;7 :16 ), the second main division: “ Matters Concerning the Collection for the Poor Saints at Jerusalem” (8 :1 ;9 :15 ), and Sections 1, 2 and a part of 3 of the third main division: “ Paul’s Apostolic Char acter and Authority Vindicated” (10:1; 13:10). We now continue Section 3, finishing with the Conclusion. Paul’s Revelations and Thom in the Flesh (12:1-10). It is difficult to tell just to what experience the apostle re fers to as having transpired “ above four teen years ago.” Some think the refer ence is to the time of his vision at the temple (Acts 22:17), or to the time of the stoning at Lystra (Acts 14:19). Both these views, however, are attended with difficulties hard to explain. At any rate, it was an experience in which the spirit was, as it were, lifted out of, or separated from the body (cf. Ezek. 3:12-14; Acts 8:39; Rev. 4:'l, 2), and taken up to Paradise and the third heaven, by which is doubtless meant the place where Christ is. Paradise was first on the earth— the Garden of Eden; then it was below the earth— the upper part of Hades, into which Christ descended; it is now located above, where Christ is. Some day it will be on the earth again— probably the New In some supernatural way, certain revelations had thus been granted to Paul. “ Visions and sights not vouch safed to the human eye, in the natural
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