was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.
Parallel translations
- WEB how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
- KJV How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
- NKJV how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
- NASB was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
- NLT that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Caught up to Paradise, the man heard inexpressible words that no human is permitted to repeat. It matters because the most exalted revelation was not for boasting but was sealed in holy silence.
Overview
'Paradise' here names the place of God's presence and blessing. What Paul heard was both beyond words and not lawful to disclose, so he draws no public capital from it. This restraint reinforces his point: spiritual privilege is no platform for self-promotion, and God's deepest gifts are received with humility.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Luke 23:43And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
- Ezek 31:9I made it beautiful with its many branches, the envy of all the trees of Eden, which were in the garden of God.’
- Rev 2:7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 12:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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