Quote:
Originally Posted by Esaias
Other than the text in question ( 2 Cor 12) there is NO mention in Scripture of any "third heaven". However, in Paul's day, Jews believed in SEVEN HEAVENS. And each particular one had certain particular characteristics. And Paradise - according to Jewish beliefs - was somewhere beyond the third heaven. Also, Jewish sects and schools of thought differed as to the heavenly cosmology.
Is this what Paul is referring to? Some scholars believe so, that Paul believed in seven heavens (a common prevailing Jewish belief). |
There is an alternative interpretation, by the way, concerning this "third heaven". I am not saying I endorse it or believe it, but it is an alternative and it does NOT require some kabbalistic rabbis to understand, but derives entirely from the Scriptures.
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
(2Pe 3:5-7)
Here we have two heavens: the
first which was part of the Antedeluvian world and which was destroyed during the Flood, and the
second which is part of the world that currently (in Peter's day) exists.
This "second heaven" is according to Peter to be destroyed in Judgment. Which leaves the future heaven:
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
(Rev 21:1)
So this would be the
third heaven. The three heavens then are the Pre-Flood heaven, the Current heaven, and the Future (eternal) heaven that comes after the Judgment. In this interpretation, the man who was "Caught up to the third heaven" was caught up in spirit to the FUTURE ETERNAL STATE to see visions of what awaits.
Now about "Paradise":
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
(Rev 2:7)
The overcomers are promised access to Paradise. This access of course is available after the Judgment:
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
(Rev 22:1-5)
So the man caught up to Paradise was caught up in spirit in a vision and a revelation to the eschatological eternal Paradise.
In other words, Paul is referring to people having eschatological visions and revelations (much like John had on Patmos) of "the third heaven" and "Paradise", which means they were catching glimpses of the ETERNAL STATE after the Judgment.
Now, again, I am not saying this is the correct understanding of
2 Cor 12 and the visions and revelations being described. I am however saying this explanation is BETTER EXEGETICALLY than assuming Paul gave credence to Jewish mystical concepts and cosmologies. This approach relies ONLY on the Scripture for defining the terms and concepts elsewhere mentioned. So it has that going for it and as such is a superior explanation than the one offered by most commentaries on the subject.
I do also recognise there is a minor difficulty with
Rev 21:1 and it's use of the term "first", but if we stay within the context of the narrative it would mean "first" refers not to the first in the abstract, but simply to the one before the one currently described. In other words, "the first heaven" is the heaven previously described in the visions, which would of course correspond to Peter's "the heavens ... which are now".
Of course that then raises the issue of why Peter speaks of the heavenS which are now and not simply the heaven (singular) which is now...