Paul’s Vision

1. Paul’s Vision 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

2. On September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith had a “vision.”

3. On September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith had a “vision.” • “A personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor . . . . Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorified beyond description . . . . [He] said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do.”

4. On September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith had a “vision.” • “A personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor . . . . Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorified beyond description . . . . [He] said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do.” • Obviously, we cannot believe Smith’s claims.

5. On September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith had a “vision.” • “A personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor . . . . Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorified beyond description . . . . [He] said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do.” • Obviously, we cannot believe Smith’s claims. • Such visions have ended.

6. On September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith had a “vision.” • “A personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor . . . . Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorified beyond description . . . . [He] said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do.” • Obviously, we cannot believe Smith’s claims. • Such visions have ended. • The message of Smith’s “visions” contracts the message of Jesus’ apostles.

7. But, in Paul’s day, many did receive revelations from God.

8. But, in Paul’s day, many did receive revelations from God. • It seems that many well-meaning Christians had trouble separating the claims of true visions & the claims of visions like Joseph Smith’s.

9. But, in Paul’s day, many did receive revelations from God. • It seems that many well-meaning Christians had trouble separating the claims of true visions & the claims of visions like Joseph Smith’s. • In Corinth, some false prophets were upsetting the faith of some.

10. But, in Paul’s day, many did receive revelations from God. • It seems that many well-meaning Christians had trouble separating the claims of true visions & the claims of visions like Joseph Smith’s. • In Corinth, some false prophets were upsetting the faith of some: “If someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough” (2 Cor 11:4, ESV).

11. These false prophets apparently wanted to discredit Paul.

12. These false prophets apparently wanted to discredit Paul. • In the final four chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul defends himself against the claims of these “super-apostles.”

13. These false prophets apparently wanted to discredit Paul. • In the final four chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul defends himself against the claims of these “super-apostles.” • “I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works” (2 Cor 12:11-12, ESV).

14. 2 Corinthians 12:2-20

15. These false prophets were apparently boasting about receiving so-called “revelations” from God.

16. These false prophets were apparently boasting about receiving so-called “revelations” from God. • Paul basically says, “They boast about revelations. Let me tell you about a real revelation I had from God.

17. These false prophets were apparently boasting about receiving so-called “revelations” from God. • Paul basically says, “They boast about revelations. Let me tell you about a real revelation I had from God. • Paul writes in the third, rather than the first, person.

18. These false prophets were apparently boasting about receiving so-called “revelations” from God. • Paul basically says, “They boast about revelations. Let me tell you about a real revelation I had from God. • Paul writes in the third, rather than the first, person. • This was a common method among the rabbis in order to avoid pride.

19. These false prophets were apparently boasting about receiving so-called “revelations” from God. • Paul basically says, “They boast about revelations. Let me tell you about a real revelation I had from God. • Paul writes in the third, rather than the first, person. • This was a common method among the rabbis in order to avoid pride. • The context makes it clear that Paul speaks of himself.

20. These false prophets were apparently boasting about receiving so-called “revelations” from God. • Paul basically says, “They boast about revelations. Let me tell you about a real revelation I had from God. • Paul writes in the third, rather than the first, person. • This was a common method among the rabbis in order to avoid pride. • The context makes it clear that Paul speaks of himself. Why else would God send a “messenger of Satan” to torment Paul unless he himself received the message?

21. vv 2-4 God’s Mind

22. “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter” (vv 2-4, ESV).

23. Both of Paul’s epistles to the Corinthians are laden with sarcasm.

24. Both of Paul’s epistles to the Corinthians are laden with sarcasm. • As Paul defends his apostleship, it’s quite clear that the “super-apostles” were boasting about their position.

25. Both of Paul’s epistles to the Corinthians are laden with sarcasm. • As Paul defends his apostleship, it’s quite clear that the “super-apostles” were boasting about their position. • “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (10:17, ESV).

26. Both of Paul’s epistles to the Corinthians are laden with sarcasm. • As Paul defends his apostleship, it’s quite clear that the “super-apostles” were boasting about their position. • “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (10:17, ESV). • “Whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that” (11:21, ESV).

27. Both of Paul’s epistles to the Corinthians are laden with sarcasm. • As Paul defends his apostleship, it’s quite clear that the “super-apostles” were boasting about their position. • Paul says, quite tongue-in-check, “I must go on boasting” (12:1, ESV).

28. Both of Paul’s epistles to the Corinthians are laden with sarcasm. • As Paul defends his apostleship, it’s quite clear that the “super-apostles” were boasting about their position. • Paul says, quite tongue-in-check, “I must go on boasting” (12:1, ESV). • Paul then “boasts” about the vision he received.

29. Both of Paul’s epistles to the Corinthians are laden with sarcasm. • As Paul defends his apostleship, it’s quite clear that the “super-apostles” were boasting about their position. • Paul says, quite tongue-in-check, “I must go on boasting” (12:1, ESV). • Paul then “boasts” about the vision he received. • But, in his boasting, Paul can’t say if the experience was in or out of the body & he can’t repeat what he heard.

30. Paul’s point in his mock boasting is to say: “There’s no point in boasting about what one can do or what one has seen, for it’s God who determines those things.”

31. Paul’s point in his mock boasting is to say: “There’s no point in boasting about what one can do or what one has seen, for it’s God who determines those things.” • Paul had no idea whether he experienced “the third heaven” “in the body or out of the body.”

32. Paul’s point in his mock boasting is to say: “There’s no point in boasting about what one can do or what one has seen, for it’s God who determines those things.” • Paul had no idea whether he experienced “the third heaven” “in the body or out of the body.” How could we know?

33. Paul’s point in his mock boasting is to say: “There’s no point in boasting about what one can do or what one has seen, for it’s God who determines those things.” • Paul had no idea whether he experienced “the third heaven” “in the body or out of the body.” How could we know? • What things did Paul hear?

34. Paul’s point in his mock boasting is to say: “There’s no point in boasting about what one can do or what one has seen, for it’s God who determines those things.” • Paul had no idea whether he experienced “the third heaven” “in the body or out of the body.” How could we know? • What things did Paul hear? • Paul heard “things that cannot be told.”

35. Paul’s point in his mock boasting is to say: “There’s no point in boasting about what one can do or what one has seen, for it’s God who determines those things.” • Paul had no idea whether he experienced “the third heaven” “in the body or out of the body.” How could we know? • What things did Paul hear? • Paul heard “things that cannot be told.” • KJV: Paul “heard unspeakable words.”

36. Paul’s point in his mock boasting is to say: “There’s no point in boasting about what one can do or what one has seen, for it’s God who determines those things.” • Paul had no idea whether he experienced “the third heaven” “in the body or out of the body.” How could we know? • What things did Paul hear? • Paul heard “things that cannot be told.” • KJV: Paul “heard unspeakable words.” • This simply means that Paul cannot tell what he heard, for he heard things “which man may not utter.”

37. Paul’s point in his mock boasting is to say: “There’s no point in boasting about what one can do or what one has seen, for it’s God who determines those things.” • Paul had no idea whether he experienced “the third heaven” “in the body or out of the body.” How could we know? • What things did Paul hear? • Paul heard “things that cannot be told.” • God knows what Paul heard in “the third heaven,” but we don’t.

38. Paul’s point in his mock boasting is to say: “There’s no point in boasting about what one can do or what one has seen, for it’s God who determines those things.” • Paul had no idea whether he experienced “the third heaven” “in the body or out of the body.” How could we know? • What things did Paul hear? • Paul heard “things that cannot be told.” • God knows what Paul heard in “the third heaven,” but we don’t. Paul knew what he heard in “the third heaven,” but the Corinthians didn’t.

39. The point: God knows much that we do not know.

40. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut 29:29, ESV).

41. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut 29:29, ESV). • “The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor 1:25, ESV).

42. Does that not really put man in his place?

43. God is the one who knows all.

44. v 7 Divine meekness

45. “To keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited” (v 7, ESV).

46. This verse demonstrates God’s control over Satan.

47. This verse demonstrates God’s control over Satan. • It’s God who sent the “messenger of Satan to harass” Paul.

48. This verse demonstrates God’s control over Satan. • It’s God who sent the “messenger of Satan to harass” Paul. • The purpose of this “messenger” was to keep Paul from becoming too conceited.

49. This verse demonstrates God’s control over Satan. • It’s God who sent the “messenger of Satan to harass” Paul. • The purpose of this “messenger” was to keep Paul from becoming too conceited. • Satan would have loved Paul’s becoming conceited, wouldn’t he?

50. This verse demonstrates God’s control over Satan. • It’s God who sent the “messenger of Satan to harass” Paul. • The purpose of this “messenger” was to keep Paul from becoming too conceited. • Satan would have loved Paul’s becoming conceited, wouldn’t he? • Imagine the benefit to Satan’s kingdom if this “messenger” hadn’t been sent & Paul became conceited!