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Thursday, August 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

2 Corinthians 12:3

And I know that this man-whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows-

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Heaven;   Paul;   Vision;   Thompson Chain Reference - Paul;   The Topic Concordance - Heaven/the Heavens;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Boasting;   Heaven;   Paradise;   Vision;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Heal, Health;   Hear, Hearing;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Trance;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ecstasy;   Heaven;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Pseudepigrapha;   Thorn in the Flesh;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Person of Christ;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Apocalyptic Literature;   Ascension of Isaiah;   Grace;   Miracles;   Principality Principalities ;   Prophecy Prophet Prophetess;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Trance;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Meekness;   Trance;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for September 9;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows—
King James Version (1611)
And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell, God knoweth.)
King James Version
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
English Standard Version
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—
New American Standard Bible
And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
New Century Version
And I know that this man was taken up to paradise. I don't know if he was in his body or away from his body, but God knows. He heard things he is not able to explain, things that no human is allowed to tell.
Amplified Bible
And I know that such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, [only] God knows—
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
Legacy Standard Bible
And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
Contemporary English Version
As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time.
Complete Jewish Bible
And I know that such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I don't know, God knows —
Darby Translation
And I know such a man, (whether in [the] body or out of the body I know not, God knows;)
Easy-to-Read Version
And I know that this man was taken up to paradise. I don't know if he was in his body or away from his body, but he heard things that he is not able to explain. He heard things that no one is allowed to tell.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And I knowe such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth)
George Lamsa Translation
And I still know this man, but whether in the body or whether without the body, I cannot tell; God knows;
Good News Translation
I repeat, I know that this man was snatched to Paradise (again, I do not know whether this actually happened or whether it was a vision—only God knows), and there he heard things which cannot be put into words, things that human lips may not speak.
Lexham English Bible
and I know this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
Literal Translation
And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows--
American Standard Version
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),
Bible in Basic English
And I have knowledge of such a man (if he was in the body, or out of the body, I am not able to say, but God only),
Hebrew Names Version
I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows),
International Standard Version
I know that this man - whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows -
Etheridge Translation
And I know this man himself,-but whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not, Aloha himself knoweth,
Murdock Translation
And I knew this same man; (but whether in a body, or out of a body, I know not; God knoweth;)
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And I knewe the same man (whether in the body or out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth)
English Revised Version
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),
World English Bible
I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows),
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Yea, I knew such a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth) That he was caught up into paradise,
Weymouth's New Testament
And I know that this man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y woot sich a man; whether in bodi, or out of bodi, Y noot, God woot;
Update Bible Version
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I don't know; God knows),
Webster's Bible Translation
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
New English Translation
And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)
New King James Version
And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--
New Living Translation
Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know
New Life Bible
I say it again, I know this man was taken up. But I do not know if his body or just his spirit was taken up. Only God knows.
New Revised Standard
And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And I know such a man as this, whether in the body or apart from the body, I know not, - God, knoweth,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth):
Revised Standard Version
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--
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And I knowe the same man (whether in the body or out of the body I canot tell god knoweth)
Young's Literal Translation
and I have known such a man -- whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known, --
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and I knowe the same man (whether he was in ye body or out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth)
Mace New Testament (1729)
but tho' I don't know whether it was in the body, or out of the body, which God only knows,
Simplified Cowboy Version
Listen close, I don't know if my body made the trip or just my mind. Like I said, only God knows.

Contextual Overview

1I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows. 3And I know that this man-whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows-4was caught up into Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses. 6Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me, 7or with these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 18:12 - the Spirit of the Lord 2 Kings 2:16 - the Spirit Ezekiel 11:24 - the spirit Daniel 10:8 - I was 2 Corinthians 5:8 - and willing 2 Corinthians 11:11 - God 2 Corinthians 12:2 - knew

Cross-References

Genesis 18:18
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.
Genesis 27:29
May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed."
Genesis 28:14
Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
Genesis 30:27
But Laban replied, "If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you."
Genesis 30:30
Indeed, you had very little before my arrival, but now your wealth has increased many times over. The LORD has blessed you wherever I set foot. But now, when may I also provide for my own household?"
Genesis 39:5
From the time that he put Joseph in charge of his household and all he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's household on account of him. The LORD's blessing was on everything he owned, both in his house and in his field.
Exodus 23:22
But if you will listen carefully to his voice and do everything I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.
Numbers 24:9
He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you."
Psalms 72:17
May his name endure forever; may his name increase as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.
Matthew 25:40
And the King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I knew such a man,.... The same man, namely himself, is here designed, and the same rapture spoken of, and the condition he was in expressed in the same words: which repetition is made for the more strong affirmation of what he delivered, and to signify the marvellousness of this vision, and how surprising and unaccountable it was.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I knew such a man - It is not uncommon to repeat a solemn affirmation in order that it may be made more emphatic. This is done here. Paul repeats the idea, that he was intimately acquainted with such a man, and that he did not know whether he was in the body or out of the body. All that was known to God.


 
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