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Sunday, July 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible

New American Standard Bible (1995)

2 Corinthians 12:3

And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, 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—
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—
Berean Standard Bible
And I know that this man-whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but 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

1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; 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
since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?
Genesis 27:29
May peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you; Be master of your brothers, And may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, And blessed be those who bless you."
Genesis 28:14
"Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 30:27
But Laban said to him, "If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account."
Genesis 30:30
"For you had little before I came and it has increased to a multitude, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own household also?"
Genesis 39:5
It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house on account of Joseph; thus the LORD'S blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field.
Exodus 23:22
"But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.
Numbers 24:9
"He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you."
Psalms 72:17
May his name endure forever; May his name increase as long as the sun shines; And let men bless themselves by him; Let all nations call him blessed.
Matthew 25:40
"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to 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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