A Thorn in the Side

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV)

Thorn in the flesh – How many of us think we know what this means? We respond nodding our heads, of course, this is an idiom and our 21st century western worldview knows exactly what Paul is talking about. Right?

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Third Heaven

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

2 Corinthians 12:2 (KJV)

Third heaven – How many of us believe Paul is talking about himself here? From the people I’ve queried lately, 100% believe Paul is referring to himself as going to the third heaven. I bring this up because this shows how much we inject our own paradigms into the text, rather than just reading what it says. Continue reading “Third Heaven”