2 Corinthians 11:30 English Standard Version (ESV) If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:1-6 English Standard Version
Paul’s Visions and His Thorn
1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 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. 3 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— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
The first thing that I see here is that the editors of the ESV added the chapter comment “Paul’s Vision”. That is an editorial opinion added to give us the impression that Paul is talking about himself when he writes “I know a man in Christ”.
Secondly there is the issue of this compulsion to boast. This is a conversation that begins in chapter 11 and continues in 12. Letters are not numbered. Those are editorial additions for us to find scripture for our convenience.
Our third experience here is how to handle things we know that in the spirit we are not allowed to share. Paul never shares what that vision was spoken of in verse 4.
How did Paul know that those visions, his or anyone else’s are not to be shared?
If the Word is given to us to rightly handle the word of God then the example set before us might have some instruction for us to handle our own experiences.
That does not mean we will or that we should seek to have them.
If we allow ourselves to be convinced by editorial displays of excellence, who are we following, man or Christ?
This is where discernment differs from instruction. We are to judge which examples we are to follow, man’s or God’s.