2 Corinthians 12:2 English Standard Version (ESV) 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.

Various discussion over the years have drawn a conclusion that this man Paul refers to was Paul himself. Verse six says “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.”

Then why mention it at all?

Allow me to place my own opinion here. How would any of us react to similar experiences? Perhaps this is a teaching moment from Paul knowing that there will be others who experience the same thing and how he acted is how we should act.

Humility in the face of the danger of conceit is what Paul speaks to in verse seven. The following verses lead to one of Paul’s great conversations with our Lord.

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Needful things is the title but sufficient grace is the object of discussion. How God manifests His grace to us will be personal, designed to provide exactly what we need at the moment we need it the most.

I know a man in Christ who forty years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.

He did not know love, had never experienced love and needed to know that God is love. He saw nothing, heard nothing, but was bathed in God’s love. He had no words to compare that love. Words failed to match what Paul described as “the surpassing greatness of the revelation” in verse 7.

Relating to others what we experience in a personal way should always be presented in a believable manner, without hype or ego.