And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;)
Read Chapter 12
Ambrosiaster
AD 400
Paul says that he was caught up twice—first into the third heaven and then into paradise, which is where the Lord said that the thief on the cross would be with him. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
Whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell. S. Athanasius (Serm4contra Arian.) thinks that Paul knew the mode in which he was caught up, yet says: "I do not know," or, "I cannot tell;" because he could not reveal it to others, in the same way that Christ, in S. Mark 13:32, says that He did not know the day of judgment. For though in himself he knew, yet as far as others were concerned he did not know, for he could not explain it. But others do better in understanding him simply to mean. "I do not know," and his simple recital of the event seems to require this.
If they do maintain that they are more excellent than he, let them prove themselves so by their works, for they have never pretended to anything like .
because the strength of God is made perfect in weakness,
