And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;)
All Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 12:3 Go To 2 Corinthians 12
Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
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.
