"It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." 2 Corinthians 12: 1-4
"Do you think we'll ever know what those unlawful, inexpressible,words are?" the question is asked.
Wouldn't that be something? Words that God has kept from our ears that only someone "caught up" to heaven could hear.
But.... why would these words be hidden? And does that make sense? "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom" Jesus said. And why would they be "unlawful".
Perhaps we are not reading, not really, what is written. Maybe being “unlawful”, or inexpressible in the context of being unlawful, does not mean unspoken or unheard.
For context let us establish of whom that person is that Paul is speaking that heard the unlawful words.
Staying in the context leading up to Paul's speaking of unlawful words we find that Paul is speaking of himself as he reveals in verse 7 of the same chapter.
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.” 2 Corinthians 12: 1-4
In the first verses of Chapter 12 Paul is using the literary device of referring to himself in the third person as he continues, as he has been doing in the previous chapters, to separate himself from those pretenders who would challenge his authority to the Corinthian church. Though the Corinthian church has been established in the Lord through Paul's faithfulness he will not boast in this, though comparatively he would have the right, but rather will boast only in Christ!
"For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment. But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends." 2 Corinthians 10: 12-18
Paul says those boasting by comparing themselves to others are not wise, but he (Paul) will boast in preaching the gospel of Christ. He then, in his witty way, begins to chide the Corinthians for receiving those who would question Paul's authority, or question the gospel they received from him. He warns against receiving a different message than the one he proclaimed. The proof of the Gospel he proclaimed, and of his Apostleship, is in their thorough knowledge of him ( he was with them for a year and half - Acts 18:)
"Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. " 2 Corinthians 11: 1-6
Paul explains to the Corinthians that those who seek to boast in a different message, or any credentials, other than faith in Christ are false Apostles as any message that would take them from the simplicity of Christ is a false message.
Continuing his theme of distinguishing between what is unworthy (ourselves) and what is worthy (Christ) of boasting Paul demonstrates that those whose boast in themselves have nothing to boast of according to the flesh that he does not himself possess, yet he considers this foolish boasting.
"For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I." 2 Corinthians 11:19-22
In Corinth, as in Galatia and elsewhere, there were those who would follow in after Paul who would in effect say that in addition to believing in Jesus one would also need to keep the law of Moses. Claiming their decendancy from Abraham as proof of their authority they taught that Jesus "plus" circumcision, feast days, and the other aspects of the law were necessary to belonging to the fellowship of believers. Their message was Jesus "plus" while Paul's message was simply "Jesus". Paul taught that if any received this message from those coming after him they would be bound by the requirements of the Law and the futility of their own works. As he explained in Galatians 5:3 "And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law." If anyone thought they were to add anything to Christ as requirement to be pleasing to God they were deceived. Paul had delivered to them a message of freedom in Christ and they were putting up with fools who would exalt themselves as being something simply because of fleshly lineage. All the while these purveyors of legalism were bringing others into their same bondage; the bondage of works instead of the liberty of grace for "...by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20.
For Paul true righteousness was not found by the works of the law, but by faith in Christ. It is this faith in Christ that gives one the will, and catch this, to not want to, and the power to resist, sin. Paul taught that we have died with Christ (Colossians 2:20) and asked “how can we are to dead to sin live in it?” (Romans 6:2) It is not keeping an external law that makes one holy, but rather it is have the Holy One living on the inside and writing His Law, His Nature, the New Covenant (Hebrews 10:16) ,on our hearts that produces true righteousness. The law of Moses would seek to work from the outside in, but the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is, if you will pardon the expression, and inside job.
So where to find the "simplicity of Christ" that Paul warned the Corinthians in the first verses of 2Corinthians 11 not to be corrupted from? It is found in the unlawful words. Not the works of the law of Moses; that is keeping feast days, circumcision, not even the 10 - nothing but simple faith in Christ, and for Paul to say such things was.....UNLAWFUL.
Imagine being a Pharisee trained and studied in the Old Covenant Law, which is very specific about penalties and what brought them about, and hearing Paul's words contrasted with the LAW!
"not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3: 5-7 UNLAWFUL
“If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity." Leviticus 5:17 LAWFUL
"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5: 20-21 UNLAWFUL
"The soul who sins shall die." Ezekiel 18:4 LAWFUL
"that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2: 7-9 UNLAWFUL
"Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." Deuteronomy 19: 21 LAWFUL
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8: 1-6 UNLAWFUL
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 28-39. UNLAWFUL
You can almost hear the legalist of the day shouting at Paul , "Nothing can separate us Paul? You know the LAW tells us differently! Sin separates which is why we must make sacrifices and follow the letter! Are you out of your mind?!? You are saying to trust Jesus, that faith in Jesus, is all that is required? Are you mad?!? That is UNLAWFUL !!! "
Will we ever know the unlawful words spoken of by Paul?
Oh yes. I pray they are alive in our hearts and on our lips daily!
