2 Corinthians 12:3 (ASV)

Passage

And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 12:1 I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.

2 Corinthians 12:3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),

2 Corinthians 12:4 how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

2 Corinthians 12:5 On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in [my] weaknesses.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "such", "whether", "body", "apart", and "knoweth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "such" and "whether", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "I know a man in Christ fourteen..." into verse 4's "how that he was caught up into...", so "such" and "whether" belong inside that flow. In 2 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "such" and "whether" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.