The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 12:3 Explained

2 Corinthians 12:3

KJV: And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

YLT: and I have known such a man -- whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known, --

Darby: And I know such a man, (whether in the body or out of the body I know not, God knows;)

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

Discover 2 Corinthians 12:3

CONTEXT: What is the Context of 2 Corinthians 12:3?

MEANING: What does 2 Corinthians 12:3 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 12:3 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in 2 Corinthians 12:3?

What is the context of 2 Corinthians 12:3?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth; )

What does 2 Corinthians 12:3 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 - The Secret Of Strength

It is a sublime phrase-a man in Christ. We reach our full stature only when we are in Him. We are but fragments of manhood until the true man is formed in us. Of course the presence of Jesus is always with us, but its manifestation is reserved for special emergencies, when it is peculiarly needed. It is thought that this supreme revelation was synchronous with Paul's stoning at Lystra, Acts 14:1-28. While the poor body was being mangled, his spirit was in the third heaven, that is, in Paradise. What a contrast between being let down in a basket and being caught up into glory! How indifferent to the derisions of men is the soul that lives in God!

We do not know what this thorn, or stake, was-whether eye trouble, or imperfect utterance, or some deformity in appearance-but it was the source of much suffering and many temptations. At first Paul prayed for its removal, but as soon as he learned that its continuance was the condition of receiving additional grace, he not only accepted it, but even gloried in its presence. May we not believe that all disabilities are permitted to drive us to realize and appropriate all that Jesus can be to the hard-pressed soul! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 12

¹ For commending of his apostleship, though he might glory of his wonderful revelations,
⁹ yet he rather chooses to glory of his infirmities;
¹¹ blaming the Corinthians for forcing him to this vain boasting
¹⁴ He promises to come to them again; but yet altogether in the affection of a father;
²⁰ although he fears he shall to his grief find many offenders, and public disorders there

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 12:3

I do not know [ουκ οιδα]
Paul declines to pass on his precise condition in this trance. We had best leave it as he has told it. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 12:3

1 Thessalonians 1:5 How that [οτι]
It is not certain whether οτι hoti here means “because” (θυια quia) as in 2 Thessalonians 3:7; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:27 or declarative οτι hoti “how that,” knowing the circumstances of your election (Lightfoot) or explanatory, as in Acts 16:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:1; 1 Corinthians 16:15; 2 Corinthians 12:3.; Romans 13:11. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 12:3 mean?

And I know - such a man whether in [the] body or out of the body not - God knows

καὶ οἶδα τὸν τοιοῦτον ἄνθρωπον εἴτε ἐν σώματι εἴτε χωρὶς τοῦ σώματος οὐκ ὁ Θεὸς οἶδεν

οἶδα	I know
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular Root: οἶδα Sense: to see.
τὸν	-
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τοιοῦτον	such
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: τοιοῦτος Sense: such as this, of this kind or sort.
ἄνθρωπον	a man
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ἄνθρωπος Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
εἴτε	whether
Parse: Conjunction Root: εἴτε Sense: if … if.
σώματι	[the] body
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular Root: σῶμα Sense: the body both of men or animals.
χωρὶς	out of
Parse: Preposition Root: χωρίς Sense: separate, apart.
σώματος	body
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular Root: σῶμα Sense: the body both of men or animals.
ὁ	-
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸς	God
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: θεός Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
οἶδεν	knows
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: οἶδα Sense: to see.

What are the major concepts related to 2 Corinthians 12:3?

Loading Information...