| Geneva Study Bible How that he was caught up into {c} paradise, and heard {d} unspeakable words, which it is not {e} lawful for a man to utter. (c) So the Greeks name that which we call a park, that is to say, a place where trees are planted, and wild beasts kept. And those that translated the Old Testament out of Hebrew into Greek, called the garden of Eden by this name, into which Adam was put immediately after his creation, as a most delicate and pleasant place. And from this it occurred that the blessed seat of the glory of God is called by that name. (d) Which no man is able to utter. (e) Which the saints themselves are not by any means able to express, because it is God himself. This is the way that Clement of Alexandria explains this passage, Strom. 5. People's New Testament 12:4 He was caught up into paradise. Paradise and the third heaven (2Co 12:2) evidently mean the same. The term applied to a blessed abode beyond the life in Lu 23:43 Re 2:7. Heard unspeakable words. Words that would be neither right nor possible to reveal in human speech. Wesley's Notes 12:4 He was caught up into paradise - The seat of happy spirits in their separate state, between death and the resurrection. Things which it is not possible for man to utter - Human language being incapable of expressing them. Here he anticipated the joyous rest of the righteous that die in the Lord. But this rapture did not precede, but follow after, his being caught up to the third heaven: a strong intimation that he must first discharge his mission, and then enter into glory. And beyond all doubt, such a foretaste of it served to strengthen him in all his after trials, when he could call to mind the very joy that was prepared for him. King James Translators' Notes lawful: or, possible Scofield Reference Notes Margin paradise See note on hades, See Scofield Note: "Lk 16:23". Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 4. unspeakable-not in themselves, otherwise Paul could not have heard them; but as the explanation states, "which it is not lawful . to utter" [Alford]. They were designed for Paul's own consolation, and not for communication to others. Some heavenly words are communicable (Ex 34:6; Isa 6:3). These were not so. Paul had not the power adequately to utter; nor if he had, would he have been permitted; nor would earthly men comprehend them (Joh 3:12; 1Co 2:9). A man may hear and know more than he can speak. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 12:1-6 There can be no doubt the apostle speaks of himself. Whether heavenly things were brought down to him, while his body was in a trance, as in the case of ancient prophets; or whether his soul was dislodged from the body for a time, and taken up into heaven, or whether he was taken up, body and soul together, he knew not. We are not capable, nor is it fit we should yet know, the particulars of that glorious place and state. He did not attempt to publish to the world what he had heard there, but he set forth the doctrine of Christ. On that foundation the church is built, and on that we must build our faith and hope. And while this teaches us to enlarge our expectations of the glory that shall be revealed, it should render us contented with the usual methods of learning the truth and will of God. | 
