2 Corinthians 12:2-4 - The Third Heaven and Paradise

Does 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 prove that paradise is in heaven? Does it offer any proof of the alleged inherent immortal soul of humans?

"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 [seized upon, carried away — Strong’s #726, harpazo] 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 [carried away — Strong’s #726, harpazo] into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." — 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, New King James Version.

The above verses are often cited as evidence of the so-called "dual nature of man", that man has an immortal conscious soul or spirit that is separate from the body which cannot be destroyed as it is claimed that the spirit or soul must live for eternity aside from the body. Many further claim that the third heaven is now where "paradise" is, alleging that "paradise" was removed from sheol and taken to heaven. In reality, these theories have to be added to and read into the scriptures. Without the added-on theories, however, we have found that the Bible is harmonious and, of itself, leads to a different conclusion than that supplied by the imaginations of men who would like to blend heathen mythology with the Bible. Exactly what is being spoken of here? Does Paul describe a man’s soul or spirit as having an out-of-the-body experience?

First, we note that the idea of "up" as supplied by the translators could be misleading. Rotherham gives a better rendering:

2 Corinthians 12:2: I know a man in Christ, who, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not, God, knoweth, such a one as this, caught away, as far as the third heaven;
2 Corinthians 12:3: And I know such a man as this, whether in the body or apart from the body, I know not, — God knoweth,
2 Corinthians 12:4: How that he was caught away into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which it is not allowable for a man to utter: — Rotherham
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/harpazo.html

"Heaven(s)" in the Bible is used in different ways. Heavens can refer to the invisible realm where God and his angels are; it can refer to the physical sky above our planet. It can also refer to the ruling elements here on earth. Was Paul speaking of paradise as being in the heaven where God resides (1 Kings 8:3,39; Psalm 11:4; Matthew 6:9), and where the angels always see the face of God? (Matthew 18:10) In the Bible, except for being used of various specific gardens (Deuteronomy 11:10; 1 Kings 21:2; etc.), the word paradise is used to refer to: (a) the garden of Eden, "the garden of God" (Genesis 2:8-15; Ezekiel 28:13), i.e., the perfect abode of Adam and Eve while sinless; (b) the symbolic paradise of God from which the overcomers of this age are symbolically given fruit from the tree of life (Revelation 2:7 — compare Ezekiel 28:13; 31:8,9); (c) the earth after the kingdom is set up on it, as and after its curse of sin and death is increasingly removed (Revelation 22:1-3, compare Genesis 2:9, 10; 1 Corinthians 15:26), and it becomes increasingly (Daniel 2:35) "like the garden of Eden" (Ezekiel 36:35), i.e., Paradise Lost becomes Paradise Regained, which new earth was seen in vision and prophecy together with the third, the new heaven-the spiritual control of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:1-4; 2 Peter 3:6, 7, 12, 13; Revelation 21:1-3)-that will supplant the spiritual control of Satan, "the god of this world." — 2 Corinthians 4:4; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 2:2.

Of the three above Biblically-mentioned paradises, (a) was destroyed long before Jesus’ death, (b) is only a symbolic representation of (a) given to the overcomers of this age; (c) is still future; hence all refer back to or forward to the earthly paradise and none of these refer to a place where Jesus was to go when he died. Additionally, on the third day thereafter Jesus stated that He had not yet gone to be with his Father (John 20:17), nor did He go there until he ascended. — Acts 1:3-11.

Third Heaven = New Heavens

In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 the apostle Paul states that a man was seized [Strong’s #726, harpazo] into the third heaven and to paradise. What is this "third heaven?" The Bible elsewhere answers this. The apostle Peter tells us that "by the word of God the heavens were of old, the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." (2 Peter 3:5, King James Version) Thus the first heaven and the first earth passed away in the flood of Noah’s day. Peter continues: "But the heavens and earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." -- 2 Peter 3:6, KJV.

Here we have the second heaven and the second earth. But Peter further tells us: "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13, KJV) So from this we can see that the man the apostle Paul spoke of was seized, either bodily or by the spirit, as in a vision received rather than being taken in the body in time to the third heaven, the "new heaven," and the "the new earth", which will be "paradise" restored.

The scriptures pertaining to the new heavens are not referring to new planets, nor to heavens ranged one above another, as many have supposed, but to the third of three great periods of time, beginning with man’s creation and extending into the illimitable future. The first of these periods, termed the heavens and earth that were — the old order of things, passed away with the deluge of Noah’s day. The second period, "the heavens and the earth which are now," the present order of things, are reserved of God to pass away with a great symbolic fire of trouble — revolution, etc. — which will utterly destroy the present spiritual powers and the present social arrangements. — 2 Peter 3:6,7; Galatians 1:4; Zephaniah 3:8,9.

The third great period is to be "ages without end," under divine administration. This will be the third heavens and the third earth, or the new heavens and the new earth, which will differ from the present condition of things in that they will be righteous; whereas the present arrangement is imperfect, unrighteous. The "new heavens" is not of this age, but will consist of the new spiritual ruling powers of the future — Jesus, the joint-heirs with him, and the other saints who have been chosen in this age. (Daniel 7:22,27; Luke 1:32,33; 12:32; 22:29; 2 Timothy 2:12; John 18:36; 1 Corinthians 6:2,3; Hebrews 12:28; James 2:5; 2 Peter 1:11; Revelation 1:6; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4,6) The present heavens — the present ruling elements — that is to pass away, include, not just political ruling elements, but also religious ruling elements — even those elements which claim Christ as their head, but nevertheless are subservient in a very large degree to "the god of this age," "the prince of this world," "who now works in the children of disobedience," and who is captivating and blinding the whole world. (John 12:32; 14:30; 16:22; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2) The passing away of these elements, however, is not an everlasting condemnation of any of the individuals that may be in those elements, nor is it meant to include the true saints themselves. Both the present heavens and earth are shaken, so that only that which cannot be shaken will remain. (Hebrews 12:26-28) Those who belong to God’s kingdom cannot be shaken with the present heavens and earth, since the kingdom actually is not of this present evil world (John 18:36; Galatians 1:4) — it belongs to the age to come.

The earth is to be made a paradise under the rulership of the "new heavens", as in the Garden of Eden. We have many prophecies that show this. — Psalm 72:6-8; Isaiah 2:2-4; Isaiah 11:6-9; Revelation 20:1-5.

THE PARADISE OF GOD

It is to this new heavens and new earth order or arrangement which brings paradise conditions to the earth. This is what is being spoken of in Revelation 21:1-4,22-27. As the "new heavens" do not mean a new place for God’s Throne, so the "new earth" does not mean another planet. The "new heavens" are a new condition, the spiritual power and control of Christ and His glorified Church; so the "new earth" means a new social order on this planet — "the new heavens and earth"–constituting the world to come — "wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:10-13.) The declaration of our lesson is that the former heavens and the former earth — which are now — will then have passed away and will be no more. All present institutions found wanting are to perish utterly in the great Time of Trouble with which this Age is very shortly to end.

Addendum

Since some have objected to Rotherham’s translation and insist that Paul spoke of paradise as being "up" in heaven, we present other translations:

2 Corinthians 12:2 I have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago — whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God hath known — such a one being caught away unto the third heaven;

2 Corinthians 12:3 and I have known such a man — whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known, —

2 Corinthians 12:4 that he was caught away to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak. — Young’s Literal

I must brag, although it doesn't do any good. I'll go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a follower of Christ who was snatched away to the third heaven fourteen years ago. I don't know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows. I know that this person was snatched away to paradise where he heard things that can't be expressed in words, things that humans cannot put into words. I don't know whether this happened to him physically or spiritually. Only God knows. -- God's Word Translation.

Westcott & Hort Interlinear

One may claim that the majority of translations do have the word "up", as in "caught up" to paradise. We should note that most translators of the Bible believe in the theory that paradise was taken from sheol/hades up to heaven, or otherwise that "paradise" is heaven, and thus we should not be surprised to see that indoctrination is reflected in the choice of words that are used to translate scripture, such as 2 Corinthians 12:2-4. Additionally, even in English, the expression "caught up" does not necessarily mean a direction of "up". A person who becomes "caught up" in a legal dispute, for instance, does mean that he went up toward the sky, but rather simply that the legal dispute, in effect, snatched him, took hold of him. This is the meaning of the Greek word:
http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/harpazo.html