Language:
English
Year of publication:
2022
Titel der Quelle:
Biblical Research
Angaben zur Quelle:
67 (2022) 33-58
Keywords:
New Testament. Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
Post-biblical literature Relation to the New Testament
;
Ascension of the soul History of doctrines
Abstract:
This article argues that Paul’s report of his ascent to heaven in 2 Cor 12:1–4 is bestunderstood against other earlyJewish and Christian texts that report ascents to heaven.These texts consistently show interest in eight areas: nature of the ascent, means of travel,restrictions on access, number of heavens, structures in heaven, functions of heaven,functions of angels, and results of ascent. An examination of Paul’s report against thisbackground yields an ascent in which Paul enters paradise within the third of multipleheavens and hears a revelation that he is not permitted to share. The report shows interestin four of the eight categories and omits the others, which suggests that Paul emphasizeshis travel into heaven over what he learned there. Thus, while Paul does present the ascentas potential evidence for his authority, he focuses instead on the bare factof travel in orderto set up the following thorn account.
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