THE THIRD HEAVEN AND THORN OF PAUL
2Corinthians 11.1-5
This is very rare verse that gives us some gleams of how Heaven is constructed. The words " in the body" or "out (apart from) of the body" indicate experience in human body or in spirit only.
The words "Third Heaven" much more difficult to understand because usually under word "heaven" some places of the Bible present physical atmosphere - sky and clouds, in other places this word indicate Kingdom of GOD. Taking to account the context of these first five verses, word "Heaven" certainly mean the Spiritual Kingdom of GOD. Why "third Heaven"? It is hard to understand.
~ Some explanation is given by "The New International Dictionary of the Bible." HEAVEN (Heb. shamayim, Grk. ouranos).
1. Cosmologically, one of the two great divisions of the universe, the earth and the heavens (Genesis 1.1, 14.19); or one of the three - heaven, earth, and the waters under the earth (Exodus 20.4). In the visible heavens are the stars and planets (Genesis 1.14-17; Ezekiel 32.7-8).
Later Jews divided the heavens into seven strata, but there is no evidence for this in the Bible, though Paul spoke of being caught up into the third heaven (2Corinthians 12.2). The term "heaven of heavens" (Deuteronomy 10.14; 1Kings 8.27; Psalm 148.4) is "highest heavens" in NIV.
2. The adobe of GOD (Genesis 28.17; Psalm 80.14; Isaiah 66.1; Matthew 5.12) and of the good angels (Matthew 24.36). It is the place where the redeemed will someday be (Matthew 5.12, 6.20; Ephesians 3.15), where the Redeemer has gone and intercedes for the saints, and from where He will someday come for His Own (1Thessalonians 4.16).
3. The inhabitants of heaven (Luke 15.18; Revelation 18.20).
The New International Dictionary of the Bible. J. D. Douglas, Merrill C. Tenney.
~ Verse 4 also has some mystery in it by mentioning word "Paradise." PARADISE. (Gr. paradeisos, park). A word of Persian origin, found only three times in Scripture (Luke 23.43; 2Corinthians 12.4; Revelation 2.7), referring in each case to heaven. There was similar word in the Hebrew OT, pardes, translated "forest" or "orchard" or "park" (Nehemiah 2.8; Ecclesiastes 2.5; Songs of Songs 4.13). Scholars feel it was introduced into the Greek language very early and popularized by Xenophon.
The LXX uses the Greek word 46 times, applying it to quite a wide category of places. It is used of the Adamic Eden (Genesis 2.15, 3.23) and of the well-watered plains of the Jordan that Lot viewed (Genesis 13.10). Since it was used to describe gardens of beauty and splendor, one is not surprised to see the NT begin to use the term to refer to the place of spiritual bliss (Luke 23.43).
The exact location of paradise in uncertain. Paul uses it in 2Corinthians 12.4, identifying it with the Third Heaven. Ecclesiasticus 44.16 identifies paradise with heaven into which Enoch was translated. Christ's single use of the term seems to establish its location best for the believer, for He uses it in reassuring the dying thief (Luke 23.43).
The New International Dictionary of the Bible. J. D. Douglas, Merrill C. Tenney.
Verses 7-8 no less mysterious ether, "a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan," (7) and "I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me." (8). Of course, Paul talking about not real "thorn," (7) but what it exactly means Paul does not specified and may be for a good reason. It could be some sort of illness, disease, sickness, or temptation, urge, addiction, or something else that bothered Paul greatly that he three times plead to the Lord to remove it from him (8).
The only thing that Paul indicated precisely here is that this "thorn" in his flesh came from "a messenger of Satan." (7). This complicates things even more because we do not know who is "a messenger of Satan."? Is he or she is a demon (angel) sent by the Satan to Paul?
~ THORN IN THE FLESH. Paul's description of a physical ailment that afflicted him and from which he prayed to be relieved (2Corinthians 12.7). Some hold that there are hints that it was an inflammation of the eyes. Paul generally dictated his letters but signed them with his own hand (1Corinthians 16.21; 2Thessalonians 3.17).
He wrote the end of Galatians with his own hand but apologized for the large handwriting ("what large letters," Galatians 6.11). His affliction was apparently not only painful but disfiguring. The Galatians did not despise him for it and would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to the Apostle, were it possible (Galatians 4.13-15).
He says he was unable to recognize the high priest (Acts 23.5). Ramsay thought it was some form of recurring malarial fever.
The New International Dictionary of the Bible. J. D. Douglas, Merrill C. Tenney.
A reason for such condition of Paul whatever it may be is not given, but explanation why GOD did not heal him is given in verse 9.
"My grace is sufficient for you, power is perfected in weakness." (9). This perhaps means that in the weakness of the people they have to increase their mental and physical abilities in order to continue their work or achieve a certain goal. In such state of affairs people certainly are suffering but are not quitting and by doing so perfecting their personal power and will in their own weakness.