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Friday, May 2nd, 2025
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Read the Bible

Simplified Cowboy Version

2 Corinthians 12:3

Listen close, I don't know if my body made the trip or just my mind. Like I said, only God knows.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Heaven;   Paul;   Vision;   Thompson Chain Reference - Paul;   The Topic Concordance - Heaven/the Heavens;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Boasting;   Heaven;   Paradise;   Vision;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Heal, Health;   Hear, Hearing;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Trance;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ecstasy;   Heaven;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Pseudepigrapha;   Thorn in the Flesh;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Person of Christ;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Apocalyptic Literature;   Ascension of Isaiah;   Grace;   Miracles;   Principality Principalities ;   Prophecy Prophet Prophetess;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Trance;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Meekness;   Trance;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for September 9;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I know that this man—whether in the body or out of the body I don’t know; God knows—
King James Version (1611)
And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell, God knoweth.)
King James Version
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
English Standard Version
And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
New American Standard Bible
And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
New Century Version
And I know that this man was taken up to paradise. I don't know if he was in his body or away from his body, but God knows. He heard things he is not able to explain, things that no human is allowed to tell.
Amplified Bible
And I know that such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, [only] God knows—
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
Legacy Standard Bible
And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
Berean Standard Bible
And I know that this man-whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows-
Contemporary English Version
As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time.
Complete Jewish Bible
And I know that such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I don't know, God knows —
Darby Translation
And I know such a man, (whether in [the] body or out of the body I know not, God knows;)
Easy-to-Read Version
And I know that this man was taken up to paradise. I don't know if he was in his body or away from his body, but he heard things that he is not able to explain. He heard things that no one is allowed to tell.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And I knowe such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth)
George Lamsa Translation
And I still know this man, but whether in the body or whether without the body, I cannot tell; God knows;
Good News Translation
I repeat, I know that this man was snatched to Paradise (again, I do not know whether this actually happened or whether it was a vision—only God knows), and there he heard things which cannot be put into words, things that human lips may not speak.
Lexham English Bible
and I know this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
Literal Translation
And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows--
American Standard Version
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),
Bible in Basic English
And I have knowledge of such a man (if he was in the body, or out of the body, I am not able to say, but God only),
Hebrew Names Version
I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows),
International Standard Version
I know that this man - whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows -
Etheridge Translation
And I know this man himself,-but whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not, Aloha himself knoweth,
Murdock Translation
And I knew this same man; (but whether in a body, or out of a body, I know not; God knoweth;)
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And I knewe the same man (whether in the body or out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth)
English Revised Version
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),
World English Bible
I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don't know; God knows),
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Yea, I knew such a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth) That he was caught up into paradise,
Weymouth's New Testament
And I know that this man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y woot sich a man; whether in bodi, or out of bodi, Y noot, God woot;
Update Bible Version
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I don't know; God knows),
Webster's Bible Translation
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
New English Translation
And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)
New King James Version
And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--
New Living Translation
Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know
New Life Bible
I say it again, I know this man was taken up. But I do not know if his body or just his spirit was taken up. Only God knows.
New Revised Standard
And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And I know such a man as this, whether in the body or apart from the body, I know not, - God, knoweth,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth):
Revised Standard Version
And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And I knowe the same man (whether in the body or out of the body I canot tell god knoweth)
Young's Literal Translation
and I have known such a man -- whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known, --
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and I knowe the same man (whether he was in ye body or out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth)
Mace New Testament (1729)
but tho' I don't know whether it was in the body, or out of the body, which God only knows,

Contextual Overview

1Ok, that's enough of that. I could go on and on, but I guess I need to tell y'all about what God showed me and told me. 2I was swept from the saddle and taken far beyond the earth fourteen years ago. Now, whether this was done in spirit or my actual body, only God knows. 3Listen close, I don't know if my body made the trip or just my mind. Like I said, only God knows. 4But I was taken to a place of paradise. I heard things that are too much to repeat and saw things that no words can describe. These were things I'm not allowed to share. 5I wish I could brag about the things I heard and saw, but I'm not going to. I'm only going to brag about my weaknesses. 6Understand though, it ain't bragging if it happened and I wouldn't be a fool for telling y'all the truth. But the reason I ain't going to tell y'all is because I don't want credit for something I only saw and heard. I only want credit for what y'all have seen me do. 7It'd be way too easy for me to brag about what I saw, but I really had no part in it. I can't take credit for a gift like I'd earned it or something. And just to make sure I remember, I was given a mesquite thorn in my hide to remind me of just how weak I really am. 8I prayed and asked Jesus to remove this thorn three times. 9But the Lord told me, "My grace is the only thing you need. Only in your weakness can you receive the power you need to accomplish the tasks I've set before you." This is why I will only brag about my weaknesses. When I am weak, Jesus's power is working through me. 10As a matter of fact, I'm proud of these weaknesses. I don't even care when I'm insulted or when there are rough trails. I look forward to being persecuted and having problems, because it is in these times that I am the weakest. And it is only then that I am at my most powerful.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 18:12 - the Spirit of the Lord 2 Kings 2:16 - the Spirit Ezekiel 11:24 - the spirit Daniel 10:8 - I was 2 Corinthians 5:8 - and willing 2 Corinthians 11:11 - God 2 Corinthians 12:2 - knew

Cross-References

Matthew 25:40
"And the Lord will say, 'I'm tellin' it to y'all straight. Every time you did these things for one of the cowboys or cowgirls who rode for my Father's brand, you did them for me too.'
Matthew 25:45
"And he will answer, 'Listen to me close. When you refused these things to the cowboys and cowgirls who rode for my Father's brand, you refused them to me!'
Romans 4:11
Yes, he did have his pickle clipped to show a sign of his faith and that God had accepted him because of the trust. We might say Abraham is the ramrod of all who are accepted by God through faith, regardless of pickles.
1 Corinthians 1:30
God used his Son to bring us together and make a crew out of us. God made pure wisdom into a man and called him his Son. His Son vouched for us and made us right with God; he freed us from the slavery of sin.
Galatians 3:8
Not only that, but the Good Book told us what was going to happen. It said all people, not just Jews, would be made right with God through faith. God told Abraham this good news when he said, "All cowboys will be blessed because of you."
Galatians 3:16
God made a promise to Abraham and his child. I want you to notice that it didn't say, "and his children." The promise was made to Abraham and God's Boy, Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
There are no more labels like Jew or Gentile. There are no more prisoners or free men. There isn't even male or female in God's eyes. We are all equal in the sight of God through his son.
Ephesians 1:3
Let's all take our hats off in thanks to everything God has given us through his son, Jesus. By riding with him, we have already received every spiritual blessing in heaven.
Colossians 3:11
In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are papered or grade, slave or free, barbaric or civilized. Jesus is all that matters and the quicker you learn that, the quicker you learn his ways.
Revelation 7:9
Then an enormous crowd appeared. There were more people than a cattle buyer could count. They were from every nation, every breed, and every color. They stood in front of the Lamb with white shirts and holding an olive branches in their hands.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I knew such a man,.... The same man, namely himself, is here designed, and the same rapture spoken of, and the condition he was in expressed in the same words: which repetition is made for the more strong affirmation of what he delivered, and to signify the marvellousness of this vision, and how surprising and unaccountable it was.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I knew such a man - It is not uncommon to repeat a solemn affirmation in order that it may be made more emphatic. This is done here. Paul repeats the idea, that he was intimately acquainted with such a man, and that he did not know whether he was in the body or out of the body. All that was known to God.


 
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