In part 1 we noted that context established Paul was not teaching anything about the soul when he described his extraordinary experience in 2 Corinthians 12:2-3. He was defending his apostolic credentials against opponents who prized visions and spiritual experiences as the ultimate ministry credential. His double disclaimer, repeated twice with “God knows” each time, reflects genuine bewilderment about an experience that defied every category available to him.

In this article we turn to the decisive argument. Paul used the identical Greek phrase “outside the body” in his previous letter to the same Corinthian believers. What he meant by it there tells us exactly what he means by it here, and it has nothing to do with the soul departing the body.