unspeakable words, Avhich it is not lawful for a man to utter.
This is a repetition of v. 2, with the exception of the sub- stitution of the word " j^^^^^i^e " for the phrase " the third heaven." Paradise is a word of Sanscrit origin, and signifies a park, or garden. It is used in the Septuagint, Gen. 2, 8, in the description of Eden, which was a paradise or garden. The word was early used among the Jews as a designation of heaven, or the abode of the blessed after death, as appears from Luke 23, 43, (compare Ecclesiasticus 40, 17. 28.) In Rev. 2, 7, it occurs in the same sense. And heard imspeaka- hle tcords, apprjTa pyfxara^ literally, unspoken words ; here ob- viously the meaning is words not to be spoken, as explamed by what follows. Which it is not lawful for a man to utter. The communications made to the apostle he was not allowed to make knovrn to others. The veil which conceals the mys- teries and glories of heaven God has not permitted to be raised. It is enough that we know that in that world the saints shall be made perfectly holy and j^erfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God forever.
5. Of such an one will I glory : yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
Of such a one^ vttkp tov roiovrov^ for such a one, i. e. in his behalf; or, v-^kp being taken in the sense of Trcpt, about ^ or concerning. This latter gives the better sense. ' Concerning such a person I will glory.' This is equivalent to saying, ' Such an event is a just ground of glorying.' But roiovrov is not to be taken as neuter, (of such a thing,) as is plain from the antithetical e/xavroi). ' Of such a one, but not of myself.' The translation which he had exj)erienced was a proper ground of boasting, because it was a gratuitous favour. It implied no superiority on the part of the subject of this act of divine goodness, and therefore might be gloried in without assuming any special merit to himself. Of myself I loill not glory ; that is, he would not boast of his personal qualities as entitling him to admiration. But {d ^x-q^ except^ in my iii- firmities. That is, ' I will boast concerning myself only of those things which prove or imply my own weakness.'
6. Por though I would desire to glory, I shall not