The Mystical Paul

2Co 12:2-4  I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.  (3)  And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—  (4)  was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.

Gal 1:11-12  For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin;  (12)  for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

There are increasingly more "red letter Christians" these days. What I mean is there are increasing numbers of Christians that downplay the revelation of Paul in favor of emphasizing Jesus words in the gospels. I understand why they are that way. They are reacting to evangelical dogma that has elevated the teachings of Paul above Jesus, especially the Sermon on the Mount. However, in many cases I believe that they are over-reacting.

I also realize that Paul is problematic on a lot of levels. For example his stance on slaves and slavery, and his apparent beliefs about women being subservient to men bring justified criticism and concern. However, for me it is not practical to dismiss someone on the basis of the culture and time they lived in. It is impossible to know what Paul would think if he lived today and what part of our culture he would gravitate toward.

But whatever the case, he had some very important revelations given to him. They were revelations that he had to explain in view of the culture he lived in with the language and development in science, philosophy and religion that was available at the time of his life and location. Given that, the revelation he received was profoundly timeless. His redemptive decrees were astonishing given his upbringing and culture. It is apparent to me that the verses that I have shared from him at the beginning of this article were true. I believe that these things actually happened. He was taken away in a mystical experience. He describes it as the third heaven and paradise. It must have been dreamlike because he was not sure if he was transported there in the body or out of the body. Whatever the case I am certain it was an existential experience.

I can imagine that the experience was similar to a computer download. He saw the revelation unfold and was told things that he was told not to repeat. Why was that do you suppose? I believe that it was similar to when the Spirit reveals something to us and then admonishes us not to share as it was only for us. No doubt it was information that other people were not equipped to hear experientially. A crude example would be if he were to get a glimpse of an automobile or an airplane he would have no frame of reference with which to describe it so if he saw it or it was revealed to him it would be better left unmentioned. I am not insinuating that is what he was shown, and am merely using it as an example. No doubt it could have been the nature of quantum reality which he simply stated in this way. 2Co 4:18  "because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." Another thing that Paul the Mystic saw or heard about in this mystical experience was something that the author of Hebrews wrote about. While I personally doubt that Paul actually wrote Hebrews, it seems undeniable that whoever the author, they were a student of Paul, and intimately familiar with his teaching. What did that author write? Heb 11:3  By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. This could easily be the understanding of things that he was not permitted to tell others beyond these statements.

Perhaps he was given a vision of how people could be living in the material universe and simultaneously be seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. This would mean that he was given instruction and revelation on the fact that the material universe is simply a construct of conscious energy, and illusion or dream of sorts. A dream that we lock ourselves into for a span of a life. There are many now that are trying to discount Paul's theology, claim that it wasn't even Christian, and focus solely on Jesus and the gospels. That in my view is a mistake. I understand their reasons, but none the less I think they are misguided and misinformed. The reasons no doubt is because of what Reformation theology has made of Paul. This does not take into account audience relevance and progressive revelation. Jesus audience was Jews. It is questionable that the creator of the universe would create the vast expanse of material reality for only Jews. The more reasonable stance would be that the Jews were made special to bring Jesus Christ into the world and set in motion an expansion of spiritual knowledge about the nature and purpose of the creator in the creation. Without Paul, Christianity is woefully wanting in that regard.

I suspect that the gospel of John was written so late in the first century to help synthesize Jesus and Paul. This is true also of the Acts of the Apostles. To remove Paul from the Christian experience would negate the writings of Luke. John's gospel, along with the book of Acts, gives credence to the spiritual and mystical aspect of Christianity. Without Paul, one would not have the knowledge that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Without Paul, one would not have the understanding that redemption was God's purpose in creation. Most of all, without Paul one would not realize that faith in a loving God is the real mark of righteousness.

Let me reiterate, I am not a fan of Paul's stance on slavery. I am not a fan of Paul's writings about the role of women in the church. I also realize that Paul was a product of his environment and culture. And when considering that, much of his writing and teaching made him a progressive for the time. What is undeniable in my view is his mysticism, and the benefit that brought about.