With the majority of commentators, we reject the suggestion that these verses are an interpolation. It was proposed by Schmiedel, who argued that Paul's readers would not see the visionary experience of 12.2-4 as an instance of the weakness he speaks of in v. 30. He therefore supposed that an interpolator may have added vv. 32-33 to provide at least one example of such ἀσθένεια
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If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
12 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses
12 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses
It makes sense. Afterall, I note two strong clues supporting the interpolation of the part above in red:
- the reference to the possibility of a lie, in verse 11:31, the signature of the interpolator?
- in verse 12:5 Paul claims that he will boast only about him as being ascended to heaven during a hallucination, not for other actions on earth. This excludes a priori the escape from Damascus as something to boast about.