Secret Alias wrote:
The fact is that up until now I had been arguing WITHOUT Clement's citation that the 'fourteen years' and the 'in or out of the body' business were additions. Now that I find my proposed 'ur-text' cited in a Patristic author the way I always understood it, I am confident there is something to my point of view.
Just because Clement left out the dual phrases about “whether in the body or out of the body” in his use of 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 is not dispositive for determining whether or not the missing material was originally there. That was part of Clement’s style --- he often cut-and-pasted to suit his needs, and often wove snippets of source material into his own running commentary.
Many examples could be cited to demonstrate this style of Clement --- here’s another one from Paul ---
Clement's citations from
1 Corinthians 3:10-13 are in red, the running commentary and paraphrasing by Clement are in black, and [my associated comments are in brackets] ---
"According to the grace," it is said, "given to me as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation. And another buildeth on it [missing last of v. 10 and missing beginning of v.12] gold and silver, precious stones." [this is the middle portion of v. 12] Such is the gnostic superstructure on the foundation of faith in Christ Jesus. [paraphrase of v.11] But "the stubble, and the wood, and the hay," [this is the last portion of v. 12] are the additions of heresies. "But the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is." [this is the last portion v.13]
(Stromata, Book 5, ch. 4)
Clement often cited snippets, paraphrased parts, and left out portions --- to suit his needs. Here are the portions of the passage from 1 Corinthians 3:10-13 that Clement left out or paraphrased ---
But each one must take heed how he builds. [left out last of v. 10]
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. [Clement paraphrased verse 11]
If anyone builds on this foundation using… [left out beginning of v. 12]
… the work of each will become evident, because the day will bring it to light. Because it is revealed in fire … [left out beginning of v. 13]
Here’s a version of the received NT passage for comparison ---
10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise master builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as one being snatched from the fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
Back to Paul’s tale of the ascent to heaven in 2 Corinthians 12. Sure, it’s possible that the dual phrases about "in the body or out of the body" were a result of “secondary editorial manipulation”. But I think it’s also quite possible, even likely, that Paul included those phrases.
Paul was writing to his sophisticated Greek audience in Corinth. A group of Greeks with whom Paul had previously dealt with apparent differences of opinion --- or misunderstandings --- over the nature of the body and the soul. This situation is reflected in 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 in Paul’s discussion of what kind of body will partake of the resurrection of his followers. Paul worked hard to portray the resurrection, expected in the near future, in terms of a “spiritual body” --- language he hoped his Greek audience might accept. Other portions of the Corinthian correspondence reflect some controversy over the nature of the body and soul --- over flesh and spirit.
In his passage in 2 Corinthians 12 about the third heaven --- in the thick of his arguments to salvage some authority after the Jewish missionaries, the “super apostles”, had visited the congregation --- one might understand that Paul didn’t want to open up an old can-of-worms about old body-soul issues and dilute or divert his primary focus.
