Boasting in Visions, Speaking in Parables: The Rhetorical Function of 2 Corinthians 12:2‒4

Abstract

This article re-examines the account of ascent to the “third heaven” in 2 Cor 12:2‒4, traditionally read as Paul’s autobiographical report of a visionary experience. Although widely accepted, this interpretation leaves unresolved tensions, including the protagonist’s anonymity, narrative repetition, lack of descriptive content, and the paradox of “unspeakable words.” The study proposes an alternative reading of the passage as a self-contained parable embedded within Paul’s rhetorical strategy. The analysis proceeds in four steps. First, it surveys the status quaestionis, outlining both traditional autobiographical and recent rhetorical approaches. Second, it argues for the plausibility of parabolic discourse within Paul’s cultural and literary context. Third, it evaluates the passage against recognised genre criteria, particularly those listed in the Kompendium der Gleichnisse Jesu. Finally, it demonstrates that a parabolic reading resolves key interpretative problems more coherently. Methodologically, the study combines rhetorical criticism with genre analysis. It treats the text as a literary construct shaped by persuasive aims within a specific epistolary context. The article concludes that reading 2 Cor 12:2‒4 as a parable offers a more economical and coherent explanation of the text while illuminating Paul’s rhetorical strategy: rather than recounting a private vision, he employs a crafted narrative to challenge the Corinthians’ criteria of apostolic authority.