2 Corinthians 12:1

2 Corinthians 12:1 says, It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.  Paul said that it was not expedient for him to glory in himself.  He only related his own experiences to prove his calling as an apostle.  I believe that Paul was saying that when a person follows God for personal glory that such a person will never have a vision for Christ nor receive revelations from God.  Verse two adds, I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.  Paul begins to speak of himself in the third person.  Fourteen years had passed before Paul shared this experience, because he did not want the focus to be on himself.  He said he was caught up in the third heaven, above the one of the birds and the one of the stars and into the one that God dwells in.  Paul was not saying that after our resurrection that there will be three different heavens, but that he was above the ones that we can see.  He said he didn't know if he was physically there or only spiritually, but either way it was a real experience.  Verse three continues, And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)  Paul was once more attempting to keep the emphasis off himself.  He once more stated that God knew for sure what happened.  If something miraculous happens to us today, we should do all that we can to keep the emphasis on God.  Verse four states, How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  Paul did not speak about what he saw there or even what he heard.  It took him fourteen years, years of proclaiming the gospel, to even mention it.  Even then, he related the story in the third person.  Had Paul begun to speak of what he heard and saw there, the emphasis would not have been on Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.  Salvation should never be about the riches of heaven but should be about a relationship with God.  Verse five add, Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.  I believe that Paul meant that he would not glory in himself but would only glory in Christ.  He recognized that of his own ability that he only had infirmities.  When we witness, we do so out of our own weakness and through the power of Christ.