The Way

“It is not good for me to be proud, but I will come to visions and special experiences of the Lord. I have knowledge of a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know; or whether out of the body, I do not know: God knows), such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I do not know: God knows), that he was caught up into paradise, and heard words that may not be spoken, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” — 2 Corinthians 12:1–3 (BBE) In 2 Corinthians 12:1–10, Paul recounts an extraordinary spiritual experience—being caught up to the third heaven, receiving divine revelations, and hearing unutterable truths. Alongside this awe-inspiring vision, he reflects on his personal struggle: a persistent “thorn in the flesh.” Amid this profound passage, two small words are repeated— “God knows.” These words, seemingly a simple aside, carry deep significance when viewed through Neville Goddard...

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is a call to spiritual awakening —a journey from external, reason-based consciousness to recognising the power of imagination as the creative force in our lives. The Corinthians represent the immature state of consciousness , still caught in the outer world and unable to realise their own creative power. Paul: The Voice of Awakening Paul symbolises the awakened state of consciousness , the one who understands that imagination is God. He embodies the transition from Saul (the old man) to Paul (the new man) , symbolising the shift from external power to the inner creative power of the mind. The Corinthians: Immature Consciousness The Corinthians are babes in Christ , representing those who have heard the truth but still live in the natural state of consciousness , where they rely on outer appearances and sensory evidence. Their journey mirrors ours when we first encounter the idea of manifestation, still struggling to move beyond the physical wo...

In 2 Corinthians 12:1–6 , Paul speaks of his experiences and the deeper mysteries he has encountered. Through this passage, we can glean profound insights into the nature of spiritual elevation and the power of the assumption — the act of fully embracing a new state of being. Let’s unpack this passage, revealing the wisdom hidden within these verses. 2 Corinthians 12:1 "As it is, it is not good for me to take pride: but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord." Here, Paul sets the stage by reminding us that true spiritual advancement isn’t about external recognition. He invites us to focus not on worldly pride but on the power of visions and revelations — in Neville Goddard's terms, the assumption of the desired state. The "visions" Paul speaks of are akin to those inner imaginings, the assumptions we make about ourselves that elevate us spiritually. By keeping our focus on these internal revelations, we avoid getting caught up in worldly pri...

Interpreting 2 Corinthians 12 through Neville Goddard’s Framework "I have knowledge of a man in Christ, fourteen years ago... whether in the body, I do not know; or out of the body, I do not know; God knows." (2 Corinthians 12:2, BBE) In Neville Goddard’s teachings, the Bible is not a historical record but a psychological drama—a symbolic map of the soul's awakening. When Paul refers to an experience from "fourteen years ago," it is not about linear time, but a mystical period of inner transformation. The Law of Assumption and Inner Development Neville taught that consciousness is the only reality. The law of assumption— imagining oneself to be what one desires to be, and then living in that state —is the process through which all things are made. "Fourteen years" in this context represents the gestation period of a spiritual assumption , the time it takes for a deep inner conviction to ripen into full awareness. The "man in Christ" i...

“…such a man—whether in the body, or out of the body, I do not know; God knows—was taken up into the third heaven.” (2 Corinthians 12:2, BBE) In Neville Goddard’s teaching, the “third heaven” is not a physical location but a state of consciousness —the peak of the spiritual ascent, where the self is fully unified with the divine awareness of "I AM". Just as the Hebrew temple had three chambers —the outer court, the holy place, and the holy of holies —this “third” realm symbolises the deepest interior state, where man meets God within . Symbolic Levels of Heaven First Heaven – The world of appearances: assumption is still externalised, dependent on the five senses. One is ruled by facts. Second Heaven – The world of belief: the imaginal act is known but wavers. Here, one battles inner doubts, like Jacob wrestling the angel. Third Heaven – The state of full identification with the I AM . No more separation between self and assumption. It is done . This “bei...

In Neville Goddard's teachings, the Bible is not a historical account but a profound allegory that speaks directly to the inner workings of our consciousness. Paul’s letters, like the rest of scripture, are teachings on how to manifest the life we desire by understanding and applying the Law of Assumption . In this article, we will look at 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 through Neville’s lens, using the symbolism to better understand how we can shift our consciousness and manifest our desired states. Verses 1-4: Shifting to a Higher Consciousness “I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 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. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is p...

Many readers approach Paul’s letters expecting to learn from a first-century apostle. Yet Neville Goddard completely reinterprets Paul’s role in Scripture—not as a biographical person but as another symbolic state of consciousness. In his 31 March 1967 lecture “Seeing Christ Through the Eyes of Paul,” Neville goes so far as to point out that no contemporary records mention a man named Paul. He writes: “Now, there is no mention of Paul in any contemporary work of the first century, nor is there any historical record of a man named Paul… Paul, like Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jesus Christ, is a state of consciousness.” This declaration aligns Paul with every other biblical character in Neville’s model, each representing an inner process of awakening. Moses embodies the call to liberation; Abraham, the leap of faith; Jesus, the realised imagination; and Paul, the maturing of that realisation into teaching and praxis. When we read Paul’s epistles under Neville’s guidance, we disco...

In Neville Goddard’s teachings, the Bible is a psychological narrative, illustrating the journey of spiritual awakening and transformation through the power of imagination. Paul, as a key figure in this journey, represents the fully awakened imagination, someone who has realised the creative power of thought and assumption. His letters are not just historical documents but profound expressions of the law of assumption and mental creation. Paul as the Awakened Imagination Before his spiritual transformation, Paul (formerly Saul) symbolises the old consciousness , governed by external laws and beliefs. His shift from Saul to Paul represents the transformation of the mind —moving from limitation to the awakened state of imagination . In Neville’s framework, Paul’s letters are mental acts of assumption, where he creates reality through his words, not only affirming his own transformation but also guiding others to realise their creative potential. Letters as Seeds of Assumption Paul’s let...