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2 Corinthians 12.1-3, "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

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.

And I knew such a man, ( whether in the body, or out of the body , I cannot tell, God knoweth".


Now if Jesus is already dead, or had never lived, and "Paul" had never met him, or consulted with anyone about him, then "Paul's" visions and revelations are actually from himself, from his own imagination.
"Paul's" Jesus was therefore fabricated , and in effect, the words of the "man in Christ" are actually the words of "Paul"

"Paul's" man in Christ is "Paul"

Ben C Smith

This is, IIUC, widely recognized as most likely.

Ben.