Many people contributed to the completion of this book, which is a revised version of my dissertation. I wish to express my gratitude for the generous support Emory University provided during my years of graduate study. I thank my adviser, Luke Timothy Johnson, who guided me throughout the process. Not only did he first recommend that I examine Paul’s ascent to heaven in the context of Paul’s other accounts of religious experiences, but he also spent countless hours reading early drafts and offering direction. My committee members, Gail O’Day, Carl R. Holladay, Carol Newsom, and Lewis Ayres offered helpful suggestions and criticisms along the way. I especially thank Carl Holladay for instilling in me the love of the discipline of New Tes tament scholarship when I was first discovering the field.