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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is "Paradise" the same as heaven? | Luke 23:43 | bibleteacher | 176434 | ||
Some reference works present the view that Jesus was referring to a paradise location in Hades or Sheol, supposedly a compartment or division thereof for those approved by God. The claim is made that the Jewish rabbis of that time taught the existence of such a paradise for those who had died and were awaiting a resurrection. Regarding the teachings of the rabbis, Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible states: “The Rabbinical theology as it has come down to us exhibits an extraordinary medley of ideas on these questions, and in the case of many of them it is difficult to determine the dates to which they should be assigned. . . . Taking the literature as it is, it might appear that Paradise was regarded by some as on earth itself, by others as forming part of Sheol, by others still as neither on earth nor under earth, but in heaven . . . But there is some doubt as respects, at least, part of this. These various conceptions are found indeed in later Judaism. They appear most precisely and most in detail in the mediaeval Cabbalistic Judaism . . . But it is uncertain how far back these things can be carried. The older Jewish theology at least . . . seems to give little or no place to the idea of an intermediate Paradise. It speaks of a Gehinnom for the wicked, and a Gan Eden, or garden of Eden, for the just. It is questionable whether it goes beyond these conceptions and affirms a Paradise in Sheol.”—1905, Vol. III, pp. 669, 670. Even if they did teach such a thing, it would be most unreasonable to believe that Jesus would propagate such a concept, in view of his condemnation of the non-Biblical religious traditions of the Jewish religious leaders. (Mt 15:3-9) Likely the paradise truly familiar to the Jewish malefactor to whom Jesus spoke was the earthly Paradise described in the first book of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Paradise of Eden. That being so, Jesus’ promise would reasonably point to a restoration of such earthly paradisaic condition. His promise to the wrongdoer would therefore give assured hope of a resurrection of such an unrighteous one to an opportunity to life in that restored Paradise.—Compare Ac 24:15; Re 20:12, 13; 21:1-5; Mt 6:10. |
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2 | Is "Paradise" the same as heaven? | Luke 23:43 | BradK | 176440 | ||
Bibleteacher, Your statement that "Likely the paradise truly familiar to the Jewish malefactor to whom Jesus spoke was the earthly Paradise described in the first book of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Paradise of Eden" seems a bit of a stretch. It neglects a straight-forward reading and meaning of the text! According to your rendition, Jesus promised the theifthat they would be together in Paradise of Eden? I don't buy it, my friend. The IVP Bible Background Commentary makes this observation: "Jewish literature typically contrasted “paradise” with “Gehenna,” or hell. Although Jewish texts disputed the location of paradise (e.g., in the third heaven; or on the perimeters of the circle of the earth—like a Greek view of the Elysian Fields), they often mentioned it as the abode of the righteous after death or after the resurrection. Thus both Jesus and this condemned man would proceed directly to the abode of the righteous after death." (Heaven) The late Greek Scholar, A.T. Robertson offers this insight: "Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise [Semeron meth emou esei en toi paradeisoi]. However crude may have been the robber’s Messianic ideas Jesus clears the path for him. He promises him immediate and conscious fellowship after death with Christ in Paradise which is a Persian word and is used here not for any supposed intermediate state; but the very bliss of heaven itself. This Persian word was used for an enclosed park or pleasure ground (so Xenophon). The word occurs in two other passages in the N.T. (II Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7), in both of which the reference is plainly to heaven. Some Jews did use the word for the abode of the pious dead till the resurrection, interpreting “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22f.) in this sense also. But the evidence for such an intermediate state is too weak to warrant belief in it." Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3 | Is "Paradise" the same as heaven? | Luke 23:43 | bibleteacher | 176448 | ||
That would be a problem since Jesus didn't ascend to heaven that day. He was in the tomb for 3 days and didn't actually ascend to heaven for some time after that. The King James Version failed to used correct punctuation in translating this verse. There should have been a comma after today which changes the meaning totally. When the thief is resurrected to a paradise earth, ruled by Jesus, he will then in a sense be with Jesus in paradise. | ||||||