Introduction:
There is a text in Luke 23:43, where Jesus seems to be (according to the English translation) saying to the thief that he will be in "paradise" with Jesus, today, the very same day as Jesus was speaking.
Now, what I have been thinking lately is what in the Greek inspired this translation, with the adverb σήμερον (Today) either modifying the verb λέγω (I say) or ἔσῃ (will be).
I will merely be making observations from Luke's other uses of these words, and especially his quoting of Jesus using terminology like this to find out which would be a more likely rendering.
Today Modifies What?
And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:21(NASB)
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Conclusion:
I believe that based on the stylistic patterns that we have seen from Luke's gospel and his rendering of Jesus speech, it would be highly unlikely for the adverb σήμερον to modify ἔσῃ (will be) in Luke 23:43.
The verse I believe should rather be translated thus: "and He said to him, "Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise."
Now please understand, that I am not completely sold on the idea that there is no intermediate state for the righteous (I'm convinced there is none for the wicked), but I have heard this text consistently used to defend the position that we go immediately to "paradise" when we die, just like the Thief.
In my opinion, based on the observations that I have made, I find it highly improbable stylistically for the traditional translation. Rather, I believe one would have to read their own theology into the text and ignore all previous modes of interpretation and translation in order to render this passage in such a way.
While it doesn't seal the deal for me.. it certainly casts doubt.
Tell me what you think!
Blessings,
Servant of Jesus
I agree; but for a different reason; those words have at least two meanings.
A paradisio (persian for walled in garden) is the treasured place a rich man kept up, and wherein the rich man often desired to be buried. There are examples in and out of scripture (OT) of the garden being specifically chosen as a burial place for the future; eg: a paradisio being nothing more than a walled in garden of a rich man.
Considering that, realize that there are many different ways in which Jesus' words can be true.
That very day, Jesus was in a garden, in a rich man's tomb. The reason is that his body could not be carried farther on account of the sabbath.
Hence, Jesus' words do not need to mean he was in heaven that very day. Nor does it really make sense that he would be; for he still had to go "prepare a place" for his disciples to come; and also to send the Spirit who *would otherwise NEVER be poured out*.
( Unless one tries to say Jesus himself is heaven, at which point other complications arise. )
The same burial, then, is true of the theif -- his body could be carried no farther than the garden on that day (although he needn't have been laid in a freshly hewn tomb; other options exist. ). Jews commonly placed people in temporary tombs to await the rotting of flesh, before transferring the bones to a more permanent burial place; so it's not necessary to think that any mercy given to the theif was a great one, either.
But -- I think the primary emphasis of Jesus' word "sameron" (today), is the meaning of God speaking it;
eg: "If, today, you hear his voice -- harden not your heart.".
It's instructive to note that saint will differ from saint in Glory in the resurrection; and that Jesus already knew he, himself, would die before the theif; meaning that Jesus knew the theif would remain to suffer out the very last of his sentence after he was already forgiven; The theif had time to doubt ( a sin, but not unto death ). What would the theif do in that time?
God seems to delight in a promise that is not seen fulfilled immediately; For example: Abraham, to whom was given the promised land,
never owned a single foot of land for the duration of his life, but only purchased a grave for when he was to die.
Abraham faced the same issue with respect to an enigmatic promise; and Abraham struggled with doubt.
When Abraham entered Egypt, he used a ruse to protect his life -- but (think about it in hindsight) there was no need for him to hide Sara's identity, for the same reason Abraham didn't need to protect Isaac from death; for
the promise guaranteed he would have posterity was a trump card.
And Abraham's ruse eventually failed, and, later, Isaac's would fail even quicker... and the final irony would be Jacob demanding a blessing -- when he was already to be blessed; and receiving a strike in the hip as a reward. Is-ra-el. He who is forever wrestling with God UN-necessarily. The man who does evil to God.
I wonder how that theif recognized the nature of Jesus' kingdom so quickly while hanging on the cross.
I mean, Abraham took 14+ years of seeing, touching, and hugging the miracle of Isaac before recognizing that death (a dead womb = tomb) was not an obstacle to God. He was able to reason to the conclusion and outcome.
Gods words are true in more than one way, and always good; but not always exactly as one expects -- but in excess.
