In The Park?

When Jesus was dying on the cross, he looked over at the thief hanging next to Him and said, "Today you will be with me in paradise." - Luke 23:43. Most people think that Jesus was talking about them both being in heaven. Let's dig a little deeper.

Have you ever heard of an interlinear Bible? They can be pretty handy when it comes to studying the Bible. Like with our word 'paradise' today. We can learn that the Greek word for paradise is 'paradeisO.' It even sounds like paradise. However, the actual word-for-word translation reads like this:

"I am saying to you today, with me, you shall be in the park."

In the park? What?

If we look up the Old Testament Hebrew word for 'paradise' we find out that Hebrew word actually refers to a garden or walled in area. The New Testament word for paradise was used to refer to The Garden of Eden and also Abraham's Bosom - the place where the righteous dead go when they die.

Are Abraham's Bosom and the original Garden of Eden the same? I can't find an answer to that. But tune in on Wednesday for a possible answer to that question.

Thanks for reading!

Paradise - Bible Study Tools

In The Garden - Alan Jackson