Comments on: What Does The Bible Say About Hades ? – Part 2 https://cocbuffalowy.com/2017/02/what-does-the-bible-say-about-hades-part-2/ Bible Answers to Spiritual Questions Mon, 08 Sep 2025 00:24:41 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 By: Jim https://cocbuffalowy.com/2017/02/what-does-the-bible-say-about-hades-part-2/#comment-1180 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 02:30:34 +0000 https://cocbuffalowy.com/?p=2399#comment-1180 In reply to Jerry Sowell.

Hi, thanks for commenting. I see your comments were from last January. I’m sorry that I have first seen them today, March 5 th. I hope you will get this reply tp your question though. In my opinion, after much study of the topic of the thief being in paradise with Jesus, and after much study of Luke 23:43, the “popular” understanding of the verse is inaccurate. It comes down to a matter of punctuation actually. When this was written(in the old Greek language) they did not use punctuation, but translators have added punctuation as they believe would be correct. In this instance, I believe their punctuation is not correct. Let me explain; The typical way the sentence is punctuated is as follows.. “And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Well, this is obviously wrong, because even Jesus Himself did not go to “paradise” that very day! “Paradise” in the new testament scriptures, refers to heaven. It does not refer to the “hadean” world of departed spirits. (Spirits who have departed from their physical bodies at death) The word translated as “paradise” is used only three times in the new testament, and it always refers to the same “place” or condition. It refers to heaven!! Here is what I believe to be the proper way to punctuate that verse (which aligns perfectly with scripture) “”And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you today; You will be with Me in Paradise.” Do you see the difference? Jesus is telling the thief on that very day, that he would indeed by with Jesus in paradise (heaven). Jesus didn’t tell the thief that they’d be there “today”, but rather, Jesus said that “today I’m telling you, that we will indeed be in paradise together.” And that promise will indeed be fulfilled, when the saved will be brought to heaven on the day that Christ returns to gather the saved. Thank you so much.

]]> By: Jerry Sowell https://cocbuffalowy.com/2017/02/what-does-the-bible-say-about-hades-part-2/#comment-1170 Thu, 12 Jan 2023 06:10:57 +0000 https://cocbuffalowy.com/?p=2399#comment-1170 Thank you for the study on Hades
It may be that we should not dwell on the after life and concentrate on the here and now. However it seems the brethern are almost entirely in agreement that Lazarus and the Rich man is not a parable. I accepted that, knowing it’s not a matter of our Salvation.
Then I listened as two brethern were in a slightly contentious debate on the subject. One (Teaching) totally convinced as fact about the fate of our spirits in paradise or punishment while waiting judgement. The other saying it makes no sense according to scripture.
So I studied it more in depth and see the scripture contradictions and could not get it to line up. Seems a whole doctrine has been put in place based on this parable or as most say, real event. So your article was refreshing after reading so many of our brethern standing firmly on it not being a parable.
Strange as it may seem the denominational websites are very good at laying out all the contradictions of scripture if this is a literal event meant to show our places after death.

Now to my question. What do you make of the Thief being in paradise on that very day with Jesus? or maybe Enoch & Elijah. John 3:13 comes to mind
Thank you

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