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New Testament references to paradise
In the New Testament there are three references to paradise:
(i)
The criminal on the cross next to Jesus asks: "Remember
me when you come into your kingdom." [and Jesus replies:]
"I tell you the truth today you will be with me in paradise."
(Luke 23:39-43). Paradise here must refer to the coming kingdom
of God on earth which Jesus preached, and which the criminal
must have known about and understood. It could not refer to
a kingdom in heaven because on that day ('today') Jesus died
and was placed in the tomb and did not ascend to heaven until
40 days after his resurrection.
(ii)
Paul tells the Corinthians of a vision in which a man, almost
certainly himself, was "caught up to the third heaven…
caught up to paradise" (2 Corinthians 12:2-4), when he
saw things that he was unable to describe to his readers in
language they would understand. Peter in 2 Peter ch.3, helps
with an explanation of the 'third heaven' He writes about
three successive 'heavens', or dispensations of God:
a) The age before the flood.
b) The present age, which will end when Christ returns.
c) The age to come-the kingdom of God on earth-paradise?
Paul may have had the same understanding of God's divisions
of time as Peter did, and in the same way spoke of the third
heaven as 'paradise'.
(iii)
Jesus, speaking through the apostle John says to the church
at Ephesus: "To him who overcomes, I will give the right
to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of
God" (Revelation 2:7). This is the same expression that
Paul uses. Fruit trees grow on earth (remember Solomon's use
of the word 'paradise'-see above), and this clearly directs
our minds towards the restored Garden of Eden, which will
fill the whole earth when Jesus returns.
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Pagan
Parable
Paradise
New Testament references to
paradise
Passover
1. The first Passover
2. Old Testament Passover feasts
3. Jesus and the Passover
Pastor
Patriarch
Peace
Pentateuch
Perfect, Perfection
Pharisee
Power of God
Prayer
Preach
Predestination
Priest
1. The Mosaic priesthood
2. Pagan priests
3. Christian priesthood
4. Priests in the age to come
Promise
Promised Land
Prophet, Prophecy
Pure
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