Luke 23:43 the NWT

by Ade 113 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  aqwsed12345

  The Watchtower Society’s interpretation of Luke 23:43 claims that Jesus’ promise to the penitent thief—“You will be with me in paradise”—refers not to an immediate entrance into heavenly paradise but to a future, earthly paradise after the resurrection. Their New World Translation (NWT) renders the verse: “Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise,” placing the comma after "today."

  1. The Punctuation Argument

  A) No Punctuation in Greek Manuscripts

  The Watchtower rightly notes that the original Greek manuscripts lack punctuation. However, punctuation in translation should follow the context and standard usage patterns in the Greek New Testament. The phrase “Amen I say to you…” (Greek: Amēn soi legō...) occurs over 70 times in the Gospels. In every instance, Jesus emphasizes the promise or teaching that follows, without any adverb of time like "today" qualifying the introductory phrase.

  Placing "today" (sēmeron) with “I say to you” creates an unnecessary redundancy. Jesus did not need to specify when He was speaking; it is self-evident that He was speaking “today” (as opposed to yesterday or tomorrow). The correct reading, adopted by nearly all translations, places the comma before "today," making the promise immediate: “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”

  B) The Formula “Amen I say to you”

  The construction “Amen I say to you” (Amēn legō humin) is a distinctive formula used by Jesus to introduce solemn declarations. Nowhere in the Gospels does this phrase include an adverb like "today." If Luke 23:43 were the sole exception, the burden of proof lies with the Watchtower to demonstrate why this verse deviates from Jesus’ established pattern. The evidence strongly suggests that "today" belongs with the subsequent promise, emphasizing its immediacy.

  2. The Meaning of “Paradise”

  A) Heaven, Not Earth

  The term "paradise" (paradeisos) is used three times in the New Testament (Luke 23:43, 2 Corinthians 12:4, Revelation 2:7), and it consistently refers to the heavenly realm where God’s presence dwells. In 2 Corinthians 12:4, Paul describes being caught up into “paradise,” a place synonymous with the "third heaven." Revelation 2:7 portrays paradise as the dwelling of the Tree of Life, located in the presence of God. There is no indication that "paradise" refers to a future earthly restoration.

  The Watchtower’s interpretation reduces "paradise" to an earthly kingdom, contradicting the context of these other passages. Moreover, Jesus tells the thief, “You will be with me in paradise.” If paradise were only an earthly state, this would imply that Jesus Himself would reside in this earthly paradise, which contradicts the Watchtower’s teaching that Jesus reigns in heaven.

  B) The Catholic Understanding

  Catholic theology identifies "paradise" as the blessed state of communion with God, often equated with heaven. When Jesus promises the thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” He refers to the immediate post-mortem state where the righteous are united with God. This aligns with other biblical passages describing the immediate reward for the faithful upon death (e.g., Philippians 1:23, 2 Corinthians 5:8).

  3. Theological Implications

  A) Immediate Reward After Death

  Catholic doctrine teaches that the righteous enter a conscious state of joy immediately after death. Jesus’ promise to the thief affirms this. The Watchtower denies the immediate post-mortem existence of the soul, claiming that the dead are unconscious until the resurrection. However, this is contradicted by passages such as:

  • Philippians 1:23: Paul desires “to depart and be with Christ,” implying immediate union with Jesus after death.
  • Revelation 6:9-11: The souls of martyrs are depicted as conscious and crying out to God.
  • Luke 16:22-23: The parable of Lazarus and the rich man portrays the dead as fully conscious.

  B) The Limbus Patrum

  Catholic tradition acknowledges the Limbus Patrum (Limbo of the Fathers), where the righteous who died before Christ’s resurrection awaited redemption. The promise of "paradise" to the thief need not conflict with this belief, as Christ, in His divine nature, could simultaneously be present in paradise and in the realm of the dead. This harmonizes with passages describing Christ’s descent into Hades (e.g., 1 Peter 3:18-20) to preach to the spirits in prison.

  4. Addressing Watchtower Objections

  A) “Today” as a Hebraism

  The Watchtower argues that "today" functions as a Hebrew idiom emphasizing the time of speech (e.g., Deuteronomy 4:26). However, such idioms are irrelevant here because:

  1. Jesus’ phraseology “Amen I say to you” is unique to Him and not modeled after Hebrew idioms.
  2. In the New Testament, "today" consistently emphasizes the immediacy of fulfillment (e.g., Luke 19:9, “Today salvation has come to this house”).

  B) Jesus Did Not Ascend to Heaven That Day

  The Watchtower points to John 20:17, where Jesus tells Mary Magdalene, “I have not yet ascended to the Father,” as evidence that Jesus did not go to paradise on the day of His crucifixion. However, this misunderstands the distinction between Jesus’ bodily ascension (40 days after His resurrection) and the state of His soul after death. Jesus’ soul, united with His divine nature, entered paradise upon death, as evidenced by His promise to the thief.

  5. Other Linguistic and Contextual Considerations

  A) Consistency Across Translations

  Virtually all Bible translations—Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox—place the comma before "today," indicating that Jesus promised the thief immediate entrance into paradise. The NWT’s unique punctuation reflects theological bias rather than linguistic accuracy.

  B) Jesus’ Emphasis

  The thief’s request was for a future remembrance in Christ’s kingdom. Jesus’ response surpasses this request, offering not a delayed reward but immediate communion: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” This contrasts with the Watchtower’s view, which diminishes the immediacy and intimacy of Jesus’ promise.

  Conclusion

  The Watchtower’s interpretation of Luke 23:43 stems from a theological presupposition that denies the immediate post-mortem existence of the soul and distorts the biblical concept of paradise. By examining the linguistic, contextual, and theological evidence, it becomes clear that Jesus’ promise to the thief affirms the immediate reward of the faithful after death. The traditional punctuation—“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”—reflects the plain meaning of the text, consistent with Jesus’ teaching and the hope of eternal life in communion with God.
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  moomanchu

  "Truly I tell you today,"

  Kinda insinuates that Jesus doesn't always truly tell things. So stupid.
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  Earnest

  Does not the Coptic and the Curetonian Syriac translate the Greek as "Truly, I tell you today, ..." ?
  
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  Betheliesalot

  Concerning the rich man parable, I would ask a JW why would Jesus use one of satan,s lies, that we are conscious after death, to teach a parable? According to JW speak, we are unconscious at death, which Jesus should have known when he told the rich man parable. Jesus knowingly used a lie? Not
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  vienne

  Paul wrote at 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

  Matthew 12:40 has Jesus saying: “just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”

  Jesus wasn't in paradise on his death. He was in the grave, as Paul wrote "according to the Scriptures." Ergo, the proper coma placement is: "Truly, I tell you today," not "I tell you, today."

  The ἀμήν (amen, truly, verily) at Luke 23:43 indicates a fixed, firm pronouncement. There is no thought of: "Okay this is truth, but I might lie to you later."
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  Phizzy

  One Commentator wrote :

  Σήμερον, to-day) On that day the converted robber could have hardly looked for death.[262] But the breaking of the legs was made subservient to this end. Thereby the Lord’s promise was fulfilled. [The marking of the time by the expression, to-day, is not to be referred (joined) to the verb, I say, as if the robber should have to wait for his entrance into Paradise during I know not how long periods of time. That the words were spoken to him on that day, is of itself evident (without it being necessary to say so). Jesus never used the expression, To-day I say; whereas He repeatedly used the expression, I say. Therefore we must read the words thus, To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise. Thus the power and grace of the Lord, and also His own ready and immediate entrance into Paradise, is openly declared.—V. g. That was indeed to save, Luke 23:39 (which the impenitent robber had taunted Him with, as unable to effect it).—Harm., p. 570].—μετʼ ἐμοῦ, with me) Much more then did Jesus Himself come to Paradise. [A fact which must have been very consolatory to Mary, wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene, against men’s bitter taunts, and to the Virgin mother and John, when communicated to them.
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  finishedmystery

  Maybe I'm just being a simpleton, but since when is one in paradise when one is dead? This is not rocket science. Yet we've got 10 pages of discussion so far.
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  moomanchu

  Vienne

  So Jonah was dead 3 days in the belly of the whale? After that he was resurrected? I missed that point.

  Obviously I don't know jack about Hebrew or Greek. I'm not arguing the amen, truly, verily part of the quote. I'm saying why did Jesus need to say amen, truly, verily today,,,,,,? It makes sense for Jesus to need to convince the person to truly believe what he was saying, because it was unbelievable. It makes no sense for Jesus to put a time frame on it. There is no need to say today truly believe me, or this time truly believe me, or right now truly believe me It insinuates that maybe certain times, well....... Jesus might be just kidding around.

  imo

  
  
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  aqwsed12345

  Jehovah's Witnesses argue that the comma in Jesus’ statement, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise," should be placed after "today," rendering it: "Truly I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise." Their claim hinges on the lack of punctuation in ancient Greek manuscripts and a supposed Hebraic idiom emphasizing the timing of the statement rather than its fulfillment. The phrase "Amen I say to you" (Greek: Amēn legō soi) is a standard introductory formula used by Jesus over 70 times in the Gospels. In every instance, it introduces a solemn statement or promise and is never accompanied by a temporal adverb (today or otherwise) qualifying the act of speaking. Placing "today" with "I say to you" creates an unprecedented redundancy, as the audience would already understand that Jesus was speaking "today." By contrast, placing "today" with the subsequent promise emphasizes immediacy and aligns with the standard usage of this phrase throughout the Gospels. The natural reading of the Greek, Amēn soi legō, sēmeron met’ emou esē en tō paradeisō (Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise), connects "today" with the promise of being in paradise rather than with the act of speaking. This reading is consistent with nearly all translations, including Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox versions, reflecting the translators' understanding of the syntax and context.The New World Translation’s punctuation aligns with Jehovah’s Witness theology, which denies the immediate post-mortem existence of the soul. However, the interpretation of Luke 23:43 must stem from the text itself rather than theological presuppositions.

  Jehovah's Witnesses assert that "paradise" refers to a future earthly state rather than an immediate post-mortem reward. Catholic teaching recognizes that before Christ's resurrection, the righteous dead resided in the limbus patrum (Abraham’s bosom) within Hades (Sheol). Christ's descent into Hades (1 Peter 3:19, Ephesians 4:9) liberated these souls, bringing them into heavenly paradise. Thus, Jesus’ promise to the thief can be understood as referring to this state of blessedness. The thief would join Jesus in Abraham’s bosom that very day, and after the Resurrection, the righteous would enter the full reality of heavenly paradise.

  Jehovah's Witnesses argue that the promise could not have been fulfilled immediately because Jesus did not ascend to heaven until after His resurrection (John 20:17). This objection conflates Jesus’ bodily ascension with the immediate state of His soul after death. Catholic teaching affirms the hypostatic union—Jesus' divine and human natures remain united even in death. While His body lay in the tomb, His soul descended into Hades to proclaim victory and liberate the righteous. In this sense, Jesus was present in "paradise" (Abraham’s bosom) on the day of His death. Jesus' promise assures the thief of immediate entry into the blessed state of the righteous. This interpretation aligns with:

  • Philippians 1:23: Paul expresses the desire to "depart and be with Christ," indicating immediate post-mortem communion with Jesus.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:8: Paul states that to be "absent from the body" is to be "present with the Lord."
  • Luke 16:22-23: The parable of Lazarus and the rich man portrays the dead as conscious and experiencing their respective rewards.

  Addressing Specific Watchtower Objections

  A. Coptic and Curetonian Syriac

  While the Curetonian Syriac does place "today" with the phrase "Truly I tell you today," it is an isolated textual witness among ancient manuscripts. The Sinaitic Syriac, which predates the Curetonian, agrees with the majority reading: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Furthermore, the Peshitta, the standard Syriac Bible, supports the traditional reading. The Sahidic and Bohairic Coptic translations also support the traditional placement of the comma before "today." Claims that the Coptic supports the Watchtower interpretation are unsubstantiated when compared to broader manuscript evidence. So a single variant reading like the Curetonian Syriac, especially when contradicted by older and more widely attested textual traditions, does not establish the legitimacy of the Watchtower’s translation. The overwhelming manuscript evidence—including Greek, Latin, Syriac, and Coptic—supports the traditional punctuation.

  B. Matthew 12:40 and 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

  Jehovah's Witnesses cite these passages to argue that Jesus remained "in the heart of the earth" (Hades) for three days, precluding His presence in paradise. This objection overlooks the distinction between Jesus’ soul and body. His soul was present in paradise (Abraham’s bosom) while His body lay in the tomb.

  C. "Today" as a Hebraism

  The claim that "today" serves as a Hebraic idiom emphasizing the time of speech lacks evidence in the Gospels. Luke consistently uses "today" to denote immediacy of fulfillment (e.g., Luke 2:11, 4:21, 19:9).
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  Earnest

  aqwsed12345: The Sahidic and Bohairic Coptic translations also support the traditional placement of the comma before "today."

  In Bentley Layton's "A Coptic Grammar", Third Edition, 2011, he translates Luke 23:43 in section 509, on the nature of recorded discourse in Coptic :

  "Truly, I say to you today, You will be with Me in Paradise."