Bible Encyclopedia: Paradise

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

PARADISE

par'-a-dis (pardec; paradeisos):

1. Origin and Meaning:

A word probably of Persian origin meaning a royal park. See GARDEN. The word occurs in the Hebrew Scriptures but 3 times: Songs 4:13, where it is translated "an orchard"; Nehemiah 2:8, where it is translated "a forest" (the Revised Version margin "park"); Ecclesiastes 2:5, where it is in the plural number (the King James Version "orchards," the Revised Version (British and American) "parks"). But it was early introduced into the Greek language, being made specially familiar by Xenophon upon his return from the expedition of Cyrus the Younger to Babylonia (see Anab. i.2, section 7; 4, section 9; Cyrop. i.3, section 14). In Septuagint the word is of frequent use in translating other terms of kindred significance. The Garden of Eden became "the paradise of pleasure or luxury" (Genesis 2:15; Genesis 3:23 Joel 2:3). The valley of the Jordan became `the paradise of God' (Genesis 13:10). In Ezekiel 31:8, 9, according to Septuagint, there is no tree in the `paradise of God' equal to that which in the prophet's vision symbolizes the glory of Assyria. The figures in the first 9 verses of this chapter may well have been suggested by what the prophet had himself seen of parks in the Persian empire.

2. Use in Jewish Literatare:

In the apocryphal and pseudepigraphical literature the word is extensively used in a spiritual and symbolia sense, signalizing the place of happiness to be inherited by the righteous in contrast to Gehenna, the place of punishment to which the wicked were to be assigned. In the later Jewish literature "Sheol" is represented as a place where preliminary rewards and punishments are bestowed previous to the final judgment (see APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE; ESCHATOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT; and compare 2 Esdras 2:19; 8:52). But the representations in this literature are often vague and conflicting, some holding that there were 4 divisions in Sheol, one for those who were marryred for righteousness' sake, one for sinners who on earth had paid the penalty for their sins, one for the just who had not suffered martyrdom, and one for sinners who had not been punished on earth (En 102:15). But among the Alexandrian Jews the view prevailed that the separation of the righteous from the wicked took place immediately after death (see The Wisdom of Solomon 3:14; 4:10; 5:5, 17; Josephus, Ant, XVIII, i, 3; B J, II, viii, 14). This would seem to be the idea underlying the use of the word in the New Testament where it occurs only 3 times, and then in a sense remarkably free from sensuous suggestions.

3. Used by Christ:

Christ uses the word but once (Luke 23:43), when He said to the penitent thief, "Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise" (see ABRAHAM'S BOSOM (compare HADES)). This was no time to choose words with dialectical precision. The consolation needed by the penitent thief suffering from thirst and agony and shame was such as was symbolized by the popular conception of paradise, which, as held by the Essenes, consisted of "habitations beyond the ocean, in a region that is neither oppressed with storms of rain, or snow, or with intense heat, but that this place is such as is refreshed by the gentle breathin of a west wind, that is perpetually blowing from the ocean" (Josephus, BJ, II, viii, 11).

See ESCHATOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

4. Other Forms and Uses:

Nowhere in His public teaching did Christ use the word "Paradise." He does indeed, when speaking in parables, employ the figure of the marriage supper, and of new wine, and elsewhere of Abraham's bosom, and of houses not made by hands, eternal in the heavens; but all these references are in striking contrast to the prevailing sensuous representations of the times (see 2 Esdras 2:19; 8:52), and such as have been introduced into Mohammedan literature. Likewise Paul (2 Corinthians 12:4) speaks of having been "caught up into Paradise" where he "heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." See ESCHATOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. But in 2 Corinthians 12:2 this is referred to more vaguely as "the third heaven." In Revelation 2:7 it is said to the members of the church at Ephesus who should overcome, "I (will) give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God," where the Eden of Genesis 2:8 is made the symbol of the abode of the righteous, more fully described without the words in the last chapter of the book. The reticence of the sacred writers respecting this subject is in striking contrast to the profuseness and crudity both of rabbinical writers before Christ and of apocryphal writers and Christian commentators at a later time. "Where the true Gospels are most reticent, the mythical are most exuberant" (Perowne). This is especially noticeable in the Gospel of Nicodemus, the Acta Philippi, the writings of Tertullian (De Idol. c. 13; De Anim. c. 55; Tertullian's treatise De Paradiso is lost), Clement of Alexandria (Frag. 51), and John of Damascus (De Orthod. Fid., ii, 11). In modern literature the conception of Paradise is effectually sublimated and spiritualized in Faber's familiar hymn:

"O Paradise, O Paradise,

I greatly long to See

The special place my dearest Lord

Is destining for me;

Where loyal hearts and true

Stand ever in the light,

All rapture thro' and thro',

In God's most holy sight."

LITERATURE.

The articles in the great Dicts., especially Herzog, RE; HDB; Alger, Critical History of the Doctrine of a Future Life; Schodde, Book of Enoch; Lightfoot, Hor. Heb. on Luke 23:43; Salmond, The Christian Doctrine of Immortality, 346;. For a good account of Jewish and patristic speculation on Paradise, see Professor Plumptre's article in Smith's D.B, II, 704;.

G. F. Wright

Greek

3857. paradeisos -- a park, a garden, a paradise
... a park, a garden, a paradise. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
paradeisos Phonetic Spelling: (par-ad'-i-sos) Short Definition: Paradise ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3857.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

1521. Gichon -- "a bursting forth," one of the rivers of Eden ...
... Gihon. Or (shortened) Gichown {ghee-khone'}; from giyach; stream; Gichon, a river
of Paradise; also a valley (or pool) near Jerusalem -- Gihon. ...
/hebrew/1521.htm - 6k

Library

The Paradise of God
... The Paradise of God. TP ... In the Paradise of glory. Is the Man Divine; There my heart,
O God, is tasting. Fellowship with Thine. Called to share Thy joy unmeasured ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen suso and others/the paradise of god.htm

Whether Paradise is a Corporeal Place?
... OF MAN'S ABODE, WHICH IS PARADISE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether paradise is a corporeal
place? Objection 1: It would seem that paradise is not a corporeal place. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether paradise is a corporeal.htm

The Beauty of Paradise.
... Theophilus to Autolycus: Book II. Chapter XXIV."The Beauty of Paradise.
God, then, caused to spring out of the earth every tree ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxiv the beauty of paradise.htm

Whether Man was Created in Paradise?
... OF MAN'S ABODE, WHICH IS PARADISE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether man was created in paradise?
Objection 1: It would seem that man was created in paradise. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether man was created in.htm

Whether Paradise was a Place Adapted to be the Abode of Man?
... OF MAN'S ABODE, WHICH IS PARADISE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether paradise was a
place adapted to be the abode of man? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether paradise was a place.htm

Whether Confession Opens Paradise?
... OF THE EFFECT OF CONFESSION (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether confession opens paradise?
Objection 1: It would seem that confession does not open Paradise. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether confession opens paradise.htm

O Paradise! O Paradise!
... No. 120 O Paradise! O Paradise! HEAVEN O Paradise! O Paradise! Father Faber From
a Slovak Hymnal Arr. by NAM. Moderato. 1. O Paradise! O Paradise! ...
/.../various/the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 120 o paradise o.htm

Whether Man was Placed in Paradise to Dress it and Keep It?
... OF MAN'S ABODE, WHICH IS PARADISE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether man was placed
in paradise to dress it and keep it? Objection 1: It would ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether man was placed in.htm

What was the Life in Paradise, and what was the Forbidden Tree ?
... III."Philosophical Works. XX. What was the life in Paradise, and what was
the forbidden tree ? 1. What then is that which includes ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/xx what was the life.htm

Concerning Paradise.
... Book II. Chapter XI."Concerning Paradise. ... Some, indeed, have pictured Paradise
as a realm of sense [1785] , and others as a realm of mind. ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xi concerning paradise.htm

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Paradise

This is a word of Persian origin, and is used in the Septuagint as the translation of Eden. It means "an orchard of pleasure and fruits," a "garden" or "pleasure ground," something like an English park. It is applied figuratively to the celestial dwelling of the righteous, in allusion to the garden of Eden. (2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7) It has thus come into familiar use to denote both that garden and the heaven of the just.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Paradise

A Greek word signifying a park, or garden with trees. The Hebrew word GAN, garden, issued in a similar way, Nehemiah 2:8 Ecclesiastes 2:5 So 4:13.

The Septuagint uses the word Paradise when speaking of the Garden of Eden, in which the Lord placed Adam and Eve. This famous garden is indeed commonly known by the name of "the terrestrial paradise," and there is hardly any part of the world in which it has not been sought. See EDEN.

In the New Testament, "paradise" is put, in allusion to the paradise of Eden, for the place where the souls of the blessed enjoy happiness. Thus our Savior tells the penitent thief on the cross, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise;" that is, in the state of the blessed, Luke 23:43. Paul speaking of himself in the third person, says, "I knew a man that was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter," 2 1 Corinthians 12:4. And in Revelation 2:7 22:14, the natural features of the scene where innocence and bliss were lost, are used to depict the world where these are restored perfectly and forever.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A Persian word (pardes), properly meaning a "pleasure-ground" or "park" or "king's garden." (see EDEN.) It came in course of time to be used as a name for the world of happiness and rest hereafter (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7). For "garden" in Genesis 2:8 the LXX. has "paradise."

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The garden of Eden, in which Adam and Eve were placed after their creation.

2. (n.) The abode of sanctified souls after death.

3. (n.) A place of bliss; a region of supreme felicity or delight; hence, a state of happiness.

4. (n.) An open space within a monastery or adjoining a church, as the space within a cloister, the open court before a basilica, etc.

5. (n.) A churchyard or cemetery.

6. (v. t.) To affect or exalt with visions of felicity; to entrance; to bewitch.

Thesaurus

Paradise (6 Occurrences)
... 8 the LXX. has "paradise.". Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The ... entrance; to
bewitch. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PARADISE. par'-a-dis ...
/p/paradise.htm - 16k

Cherubim (63 Occurrences)
... 1. As Guardians of Paradise: In Genesis 3:24 the cherubim are placed by God, after
the expulsion of Adam from the garden of Eden, at the east thereof, together ...
/c/cherubim.htm - 40k

Forest (67 Occurrences)
... parks"), and Cant. 4: 13, rendered "orchard" (RV marg., "a paradise"). "The
forest ... origin signifying probably an enclosure. See PARADISE. ...
/f/forest.htm - 37k

Abraham's (34 Occurrences)
... To "be in Abraham's bosom" thus meant to enjoy happiness and rest (Matthew 8:11;
Luke 16:23) at the banquet in Paradise. ... See HADES; PARADISE. James Orr. ...
/a/abraham's.htm - 18k

Garden (68 Occurrences)
... It is translated "orchards" in Ecclesiastes 2:5 the King James Version; Songs
4:13. See PARADISE. Such gardens are still common throughout the Levant. ...
/g/garden.htm - 38k

Heavens (548 Occurrences)
... The apostle Paul speaks of himself as caught up into "the third heaven," which he
evidently identifies with Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:2). See HEAVENLY. ...
/h/heavens.htm - 49k

Uriel (4 Occurrences)
... 1878, 250), Uriel (Oriel) accompanied Michael when at God's bidding he wrapped the
bodies of Adam and Abel in three linen sheets and buried them in Paradise. ...
/u/uriel.htm - 10k

Orchard (3 Occurrences)
... i.2, 7). See Nehemiah 2:8, "forest," margin "park"; Songs 4:13, "orchard," margin
"paradise" (of pomegranates); Ecclesiastes 2:5, "parks," the King James ...
/o/orchard.htm - 8k

Park (2 Occurrences)
... Version margin "park" (Nehemiah 2:8). The same word occurs in Songs 4:13, "Thy shoots
are an orchard (the Revised Version margin "paradise") of pomegranates ...
/p/park.htm - 9k

Bosom (47 Occurrences)
... closest intimacy. It may be regarded as equivalent to the "Paradise" of
Luke 23:43. See HADES; PARADISE. James Orr. BOSOM. booz'-um ...
/b/bosom.htm - 26k

Bible Concordance

Paradise (6 Occurrences)

Luke 23:43 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 12:3 And I know that this man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know;
(See RSV)

2 Corinthians 12:4 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 2:8 and a letter unto Asaph, keeper of the paradise that the king hath, that he give to me trees for beams 'for' the gates of the palace that the house hath, and for the wall of the city, and for the house into which I enter;' and the king giveth to me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
(YLT)

Song of Songs 4:13 Thy shoots are a paradise of pomegranates, with precious fruits; Henna with spikenard plants;
(DBY YLT)

Subtopics

Paradise

Paradise: The Place of Glorified Spirits

Related Terms

Cherubim (63 Occurrences)

Forest (67 Occurrences)

Abraham's (34 Occurrences)

Garden (68 Occurrences)

Heavens (548 Occurrences)

Uriel (4 Occurrences)

Orchard (3 Occurrences)