New Earth

Question 1

Question: What is the concept of New Earth in Christian theology?

Answer 1

Answer: New Earth posits that at the end of time, God will cleanse and perfect the current earth, restoring it to its original Edenic state where the righteous will dwell eternally

Question 2

Question: How does New Earth relate to physical resurrection?

Answer 2

Answer: New Earth suggests a physical afterlife because it envisions resurrected bodies of the righteous inhabiting a renewed and perfected physical earth.

Question 3

Question: Which biblical passage supports the idea of New Earth?

Answer 3

Answer: Revelation 21 describes John’s vision of the future, where God creates “new heavens and a new earth,” free from death, mourning, crying, and pain.

Question 4

Question: According to N. T. Wright, what does “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven” imply?

Answer 4

Answer: N. T. Wright argues that this prayer from the Sermon on the Mount indicates God’s plan to unite heaven and earth, transforming earth into a state where God’s sovereign rule (kingdom of heaven) is fully realized

Question 5

Question: How does N. T. Wright interpret the concept of Heaven in relation to New Earth?

Answer 5

Answer: Wright interprets Heaven not as a separate place from earth but as a future state where earth is transformed and aligned with God’s kingdom, fulfilling the prayer “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”

Question 6

Question: What theological implications does New Earth raise about the nature of eternity?

Answer 6

Answer: New Earth challenges traditional views of eternity solely as a spiritual realm by asserting that eternity involves a perfected physical existence on a renewed earth.

Question 7

Question: How does the concept of New Earth differ from traditional views of heaven as a spiritual realm?

Answer 7

Answer: New Earth contrasts with traditional views of heaven as a purely spiritual realm by emphasizing a future physical existence on an earth transformed and perfected by God.

Question 8

Question: What does the story of the Penitent Thief suggest about the existence of heaven?

The Penitent Thief

Answer 8

Answer: The story suggests that heaven existed at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion and is not solely a future state of the earth

Question 9

Question: According to the story, what did Jesus promise the Penitent Thief?

The Penitent Thief

Answer 9

Answer: Jesus promised the Penitent Thief, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Question 10

Question: What theological concept does the Penitent Thief story support regarding judgment and salvation?

The Penitent Thief

Answer 10

Answer: The story supports the concept of immediate (particular) judgment after death, where those who repent and express faith are saved

Question 11

Question: What does the Penitent Thief story imply about the scope of salvation?

The Penitent Thief

Answer 11

Answer: The story implies the doctrine of unlimited election, where anyone who repents and turns to Jesus can be saved, regardless of their past sins or circumstances.

Question 12

Question: What is the grammatical issue in the Penitent Thief story related to the placement of commas?

Grammatical translation issue in the penitant thief story.

Answer 12

Answer: The original text of the Bible had no commas. Later translators added them, affecting the meaning of Jesus’ statement to the thief on the cross.

Question 13

Question: What is the difference between the two versions of Jesus’ statement to the thief regarding the placement of commas?

Grammatical translation issue in the penitant thief story.

Answer 13

Answer: Version 1: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Version 2: “Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise.” The placement of commas changes whether Jesus promises the thief immediate entry into Paradise that day or if he merely affirms his statement on that day.

Question 14

Question: Which version of the statement is typically chosen by translators and why?

Grammatical translation issue in the penitant thief story.

Answer 14

Answer: Translators typically choose Version 1, which suggests immediate entry into Paradise, due to theological and contextual interpretations.

Question 15

Question: What theological implication arises from choosing Version 1 of Jesus’ statement to the thief?

Grammatical translation issue in the penitant thief story.

Answer 15

Answer: Choosing Version 1 supports the belief in an immediate afterlife and heaven, where the Penitent Thief would join Jesus that very day.

Question 16

Question: Why is Version 2 of Jesus’ statement preferred by some interpreters?

Grammatical translation issue in the penitant thief story.

Answer 16

Answer: Some prefer Version 2 because it aligns with the chronology of Jesus’ death and resurrection, suggesting a future promise rather than immediate entry into Paradise

Question 17

Question: How does Jesus’ statement in John 20:17 impact the interpretation of his promise to the thief?

Grammatical translation issue in the penitant thief story.

Answer 17

Answer: Jesus said in John 20:17, “I have not yet ascended to my Father,” indicating that he did not immediately go to Paradise after his crucifixion, supporting the interpretation of Version 2.

Question 18

Question: What does the delayed ascension of Jesus suggest about the timing of the Penitent Thief’s entry into Paradise?

Grammatical translation issue in the penitant thief story.

Answer 18

Answer: It suggests that the Penitent Thief’s entry into Paradise did not occur immediately on the day of crucifixion, aligning with Version 2 of Jesus’ statement.

Question 19

Question: How does the grammatical issue impact theological views on judgment and the afterlife?

Grammatical translation issue in the penitant thief story.

Answer 19

Answer: It influences views on whether judgment and entry into Paradise are immediate or reserved for a future time of general judgment.

Question 20

Question: What doctrine does the debate over the placement of commas in Jesus’ statement to the thief touch upon?

Grammatical translation issue in the penitant thief story.

Answer 20

Answer: It touches upon eschatology, the study of the end times and the nature of the afterlife, particularly regarding the timing of entry into Paradise

Question 21

Question: What broader implications does the grammatical issue in the Penitent Thief story have for Christian theology?

Grammatical translation issue in the penitant thief story.

Answer 21

Answer: It raises questions about the nature of heaven, the timing of judgment, and the resurrection, influencing interpretations of passages related to the afterlife and eschatology.