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Document: John Hultink, Why Some Theologians Still Laugh Jesus to Scorn (2026)
Excerpt: A review of evangelical commentary on Luke 23:43 finds that many leading evangelicals interpret “Paradise” as synonymous with the presence of God (Heaven). Notable examples include John MacArthur, John Piper, Wayne Grudem, and others, who explicitly argue that the thief’s promise of Paradise with Jesus is entry into God’s heavenly abode. These authors typically appeal to parallel New Testament texts (e.g. 2 Corinthians 12:4, Revelation 2:7, 22:2) and the immediate context (“today…Paradise”) to support the identification of Paradise with Heaven…..
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Appendix III: The Conventional, Mistaken Interpretation of Equating Paradise with Heaven