PARADISE

The Greek word paradeisos derives from the Persian term pairidaeza, which meant an enclosure, a royal park, a garden with a wall. In the Greek Old Testament (LXX) the term is employed of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8; cf. Ezekiel 31:8). Paradise is found three times in the New Testament.

1. While hanging on the cross, Jesus promised the penitent robber that the two of them would be together in Paradise later that day (Luke 23:43). The reference is to that intermediate state of the righteous dead that precedes the final day and the resurrection of the body.
2. In 2 Corinthians 12:4, Paul alludes to an experience earlier in his ministry, at which time he was caught up "into Paradise." There is a difference of opinion among scholars as to whether or not this is the intermediate state or heaven itself. Some argue that it is the same as heaven; others note the distinction between henos ("as far as" the third heaven) and eis ("into" Paradise), thus suggesting that the intermediate state is here referenced, as in Luke 23:43.
3. In Revelation 2:7 the place of the "tree of life"—i.e., heaven itself (cf. 22:2)—is designated as Paradise and is promised to those who remain faithful to the Lord.

Late Jewish literature distinguished between the "first" Paradise (Eden), the "hidden" Paradise (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:4), and heaven itself (Revelation 2:7). One must remember that a word can take on different senses, depending on the context in which it is found.