- Folks who do not know the scriptures intimately well can easily buy into gross error when spoken by one who speaks with authority and convincingly. And when the one so speaking has already been accepted by his audience as a man of God, an ordained minister, a seminary or Bible college graduate then much weight is given to whatever he says. And when they follow along with him as he reads or quotes scripture and the scripture he is expounding seemingly says exactly what he insists it is saying, well, if error is presented thereby it is generally immediately accepted as divine truth.Here is a classic example.
- A pastor reads word-for-word Luke 23:43. Jesus is speaking to one of the thieves on a cross beside Him as they are both being crucified and says, “Verily (truly) I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Now that’s awfully plain and clear, isn’t it? Just as clear as the words, “It is finished,” right? Well, we have already shown that the words “it is finished” weren’t all that clear after all. Neither are the words quoted above from Luke 23:43. Oh, they seem to be, that’s for sure. But let me assure you, they are not.
- Few Christians realize just how the early manuscripts of the New Testament were composed and written. Many do not know that punctuation was not added to the scriptures for many centuries after their composition. Those adding such punctuation were not the inspired authors, and they didn’t always place the right punctuation in the texts. The original authors did not separate what they wrote into verses and chapters, nor into separate paragraphs. That, too, came centuries later. Nor were those who came later always super accurate in the word order transcribed. Where one places the comma in verse 43 of Luke 23 makes all the difference in the world as to what Jesus said to that thief. He said one of two things: 1) He either told that thief that he would join Jesus Christ in paradise that very day, or 2) He told that thief that although this was the day they would both die, still he assured him he would be with him in paradise someday. Notice: “I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in paradise.” If one places the comma after the word “today” it completely changes the meaning of what Jesus was saying. If the comma is placed in front of the word “today” then Jesus is clearly saying that both he and the thief would be together in paradise that very day. If the comma is placed after the word “today” then all Jesus is saying is that though making a promise on the day of His own death, still He was giving the thief assurance he would be with Jesus in paradise either that day or at a much later time. One must then consider all other clear Bible texts that addresses what occurs when one dies in order to determine where the comma should be placed in Luke 23:43. The scriptures are clear that the comma should have been placed AFTER the word today, for neither Jesus nor the thief went to paradise that day. They both died that day and Jesus would not live again for three full days and nights. For seventy-two full hours our Lord was DEAD! Think on these things carefully and prayerfully.
- Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12).
- Donald Wiley
