Good eye to distuingish Paul's personal preference! Many ha e since automatically assumed that same position! TR I’ve been begging for a rapture dream or a heads up rapture date ... but to no avail. I even made Chinese food last week since some watchers eat that and it triggers their dreams. So I stir fried veggies in with the rice and added some hot sauce in with the sweet and sour sauce AND ate 2 garlic pickles on the side hoping this will trigger a dream. Nope ... just bad Agita instead. As for why Jesus would emphasize "this day" in his response to the thief on the cross, remember the context. He had just asked Jesus to remember him when the Lord came into His kingdom. Evidently, the dying man must have been thinking of "someday," but not immediately. Jesus is reassuring him that he wouldn't have to wait long to be with Him and see the results of his faith. I have heard the view that since there aren't any grammatical markings, Jesus might have meant, "I say to you this day," but that really doesn't have much force behind it. What would be the point, really? Of course He was saying it on that day, and wouldn't be saying it tomorrow. That interpretation might be possible grammatically; however, it reduces the impact to where it is only a dramatic flourish. "I say to you this day--you shall be with me in paradise!" That doesn't really offer much comfort in the present moment, I would think. Agreed! TR Welcome John C. When seen in this light, there are no commas to discuss and it is obvious Christ was concrete and concise in meaning. So, as the body might return to dust, you will be with Christ at the moment of death. Soon this discussion, although fun banter, will be a seen truth as we who are alive and remain are Harpazo (almost favorite word), to meet him in the air.... :yahoo: :prayer-hands:
Not to banter on this point and I am not, nor do I claim to be a Greek scholar (maybe a bit of Latin as related to my profession) — remember also to understand the verse in the context of “what would they have thought and understood”, but in this verse it has some pointed and clear definitions from the Greek language ...
Truly = Amen (Hebrew also) - to you = soi - I say = lego (not the building blocks Dan B-) ) - today = semeron - <b>with</b> = met’ - <b>me</b> = emou - <u><b>you will be</b></u> = ese (no comma) - in = en - paradise = paradeiso
