What does John 3:13 mean, NO MAN has ASCENDED to heaven?
Upvote:0
In order to answer your question we need to look at the definition of "heaven". Heaven could mean different things in different contexts. In some cases the "paradise" that @Narnian referred to could be considered heaven. However, returning to the presence of God the Father is considered to be the ultimate "heaven". Since returning to the presence of God the Father requires a soul to be perfectly clean, it would stand to reason that Jesus is the only person who qualifies. Thus, in this instance no man has ascended to that ultimate heaven to which Jesus alone was qualified to enter.
Upvote:1
It should be noted that the Scriptures do not record the specific place to which Enoch was taken--only that he was taken.
For Elijah, he was taken up to heaven. However, the word heaven is used to refer to different things, namely the sky, the domain of the stars, and the dwelling place of God. It seems that Elijah arose into the sky, specifically. Wherever else he may have gone, we cannot be sure.
Thus, when Jesus says that no man has ascended into heaven, it seems that He is referring to heaven as the dwelling place of God and that Elijah must now, then, have gone there.
The story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16) identifies a place of the dead referred to as "Abraham's Bosom". In this place, the rich man, who was in a place of torment, could see Lazarus and Abraham. This does not appear to be the dwelling place of God. On the Cross, Jesus referred to a place called Paradise, where the penitent thief would soon be with Jesus.
A common understanding, then, is that there was a place of paradise for the Old Testament saints, distinct from the dwelling place of God which we call heaven. This appears to be a place of waiting until the penalty for sins was paid, as it says in the last part of Romans 3:25
...This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed. Romans 3:25b NASB
After Jesus died, it is understood that Paradise was taken into Heaven, the dwelling place of God.
Thus, Jesus was correct in asserting at that time that no man had ever gone into heaven except for He Himself who came from heaven. Old Testament saints had gone to Paradise, but not Heaven.
Upvote:6
In the risk of sounding way too much catholic :p here is my answer:
Ascension and Assumption are two different things. Catholics believe that only Jesus came down from heaven and went up to heaven on his own power. This is called Ascension. Others like Enoch, Elijah and of course Bl. Virgin Mary were taken up by God. (i.e., not by their own power) This is called Assumption. Catholics and Orthodox have always explicitly differentiated Ascension and Assumption.
Also it is interesting to note that in 2 Corinthians 12:2, Paul speaks of a man who was caught up to the third heaven (presumably by God) and came back alive.
More post
- 📝 According to the Roman Catholic Church, is halal meat being offered up to idols?
- 📝 LDS Church view of Hebrews 6:13 and Isaiah 43:10
- 📝 How does the doctrine of Papal Infallibility account for Peter's error?
- 📝 In which Christian denomination(s), do people plan their weddings around the bride's menstrual periods?
- 📝 How were women to serve the church according to the Apostolic Fathers?
- 📝 How do Latter-day Saints respond to the non-LDS argument that Joseph Smith's death was not comparable to the martyrdom of the ancient apostles?
- 📝 Did all disciples of Christ's apostles consider priesthood a sacrament?
- 📝 Did any other philosophical systems have as much influence on the early Church as Platonism and Stoicism?
- 📝 Are there any biblical incidents of people condemned for consensual premarital sex?
- 📝 What evidence is there to support the position that the Bible is truly the Word of God to mankind?
- 📝 According to Protestant Old Testament Scholars, why did God charge Adam & Eve to multiply during creation week if they didn’t until after the fall?
- 📝 Is there any theological reason for not drinking the communion wine?
- 📝 Is Luther really the originator of "We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone"?
- 📝 What do Christianity and Judaism have in common?
- 📝 Does the blessing of Genesis 12:3 extend to Palestine or is it only for Israel (and the church as the spiritual Israel)?
- 📝 Church/denomination with highest young adult attendance?
- 📝 Virgin Mary in Old Testament?
- 📝 Is it true that Christianity is the most divided religion in the world?
- 📝 When are children held accountable for ther sins?
- 📝 What is the history of religious orders?
- 📝 Does Christianity say that the events that happen to us are from God?
- 📝 Baptism first name (or confirmation middle name) for special devotion to the Holy Trinity?
- 📝 What does the Catholic Church require for a parent's name to appear on the child's baptism certificate?
- 📝 How do those who cite 2 Tim 3:16 to prove the inspiration of Scripture know that 2 Tim 3:16 is itself inspired and what is meant by "All Scripture"?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for celebrating Easter?
- 📝 What was the first recorded near death experience of a Christian claiming to have one?
- 📝 How do I discern righteous guilt from false guilt?
- 📝 According to reformed theology, does reformed theology fall apart if one removes the doctrine of predestination?
- 📝 How does the New Apostolic Church compare to evangelical christians?
- 📝 According to Reformed Theology, how does one make disciples?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What does John 3:13 mean, NO MAN has ASCENDED to heaven?
- 📝 The word "ascended" and what does it mean "No one has ascended into heaven" in John 3:13?
- 📝 What does it mean to be "born of water" in John 3:5?
- 📝 What does John Calvin mean to imply by the "suffrage" of the church?
- 📝 What does John 3:16 mean according to Calvinism?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, what did Jesus mean by saying that the least in the kingdom of heaven in greater than John the Baptist?
- 📝 According to Catholicism what does it mean for every relationship in heaven to be perfect and fulfilling?
- 📝 What does "one another" mean in John 13:35?
- 📝 2 John 1:9 — What does it mean to "continue in doctrine?" (Protestantism)
- 📝 What does John Wesley mean by this phrase?
- 📝 To the Calvinist, what does it mean that in the beginning God already has His object of wrath?
- 📝 1 John 3:20 what does it mean "He knows everything" according to Calvinist Single Predestination?
- 📝 What does it mean that Satan is "god of this world"?
- 📝 What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law but did not abolish it?
- 📝 What does Jesus mean by saying, "Why do you call me good?"
- 📝 What exactly does it mean that Jesus Christ is the son of God?
- 📝 What does "scripture" mean in NT writing?
- 📝 What does it mean that Jesus was the "second Adam"?
- 📝 What does it mean to "Bless the LORD"?
- 📝 What does CS Lewis mean by True Myth?
- 📝 What does it mean to interpret the Bible literally?
- 📝 In Catholicism, what does it mean for a priest to bless an object or person?
- 📝 What does it mean to "be saved"
- 📝 What does Jesus mean by "this generation" and "all these things" in Mark 13:30
- 📝 What does Paul mean by "Love believes all things?"
- 📝 What does "gates of hell" mean in Matthew 16:18?
- 📝 What does it mean to comment on scripture with scripture?
- 📝 What does it mean to be "weak in faith"?
- 📝 What does being lukewarm mean in contrast with being hot or cold for the church of Laodicea?
- 📝 What does it mean to "worship God" to Christians in general?
