Note on Luke 23: 43

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 23, 1908

Note on Luke 23: 43

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23: 42, 43.

It is left for the reader to determine whether the words “this day” should be joined (a) with the former part of the sentence, or (b) with the latter. In favor of (a) may be urged (1) the fact that semeron, “this day,” does not always stand first in the clause to which it belongs (see Luke 2:11; 5:26; 22:34; Acts 20:26; 22:3; 24:21; 26:29); (2) that being essentially a demonstrative word, it will bear any reasonable stress that may be laid upon it, whether it be placed before or after the words which it qualifies; (3) that it is far from meaningless if regarded as belonging to the opening words of asservation (“Thou dost ask to be remembered then: verily thou art assured now. As on this day of my weakness and shame, thou hast faith to ask, I this day have authority to answer”); (4) that the latter part of the verse is thus left free to refer to the very matter of the supplicant’s request (“Thou dost ask to be remembered when I come in my kingdom: thou shalt be remembered then, and with distinguished favor: thou shalt be in my kingdom; shalt be with me in the very paradise of my kingdom, in the garden of the Lord—Isa. 51:3 [Septuagint paradeisos]; Rev. 2:11—in that most central and blessed part of the coming kingdom, of which thou dost believe me to be the destined king”).—Note in Rotherham’s “Translation of the New Testament.”