
John 14:2King James Version (KJV)
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Anything, ANYTHING…ANYTHING but a mansion to hope for. Who can help us out? Thankfully, here comes the modern version parade to rescue us as always…
NIV – “rooms” > Like a rooming house? A studio apt?
NLT – “more than enough room” > More than enough room for what?
NASB – “dwelling places” > How about a tent in my back yard?
Darby Bible Translation – “abodes” > My, how vague.
Weymouth – “resting-places” > Sounds like a hotel or a chair.
Weymouth New Testament – “homes” > Now we have something a little closer to the truth.
We will make this issue clear without having to appeal to the Greek.
The other passage where the Greek term for the word is used is in John 14:23, so the Greek is no help at all. We will find the truth by rightly dividing the words of truth.
In John 14:23, the term abode is used for our bodies where the Father and the Son will dwell. If that is a picture of the size of our dwelling place in heaven, it would be quite cramped unless it would be the size of an extremely obese person, but I digress.
The promise is made primarily but not exclusively to the disciples.
In the Kingdom of Christ, we will have homes of some sort to live in. We will not be disembodied spirits
playing harps on the clouds of Jupiter.
The apostles in the Kingdom are to rule over Israel as kings and judges and shall be seated on thrones. A mark of royalty is implied. They are a royal priesthood as are other saints but they shall receive a full reward as they had forsaken everything in life for Christ's sake.
Luke 22:28-30
28Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19 :27-29
27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
So there you have it. At the end of a day of work (and yes, we do work in the millennium) the apostles (and others) who have been working as judges, rulers, and kings that are enjoying the fruit of a past life fully sacrificed for Christ will have a home to return to. Jesus in John 14:2 is speaking to encourage them of a gracious reward and comfort.
There is only one term that fits the context. MANSION. The “Greek” can be taken to mean anything. We are not concerned about what can it mean but what does it mean. We are told to compare scripture with scripture.
Edward Super September 2016
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Anything, ANYTHING…ANYTHING but a mansion to hope for. Who can help us out? Thankfully, here comes the modern version parade to rescue us as always…
NIV – “rooms” > Like a rooming house? A studio apt?
NLT – “more than enough room” > More than enough room for what?
NASB – “dwelling places” > How about a tent in my back yard?
Darby Bible Translation – “abodes” > My, how vague.
Weymouth – “resting-places” > Sounds like a hotel or a chair.
Weymouth New Testament – “homes” > Now we have something a little closer to the truth.
We will make this issue clear without having to appeal to the Greek.
The other passage where the Greek term for the word is used is in John 14:23, so the Greek is no help at all. We will find the truth by rightly dividing the words of truth.
In John 14:23, the term abode is used for our bodies where the Father and the Son will dwell. If that is a picture of the size of our dwelling place in heaven, it would be quite cramped unless it would be the size of an extremely obese person, but I digress.
The promise is made primarily but not exclusively to the disciples.
In the Kingdom of Christ, we will have homes of some sort to live in. We will not be disembodied spirits
playing harps on the clouds of Jupiter.
The apostles in the Kingdom are to rule over Israel as kings and judges and shall be seated on thrones. A mark of royalty is implied. They are a royal priesthood as are other saints but they shall receive a full reward as they had forsaken everything in life for Christ's sake.
Luke 22:28-30
28Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 19 :27-29
27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
So there you have it. At the end of a day of work (and yes, we do work in the millennium) the apostles (and others) who have been working as judges, rulers, and kings that are enjoying the fruit of a past life fully sacrificed for Christ will have a home to return to. Jesus in John 14:2 is speaking to encourage them of a gracious reward and comfort.
There is only one term that fits the context. MANSION. The “Greek” can be taken to mean anything. We are not concerned about what can it mean but what does it mean. We are told to compare scripture with scripture.
Edward Super September 2016