Butch5

Actually, There was no punctuation in the Greek text. It is the translators who added the punctuation where they "think" it should be. Jesus' statement to the their can be read two different ways and both are grammatically correct in the Greek text. Simply moving the comma over on place changes the meaning of the sentence. NAS Luke 23:43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." (Luk 23:43 NAS) Below I have moved the comma from before the word "today" to after it. Notice the difference in meaning. And He said to him, "Truly I say to you today, you shall be with Me in Paradise." When the comma is placed before "today" the reading requires that the thief be in Paradise with Jesus that day. However, when the comma is moved and placed after the word "today" It reads "I tell you today". The second reading does not require that the thief be in Paradise with Jesus that day. The second reading better fits with the context of the Scriptures than the first one does.

Actually, there's nothing in the Scriptures that teach that people go to Heaven. Heaven is not the hope of the Christian, the hope is the restored earth in which is the kingdom of God.

Actually, what one must believe is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.