Paradise

In religion and folklore, paradise is a place of forever happiness, joy, and peace. It is often shown with calm and beautiful nature scenes. It is very different from the problems and hard times of everyday life. In paradise, there is only peace, good luck, and happiness. It is a place where everyone feels happy and content.

The word 'paradise' comes from old translations of the Bible. It started with the Latin word paradisus, used in the Vulgate translation of the book of Genesis. This Latin word came from the Greek word παράδεισος (paradeisos), meaning 'garden' or 'orchard'. The idea of paradise appears in many religions and cultures. In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, heaven is seen as a paradise. In Hinduism and Buddhism, paradise is also linked with heaven for people who live good lives.

Older beliefs also have ideas of paradise. In ancient Egypt, the place for the dead after judgment was called Aaru, a wonderful place with lots of food and fun. The Celts imagined a Fortunate Isle called Mag Mell. The ancient Greeks believed in the Elysian fields, a lovely land where good and brave people could spend eternity. The idea of paradise has inspired many artists and writers, especially before the Enlightenment era. One famous example is John Milton’s book Paradise Lost.

Etymology and concept history

The word "paradise" entered English from the French. The French got it from the Latin. Latin borrowed it from the Greek, where it was parádeisos. This Greek word came from an old Iranian word that meant "walled enclosure." Over time, this idea of a special, safe space spread to many languages and cultures.

By around the 6th to 5th century BCE, the word moved into Assyrian and then into the big gardens of the early Persian Empire. It was later used in Greek writings to describe places for animals, in Aramaic for royal parks, and in Hebrew for beautiful gardens or orchards. This idea of a special garden or beautiful place became linked to peaceful and happy places in many stories and beliefs.

Biblical

Hebrew Bible

The Hebrew word pardes comes from an old Persian word meaning "park" or "garden". It is used in the Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, and Nehemiah to describe beautiful royal parks.

Later, Jewish thinkers began to connect the idea of paradise with the Garden of Eden and hopes of returning to a peaceful, beautiful place like Eden.

New Testament

The Greek word παράδεισος appears three times in the New Testament:

• In Luke 23:43 – when Jesus spoke to someone while on the cross.
• In 2 Cor. 12:4 – where Paul talks about a wonderful place above Earth.
• In Rev. 2:7 – referring to a special tree of life mentioned in the Bible.

Judaism

See also: Paradise in Judaism

In Jewish beliefs, there is a special place called the "Garden of Righteousness," known as Gan Eden. This beautiful garden has existed since the world began. Good people who live there will see wonderful sights. They will walk with God and live forever. These good people will wear shining clothes and enjoy the fruits of the tree of life. This idea of Gan Eden is different from places like gehinnom or sheol, where bad people go after they die.

In modern Jewish beliefs, people think that history will end, and everyone will return to the Garden of Eden. Jewish teachers talk about two kinds of gardens called Eden. One is a peaceful, green place full of plants and trees, called the "lower Gan Eden." The other is a heavenly home for good people who live forever, called the "higher Gan Eden." The word "Pardes" is used sometimes in stories about understanding religious teachings. The Zohar, a Jewish book, gives this word a special meaning, linking it to different ways of understanding the Torah, the Jewish holy book.

Christianity

See also: World to Come, Kingship and kingdom of God, and Hades in Christianity

In the second century, a Christian teacher named Irenaeus talked about paradise in a different way from heaven. He thought only some people would go to heaven, while others would live in paradise. Another teacher, Origen, saw paradise as a place where good souls learn and grow before moving closer to heaven.

Early Christians sometimes thought of a place called Abraham's bosom as paradise, where good people rested. In one Bible story, Jesus spoke to a person being crucified with him and promised, "Today you will be with me in paradise." Artists sometimes show paradise with a tree of life and happy souls.

Jehovah's Witnesses

See also: Jehovah's Witnesses and salvation

Jehovah's Witnesses believe God wanted the world to be a beautiful home for everyone. But Adam and Eve made a mistake and left this special garden. They teach that after a big battle called Armageddon, good people will live forever in a peaceful world without pain or sadness. Even people who had passed away will come back to life and live in this wonderful place.

Mormonism

In the beliefs of Latter Day Saints, paradise is a place where spirits stay after they die but before they come back to life. Good people rest there, while others wait to learn more about Jesus's teachings. After everyone comes back to life, they will all go to a place that matches how they lived.

Islam

Main article: Jannah

In the Quran, Heaven is called Jannah, meaning "garden." The highest level is called Firdaus, or Paradise. This is the most joyful place after death for those who believe in Allah, angels, his revealed books, his prophets and messengers, the Day of Judgement, and follow God's will. In Islam, Heaven also means the skies and the whole universe.

There are eight special places in Jannah. Jannah al-Mawa is the lowest, Jannah al-Adn is in the middle, and Jannah al-Firdaus is the highest. A tradition from the Prophet says that when asking Allah for something, ask for Al-Firdaus because it is the center of Paradise and the highest place, and all the rivers of Paradise flow from it.

The Qur'an tells us that only those who face hard times and stay strong in their faith will reach Paradise. The Qur'an describes Paradise with beautiful springs, nice clothes, soft carpets, and lovely fruits, promising peace and forgiveness to those who are faithful.

Gnosticism

On the Origin of the World, a text from the Nag Hammadi library in Gnosticism, talks about Paradise. It says Paradise is a faraway, beautiful place on Earth to the east, surrounded by stones. In Paradise, there is a special Tree of Life in the north. This tree helps the souls of good people after they leave their bodies. Next to it is the Tree of Knowledge, which has great power from God.