A question about John Chapter 14

[michel]

John 14:2 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.


How do you interpret the above ? I understand that a mansion is a house in itself that has many rooms; the defender's notes of the KJ Version doesn't really explain what is meant by this. So how do you interpret it?

 

[Comprehend]

John 14:2 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.


How do you interpret the above ? I understand that a mansion is a house in itself that has many rooms; the defender's notes of the KJ Version doesn't really explain what is meant by this. So how do you interpret it?

It means that there are different places and levels in heaven. Most christians think there is just "heaven" and everyone goes to the same place.

First this would not seem to be terribly fair and second it doesn't match what the scriptures say. Besides the verse above these other scriptures speak of different levels and places in heaven.

2 Cor 12:2
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth, such an one caught up to the third heaven.

1 Cor 15:40-42
40 [There are] also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial [is] one, and the [glory] of the terrestrial [is] another.
41 [There is] one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for [one] star differeth from [another] star in glory.
42 So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:


With modern revelation, the LDS have even more information on these places.

 

[michel]

With modern revelation, the LDS have even more information on these places.

Wow! Could you direct me to a link that would explain that, please ?

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Wow! Could you direct me to a link that would explain that, please ?

Michel,

I just interpret it as Jesus saying that there is room enough for everyone in heaven. I don't go so far as "levels" because that's not what he said.

 

[michel]

Michel,

I just interpret it as Jesus saying that there is room enough for everyone in heaven. I don't go so far as "levels" because that's not what he said.

That is what I have always thought; somehow, it doesn't "sit well" with me.....

I went to a funeral today, and that passage was said by the Priest; as he spoke, I just felt that it couldn't be that "obvious".........

 

[angellous_evangellous]

That is what I have always thought; somehow, it doesn't "sit well" with me.....

I went to a funeral today, and that passage was said by the Priest; as he spoke, I just felt that it couldn't be that "obvious".........

Why not? Do you want there to be levels of heavenly bliss? Are you uncomfortable with the teaching that there is room in heaven for everyone?

 

[SoyLeche]

Wow! Could you direct me to a link that would explain that, please ?

Well, getting it "straight from the horse's mouth", as it were:
Doctrine and Covenants 76

It's kinda long - but worth reading. You may want to just start at about verse 50 and go through the end.

 

[nutshell]

1 Cor. 15 seems to say there are levels.

And there's room for everyone.

 

[may]

John 14:2 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.


How do you interpret the above ? I understand that a mansion is a house in itself that has many rooms; the defender's notes of the KJ Version doesn't really explain what is meant by this. So how do you interpret it?

In the house of my Father there are many abodes. Otherwise, I would have told YOU, because I am going my way to prepare a place for YOU.

(Luke 12:32) "Have no fear, little flock, because YOUR Father has approved of giving YOU the kingdom.

(Colossians 1:5) because of the hope that is being reserved for YOU in the heavens. This [hope] YOU heard of before by the telling of the truth of that good news​

(1 Peter 1:4) to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for YOU,...................... the little flock who are going to heaven to rule with Jesus in the kingdom . and there is 144,000 of the little flock

 

[Comprehend]

Wow! Could you direct me to a link that would explain that, please ?

Sure, HERE is a link to our scriptures online. Read Doctrine and Covenants section 76 for a good overview (there is also a number of scriptures listed below) or you can read the Encyclopedia of Mormonism entry I have included below on the topic:


Degrees of Glory

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 1-4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: Macmillan, 1992),, p.367-369

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an optimistic view of the eternal rewards awaiting mankind in the hereafter. Members of the Church believe that there are "many mansions" (John 14:2) and that Christ's Atonement and resurrection will save all mankind from death, and eventually will reclaim from hell all except the sons of perdition (D&C 76:43-44). The saved, however, are not placed into a monolithic state called heaven. In the resurrection of the body, they are assigned to different degrees of glory commensurate with the law they have obeyed. There are three kingdoms of glory: the celestial, the terrestrial, and the telestial. The apostle Paul spoke of three glories, differing from one another as the sun, moon, and stars differ in brilliance. He called the first two glories celestial and terrestrial, but the third is not named in the Bible (1 Cor. 15:40-41; cf. D&C 76:70-81, 96-98.) The word "telestial" is an LDS term, first used by the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in reporting a vision they received on February 16, 1832 (D&C 76; Webster's Third New International Dictionary defines telestial glory as "the lowest of three Mormon degrees or kingdoms of glory attainable in heaven"; see also Celestial Kingdom; Terrestrial Kingdom; Telestial Kingdom).


At the final judgment, all except the devil, his angels, and those who become sons of perdition during mortal life will be assigned to one of the three kingdoms of glory. The devil and his followers will be assigned a kingdom without glory (D&C 76:25-39; 88:24, 32-35).


LDS SCRIPTURE SOURCES. Although the Bible contains references to varying levels of resurrection and heaven (1 Cor. 15:39-58; 2 Cor. 12:2), LDS understanding of the subject comes mainly through revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The first revelation dealing directly with this matter was received February 16, 1832, and is called "The Vision" (D&C 76). Concerning the circumstances of receiving this revelation, Joseph Smith explained:

Upon my return from Amherst [Ohio] conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body the term "Heaven," as intended for the Saints' eternal home, must include more kingdoms than one. Accordinglywhile translating St. John's Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vison" [HC 1:245: see also Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (JST)].
Later revelations, especially Doctrine and Covenants 88, 131, 132, 137, and 1 38, have added information on this subject.

EDIT:

deleted the rest of the entry because the quote is too long but if anyone want's it, send me a PM.

 

[kateyes]

Well Michel

My 2 cents worth, I think alot of time and energy is spend seeking and finding symbolism in the Bible that may or may not exist. I tend to take alot of passages at face value--and consider them to mean exactly what they say. So: "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." In my mind he is quite simply saying--there is plenty of room for all-that this isn't something available to only a select few--but is open and available to all who chose to believe. If you chose to believe "my father's house" is synonimous with heaven--then he is saying there is room for all in heaven.

Interestingly enough I have heard this passage used as an arguement for reincarnation, the many mansions being a way of indicating way-stations or levels between lives--with each life being a stage towards becoming a more perfect soul.

 

[Comprehend]

Michel,

I just interpret it as Jesus saying that there is room enough for everyone in heaven. I don't go so far as "levels" because that's not what he said.

Many mansions seems to me like it is saying there are many different places to go. I doubt anyone was concerned that God didn't have enough real estate.

 

[kateyes]

Many mansions seems to me like it is saying there are many different places to go. I doubt anyone was concerned that God didn't have enough real estate.

Certainly that argument would hold today--but in the world that existed 2000 years ago, among people with little knowledge of the extent of earth and the Universe, I think it could have been a concern.

If Jesus hadn't followed with "I go to prepare....." and the bit about I am the way--I would be tempted to think he meant there are different mansions for different beliefs--but the follow-up seems to make it pretty clear--he considered belief in him as the only way.

 

[Comprehend]

Certainly that argument would hold today--but in the world that existed 2000 years ago, among people with little knowledge of the extent of earth and the Universe, I think it could have been a concern.

If Jesus hadn't followed with "I go to prepare....." and the bit about I am the way--I would be tempted to think he meant there are different mansions for different beliefs--but the follow-up seems to make it pretty clear--he considered belief in him as the only way.

It seems to me that 2000 years ago, people had more of a faith in the ability of God than today, not less but I understand how you see it that way.

I wasn't saying that there were different mansions for different beliefs, rather, there are different places for different levels of obedience.

Did you see the other scriptures I provided in my first post? What do you make of the scriptures that talk about the "third heaven" and different degree's of glory?

 

[Katzpur]

Why not? Do you want there to be levels of heavenly bliss? Are you uncomfortable with the teaching that there is room in heaven for everyone?

I don't see why it has to be an either/or situation. Jesus said He would "reward every man according to his works." If greater works don't merit greater reward, what do you think He meant instead?

 

[kateyes]

It seems to me that 2000 years ago, people had more of a faith in the ability of God than today, not less but I understand how you see it that way.

I wasn't saying that there were different mansions for different beliefs, rather, there are different places for different levels of obedience.

Did you see the other scriptures I provided in my first post? What do you make of the scriptures that talk about the "third heaven" and different degree's of glory?

Well, you need to know I am not a follower of Paul--I tend to discount his interpretations of things. I am open to the idea of different mansions for different levels of obedience, or as I mentioned different mansions, as waystations for a soul to develop.

 

[Comprehend]

Well, you need to know I am not a follower of Paul--I tend to discount his interpretations of things. I am open to the idea of different mansions for different levels of obedience, or as I mentioned different mansions, as waystations for a soul to develop.

Oh, I wasn't aware of that. So you don't accept all of the Bible?

How do you determine which part is from God and which is simply opinion?

 

[kateyes]

Thats the tricky question isn't it? I believe the Bible was inspired by God--but am enough of a realist to understand that any document that has an oral tradition that is thousands of years old is going to take some bias from the story teller.

I spent different periods in my life questioning/doubting religions, christianity and others. Without making it seem maudlin or like some great epiphany--one day I made a choice to believe (I know some would say I was saved--cannot say I go along with that either)--I just made the choice--and felt at ease with the decision to accept Jesus and HIS teachings. The problem is I don't think the Church Paul created is necessarily the Church Jesus intended--I don't know that-I have no proof of course-it is just my feeling. I think probably the Church Jesus intended was the Church of Jerusalem which was headed by his brother James--and which quietly faded away. The Jesus we see in the Gospels--doesn't seem to me to be the same as the Jesus we see in Paul's Epistles--forgive the tacky example--but its like Jesus started up this nice little bakery using organic flour and all made with loving hands. Jesus died, James was trying to hold the bakery together and along came Paul who said lets sell franchises--it will all have Jesus name--but to make it sell we need to change this, and expand that etc, etc--all of a sudden we have christianity with a capital C--with alot of fluff and very few of the original basic principles.

I tend to draw my views and beliefs from Matthew, Mark, and Luke (which agree on many points and seem to emphasize Jesus humanity). They may agree because they originated with 1 common source. John places alot of emphasis on Jesus' divinity. I tend to believe it was written later to embelish on the earlier Gospels.

Its not so much that I try to distinguish between what is from God and what is someone's opinion--its more a sense of what feels right.

 

[Comprehend]

Thats the tricky question isn't it? I believe the Bible was inspired by God--but am enough of a realist to understand that any document that has an oral tradition that is thousands of years old is going to take some bias from the story teller.

I spent different periods in my life questioning/doubting religions, christianity and others. Without making it seem maudlin or like some great epiphany--one day I made a choice to believe (I know some would say I was saved--cannot say I go along with that either)--I just made the choice--and felt at ease with the decision to accept Jesus and HIS teachings. The problem is I don't think the Church Paul created is necessarily the Church Jesus intended--I don't know that-I have no proof of course-it is just my feeling. I think probably the Church Jesus intended was the Church of Jerusalem which was headed by his brother James--and which quietly faded away. The Jesus we see in the Gospels--doesn't seem to me to be the same as the Jesus we see in Paul's Epistles--forgive the tacky example--but its like Jesus started up this nice little bakery using organic flour and all made with loving hands. Jesus died, James was trying to hold the bakery together and along came Paul who said lets sell franchises--it will all have Jesus name--but to make it sell we need to change this, and expand that etc, etc--all of a sudden we have christianity with a capital C--with alot of fluff and very few of the original basic principles.

I tend to draw my views and beliefs from Matthew, Mark, and Luke (which agree on many points and seem to emphasize Jesus humanity). They may agree because they originated with 1 common source. John places alot of emphasis on Jesus' divinity. I tend to believe it was written later to embelish on the earlier Gospels.

Its not so much that I try to distinguish between what is from God and what is someone's opinion--its more a sense of what feels right.

Ok. thanks for explaining. I understand your view now but of course I have a different one.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

John 14:2 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.


How do you interpret the above ? I understand that a mansion is a house in itself that has many rooms; the defender's notes of the KJ Version doesn't really explain what is meant by this. So how do you interpret it?

There is an allusion to the Jewish marriage tradition there. When a marriage proposal was accepted the groom would return to his fathers house and begin building an addition. When the addition was completed to the the father's satisfaction he would send the son to get his bride.

The last supper was a marriage proposal to the church. Jesus then went to His Father to prepare a place for the church. Jesus did not know when He would return because it is up to the Father to decide the time.