Another common Misused and Abused Bible verses is John 14:2. In the KJV it says “In my Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you”. There are a couple of problems with how this verse is commonly interpreted. One problem is found in the word “mansion” and the other is in what is meant by “I go to prepare a place.” However, I believe that the second misuse is a result of the first abuse.
The first problem in this verse is a result of its unfortunate translation in the KJV. The problem is that the word that is translated as “mansions” does not mean mansions in the way that we commonly think. The word really means rooms or dwelling places. In the culture in which this was written it was normal for a man to marry a woman and then go live in his father’s house. They would just add another room or dwelling place so that the entire family could fit. Jesus was saying that he was going to take believers back to His Father’s house. They were not to worry because there would be plenty of dwelling places…rooms. This can even be seen in the English definition of the word. I encourage you to look up the word ‘mansion’ in a Webster dictionary (you can do it online here). You will see that one definition says “a separate apartment or lodging in a large structure.”
How did this happen? The Greek word monai was rendered in the [Latin] Vulgate as mansiones, it then came down through the Tyndale version to the KJV as “mansions.1 It doesn’t matter how many songs talk about ‘mansions over the hilltop’, it is still incorrect. There are some other negative by-products of this misuse such as portraying Jesus as leading us to economic prosperity, but I will save that for another day. In my opinion the NASB has the best translation by saying “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places…”
The second problem is a result of the first. Because most people in our culture think of a mansion differently than this verse intended, they twist the phrase “I go to prepare a place for you” to fit. This is not saying that Jesus was going to go to Heaven and put on His royal tool belt and build us each a heavenly version of the Biltmore (bowling lanes included). His “going to prepare a place” was in reference to the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into Heaven. That was the preparation that was needed in order for us to be taken to Heaven. One commentary said that Jesus was not in the business of construction, he was in the business of leading people to God. And in order for people to be led to God a sacrifice was required.
Let me say in closing that I am in no way saying that Heaven is not going to be nice. There are plenty of passages that refer to the splendor and majesty of Heaven, this is just not one of them. Heaven will be greater than anything we could ever imagine, but it will be so first and foremost because we will be in the presence of Jesus Christ.
1 KJV The King James Version Gerald L. Borchert, vol. 25B, John 12-21, The new American commentary, New International Version (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2002), 103.
thinkingwithpurpose
I just happened upon your site. Please consider writing about what I hear MOST OFTEN misused and abused bible verse. It is from the new testament when Jesue tells his disciples, “You will always have the poor among you.” The context is that he is about to die on the cross and someone wants to pay him a kindness by bathing him and using expensive perfume and oil. And another follower says that a better use of the perfume and oil would be to sell it and give the proceeds to the poor. Jesus — about to die — appreciates and wants to accept the kindness saying there will always be poor among us, but he’s hinting that HE is about to be crucified and will no longer be among us in human form.
When I hear this verse quoted it is used to justify why we shouldn’t feed the poor or contribute to charity or vote for social welfare programs. What a misuse.
By: Jackie on February 9, 2010
at 6:37 pm