I have been reading your arguments for Paradise being a place of comfort in sheol and I usually agree with your reasoning but this time, it leaves me a bit confused. Could there be two kinds of Paradise; one in sheol according to Luke 23:43 and one in Heaven according to 2 Corinthians 12:4 ? In both these passages, the word Paradeisos is used, but they seem to describe two different destinations. Could you clarify this apparent contradiction for me please?
No one knows exactly where Paul went or what he saw and heard when he was “caught up” because He was not allowed to talk about it (2 Cor. 12:2-4). Although one possible meaning of the Greek word paradeisos is heaven, it is always translated Paradise in the Bible. In 2 Cor. 12:2 Paul mentioned the third Heaven but there the Greek word is ouranos, which usually means heaven but is also used in the Bible when referring to the sky.
As I mentioned in the article some in the early Church believed Paradise was neither on the earth nor in heaven, but was above and beyond the world. In any case I don’t believe there’s any justification for believing there are two places called Paradise.