3

We read at Luke 16:22-23 (KJV)

" And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. "

Though Jesus gives a literal picture of Lazarus sitting in the lap of Abraham ( and many drawings of the story of Lazarus picture him do so ), some suggest that Abraham's Bosom was a place where the dead would await their judgement, and that the phrase was taken by Jesus from Jewish literature. My question therefore is: According to Catholic teachings, what was the origin of the phrase "Abraham's Bosom" as used by Jesus in the Story of Lazarus and the Rich Man ?

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
3

Prior to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the declaration that he is the Son of God, which is made after his resurrection - see Romans 1:4 - the revelation of the Father was not fully declared to Israel, though it was stated to the disciples of Jesus Christ.

In the absence of the coming revelation of the Father, Jesus merely states that Lazarus was in the bosom of 'Abraham' in what he later refers to (when he speaks to the one-time thief upon the cross) as 'Paradise'.

In this Paradise, Lazarus was actually in the bosom of the Father. But it could not be so stated until after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the full revelation of the Son and the Father.

Thus Abraham is in the bosom of the Father, in Paradise. And Lazarus is in the bosom of the Father, in Paradise. But Jesus only refers to Lazarus in Abraham's bosom, until such time as more can be revealed.

What is revealed in Jesus' last moments in crucifixion is that the one-time thief will be in Paradise, with Jesus Himself, within that very day.

The 'origin' of the saying by Jesus 'the bosom of Abraham' is Jesus himself.

It was an original saying, not based on Jewish tradition.

Improve this answer
3

"Bosom of Abraham" refers to the place of comfort in the Biblical Sheol (or Hades in the Greek Septuagint version of the Hebrew scriptures from around 200 BCE, and therefore so described in the New Testament) where the righteous dead supposedly await Judgment Day.

The word found in the Greek text for "bosom" is kolpos, meaning "lap" "bay". This relates to the Second Temple period practice of reclining and eating meals in proximity to other guests, the closest of whom physically was said to lie on the bosom (chest) of the host, as in John 13:23.

enter image description here

The Jews had adopted the Persian, Greek, and Roman custom of reclining at meals, and had long since exchanged the original practice of standing at the Passover first for sitting and then for reclining in a setup called Triclinium. They reclined on the left arm and ate with the right. The expression "lies in the bosom" is well documented in extrabiblical sources.

enter image description here

Improve this answer
1
  • Thanks . Parents also allow their young children to sit in their lap, even when they are not having meals-- like during family prayer, while watching the TV or when guests come visiting. Interestingly, Jesus narrates the conversation between the rich man (now in hell) with Abraham at Lk 16:24-30 , implying that Jesus did want his listeners to get the mental picture of Lazarus sitting in the lap of Abraham . Possibly, there was a belief that the rewarded Jews would sit in Forefather Abraham's lap in heaven.
    – Kadalikatt Joseph Sibichan
    Nov 10, 2020 at 4:59

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .