SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ASCENSION
There are a number of different Greek words used to describe Jesus’
ascension back to heaven:
1. Acts 1:2,11,22; analambanō, to take up (cf. I Tim. 3:16), which is
also used in the Septuagint of II Kgs. 2:9,11 for Elijah’s translation to heaven
and also I Maccabees 2:58
2. Acts 1:9, epairō, to lift up, to raise up, to elevate
3. Luke 9:51, analēpsis (form of #1)
4. Luke 24:51, diistēmi, to depart
5. John 6:62, anabainō, to ascend
This event is not recorded in Matthew or Mark’s Gospel. Mark’s Gospel ends at
16:8, but one of the three later scribal addition describes the event in 16:19
(i.e., analambanō).
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