Verse
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 – John 14:2
Meaning of John 14:2
The meaning of the verse, “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” is that Jesus went back to His father, i.e., heaven in order to prepare a place for every believer. Jesus also promises that there is a place for everyone in His father’s, which is God’s house. The mention of the word “mansions” might not mean something big but might be a description of every believer having a room or place in God’s house. In the succeeding verse, Jesus also promises His disciples to come back for them once He is done preparing a place for them. Biblical scholars are not sure of the extent of physical truth in verse but believe that this verse is Jesus’ promise to His believers that everyone who places their faith in Him will have a place in heaven, i.e., the house of God.
Interpretations of John 14:2
The verse of John 14:2 is a commonly quoted verse in churches and among Christians. However, the verse is often taken out of context and interpreted in different ways. Here are some examples.
Interpretation #1 Christians can live in temples
The interpretation of the verse, “In my Father’s house are many mansions” is that Christians can live in temples or Churches if they do not afford a home or shelter. The reader believes that Jesus is telling His readers that they can live and stay in them as long as they require to. Additionally, if a Christian ever loses their home to natural calamities or financial trouble, the reader holds the church as per the promise in this verse, asking the Church to offer a home. Hence, the reader understands that when Jesus says “mansions”, he means Churches. Thus a few churches across the world allow the members to live on church grounds depending on their situation.
Interpretation #2 Christians are entitled to mansions
The meaning of the verse, “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” is that Christians are entitled to own or have mansions. The reader understands that as God’s children, every Christian has the right to stay in a luxurious property that is provided to them, as mentioned in the Bible. The mansion could be owned, borrowed, or merely occupied. Often, this leads a Christian to step away from other commandments of the Bible and even break the laws. The Bible also asks Christians not to worry about where they will stay as God has already prepared mansions for them to stay in.
Interpretation #3 Mansions are other planets
The interpretation of the verse, “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” is that the word “mansions” means other planets. The reader believes that according to a few denominations in Christianity, it is believed in the afterlife, Christians will move onto other planets created by God and lead the rest of their eternity on those planets. Since Christians believe and claim that God created the universe, including the solar system, the other planets are supernaturally sustained. He assigned different planets to the believers for them to live after their death, also known as the spirit world.
Interpretation #4 Jesus is promising riches to Christians
In this interpretation, the reader believes that Jesus is promising riches to Christians. The Bible consists of verses that say that God wants to pass down His riches to His children. Hence the churches also teach that God wants His children to live a rich life which also includes living in mansions. The Bible also narrates stories of people who had a “rags-to-riches” transition when they believed and trusted in God. Some examples are David, and Joseph, including the story of a rich man and a poor man. Here the poor man leads a rich and luxurious afterlife while the rich man is sent to hell. Hence, the reader understands that a Christian is meant for greater things in life as well as the afterlife.
Interpretation #5 Jesus is referring to heaven
The final interpretation of the verse, “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” is that Jesus is talking about heaven in this phrase. The reader believes that Jesus is the way to heaven, as many Bible scriptures claim the same notion. Here, Jesus is telling His listeners and readers that He is going before them to prepare a place for them in the house of His father, God. He also assures believers that the house of God has many mansions, which means dwelling places in Greek. Hence, this verse comes as a relief and comfort for believers knowing that they have a place to go to the afterlife as a reward for their good and faithful life.
Historical background of John 14:2
The Book of John was written by John the Evangelist. Similar to the other three gospels, John covered the events of Jesus’ birth, death, works, teachings, and redemption. The gospel was written between AD 70-110. The fourteenth chapter of the book consists of contexts where Jesus comforts His disciples of having a place in heaven, telling them that He is the path through which they can reach God and also promises them the guidance and fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The second verse is Jesus’ promise to His disciples of His father, God having a place for every believer in His house.
Literary Devices of John 14:2
John 14:2 is a promise and assurance from Jesus to His readers. It also consists of some significant literary devices. Here are the examples.
Hyperbole – The phrase ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions’ in the verse John 14:2 is a good example of hyperbole as ‘many mansions’ appears to be exaggerated. The readers might believe that it is impossible to have a home for every believer from the beginning of creation.
Alliteration – The verse John 14:2 has excellent use of consonant sounds at the start of the words. For example, the sound of /m/ in ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions’; the sound of /w/ and the sound of /p/ in ‘if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you’.
Assonance – The verse also has rich use of repeated use of vowel sounds. For example, the sound of /a/ in ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions’; the sound of /i/ ‘if it were not so’; the sound of /oo/ and the sound of /a/ in ‘I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you’.
Consonance – The verse John 14:2 has repeated use of consonant sounds, a few with quick successions. For example, the sound of /s/ and the sound of /r/ in ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions’; the sound of /t/ in ‘if it were not so’; the sound of /d/ in ‘I would have told you’; and the sound of /r/ in ‘I go to prepare a place for you’.
Metaphor – The ‘Father’s house’ in John 14:2 is a metaphor for heaven.
Themes – The major themes of John 14:2 are God’s love, resting place, and heaven.