Was the right-hand thief the first person in heaven?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, we distinguish between Paradise (the place of rest for the righteous) and the Kingdom of Heaven (the final state after the Second Coming and the Great Judgment).
Regarding the Penitent Thief, known in our tradition as St. Demas, he was indeed the first person to enter Paradise after the Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Promise of Paradise
As recorded in the Holy Gospel, the thief made a confession of faith while on the cross, saying, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Our Lord replied to him: "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
Before the death and Resurrection of Christ, the gates of Paradise were closed due to the fall of Adam. All souls, including the righteous prophets and patriarchs of the Old Testament, descended into Hades (the place of waiting). When our Lord gave up His spirit on the Cross, He descended into Hades to liberate the captives. The Penitent Thief, having received the promise directly from the Mouth of God, was the first to enter Paradise, preceding even the prophets and the righteous of old.
Theological Nuance: Paradise vs. Heaven
It is important to be precise when using the term "Heaven":
- Paradise: This is where the souls of the righteous dwell now, in a state of joy and anticipation, waiting for the general resurrection. St. Demas was the first to enter here, carrying the Cross as his "key" to the gates that had been shut.
- The Kingdom of Heaven: This refers to the final, eternal state of glory following the Resurrection of the body and the Last Judgment. No human being has "inherited" the full Kingdom in its final sense yet, as we all await the Second Coming of The Almighty.
Liturgical Witness
In the Coptic Liturgy and the prayers of the Agpeya, particularly during the Sixth and Ninth Hour prayers, we commemorate the faith of the thief. We pray:
"When the thief saw the Prince of Life hung on the Cross, he said: 'Had not the One crucified with us been God incarnate, the sun would not have hidden its light, nor would the earth have quaked trembling. But O Almighty Lord, remember me in Your kingdom when You come.'"
By his repentance and his recognition of the Mother of God's Son as the true King and God, the thief became a pattern of hope for all sinners. While he was the first into Paradise, he entered not by his own merit, but by the grace of God and his profound confession of faith in the midst of the Lord's suffering.