I stick to my underastanding that “paradise” is either a hellenism inadvertently introduced by St. Luke, or an actual word Jesus used speaking in Greek because St. Dismas was Greek. It refers either way to the eternal life in the Heavenly Kingdom (the word “kingdom” IS used, mind you).
As to eyewitness, apparently St. Luke was not a witness to the Crucifixion any more than he was a witness to the Annunciation. In either case, he put to paper what he learned from others, most likely, from the Blessed Virgin who he obviously had many conversations with.
That's fine, except that the Bible does not name the thieves, let alone give their backgrounds, and St. Dismas is a 4th century legend. If you can live with that as a matter of fact, more power to you. Might as well be pink unicorns on Jupiter. They are real if you are willing to believe they are.
It refers either way to the eternal life in the Heavenly Kingdom (the word “kingdom” IS used, mind you)
Yes the kingdom was mentioned but apparently Jesus (mis)understood it to mean paradise, which is neither heaven nor his kingdom, nor where he supposedly "went" that same day.
In either case, he put to paper what he learned from others, most likely, from the Blessed Virgin who he obviously had many conversations with
Where do you get that from?