Theological Branch: Kairology
Topic: *Time from a Greek Perspective. Part 1.*
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the *times of refreshing* shall come from the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:19)
The ancient Greeks had two words for marking the differences between the experiences of time: kronos and kairos.
"As usual, the Greeks were ahead of us in thinking and speaking about such conundrums. Where we use one word to describe a whole range of things, they had the good sense to use different words to mark distinctions in reality and in experience.
“Kronos (or Chronos in the English spelling, from which we take our word chronology) is sequential time. Kronos is the time of clocks and calendars; it can be quantified and measured. Kronos is linear, moving inexorably out of the determinate past toward the determined future, and has no freedom.
Kairos is numinous time. Kairos is a time of festivals and fantasies; it cannot be controlled or possessed. Kairos is circular, dancing back and forth, here and there, without beginning or ending, and knows no boundaries.
Kairos can be seen as instances where a person is so dramatically overwhelmed with life events that time stands still and is no longer relevant. When the things of common, normal life cease, and a person's focus is directed on one defining, specific, notable and special moment that has deep significance to him, as life itself is put on hold, and the drama of kairos unfolds.
*The mystery of time is able to be explored, understood and known through the deep study of God’s Word. The kairos word is used 57 times (καιρός ‐ Greek #2789, Strong’s #2540) in New Testament Scripture and in each instance, we realize through our studies that it is a time stopping event, a significant and special adjustment of time, made by the LORD God Himself to move His Will at the beat of His Timepiece.*
Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning the “right or opportune moment”
*Where Kronos and Kairos Kiss.*
The Word of God speaks of times of kairos In the defining moment for the world, when time surely must have paused and the most life‐changing event of the Gospel began…
“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:14‐15).
Bibliography.
Kathy L. McFarland. Bible Teacher Resources 2014. All rights reserved.
Excerpted from the book “Creating Time: Using Creativity to Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life”, 2012 Marney Makridakis. Used with permission of newworldlibrary.com