Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. -1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 ESV
There are two Greek words in the New Testament that are interpreted as 'time'. Kairos is translated as 'time' 64 times. In this passage, and 12 other places, it is translated 'seasons'. Chronos occurs 33 times and is mostly rendered as 'time'.
Two interesting words with different nuances of meaning. Chronos is the root of our English word chronology and denotes the passage of minutes. Kairos seems to focus not on the passage of minutes put on the value of them.
When I consider kairos, I remember that life is all about making time count. There are seasons of our life that pass and never come again. The clock still ticks but seasons of young children and youthful bliss pass on to new things.
It reminds me to make this season of my life count because it will never come again. Instead of counting the minutes I am encouraged to live fully into, and get the most out of, each hour. It is what Jesus did when he entered earth's time.
Teach us Lord, to be wise stewards of our time, to count our days and live fully into them.
... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on words in the bible.
Good commentary.
ReplyDeleteWhat I derive from Paul's message here is the same as from Peter's second letter when he was close to his death: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night". Both apostles implore urgency to be attentive, mindful, "give more diligence".
When I think about "time", I think about these things: when the Lord comes again, no one knows the day, not even the hour.
Thanks for sharing that Angelina.
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