(This is a series of blogs that build one upon another. Therefore, you should read them to better understand the concepts presented.)
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1 Peter 1:11
In this second post on times and seasons we want to look at this scripture and learn more about the two different words for time in the Bible.
Kenneth Wuest was a New Testament Greek professor at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He also is credited as one of the translators of the original New American Standard Bible and later went on to produce his own English translation of the New Testament. Below he weighs in on the scripture in 1 Peter.
What time vs what kind of time (1 Peter 1:11)
Chronos and Kairos
Chronos — Chronos is linear time – clock-time; the regular day-to-day, week-to-week, year-to-year passage of time. In chronos times, our walk with the Lord is characterized by our daily faithfulness and obedience to follow His voice. Change is measured as we look back over our lives and see how the Lord’s hand has guided us faithfully, one step at a time.
Kairos is defined as a special, critical, strategic period of time, “the right season, the right time for action, and the critical moment.” Kairos points to unique moments in the temporal process — moments in which something unique can happen or be accomplished.
Life is not made up of kairos moments! It is made up of chronos and those segments of chronos are connected or joined together by kairos. You don’t get a kairos all the time. They are to be looked for and discerned.
“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times(chronos) or the seasons (kairos), which the Father hath put in his own power.”
Acts 1:7
“But of the times (chronos) and the seasons (kairos), brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:1
- Most of us are used to living in chronos timing, where there is still time to make decisions and God will wait for us to be obedient.
- A kairos moment says “Now’s the time;” if the time is missed then it is missed.
Each season is preparation for the next season
- You must discern what God wants to teach you in your present season.
- You will be equipped for the next season only if you are faithful in the present season.
- You don’t want to miss the armor when it’s passed out!
