The Fulness of Times

Earth rise, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter¹

“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times (καιρός kairos G2540) he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him" (Eph 1:9-10).

 Our Father hath purposed in himself that in the dispensation of the “fulness of times” He would gather together in one all things in Christ. However, there is confusion regarding this “fulness of times” in so much that many believers will never understand “the mystery of His will" pertaining to the Body of Christ!

 Contributory to that confusion is another passage, and the phrase the “fulness of time,” unrelated to the Eph 1:10 phrase “fulness of times”!

 “But when the fulness of the time (χρόνος chrónos G5550) was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law” (cf. Gal 4:4-5).

 The word translated “times” in Eph 1:9-10 is of uncertain derivation; a space of time² while the word translated “time” in Gal 4:4-5 designates a fixed or special occasion.²

 The fulness of “times” when the Father gathered together in one all things in Christ, was of uncertain derivation, a space of time, i.e., the dispensation of grace prophesied by Paul.

 The fulness of “time” when God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, was the fixed and special occasion when Christ was born, prophesied by Old Testament prophets.

 ² χρόνος chrónos G5550; of uncertain derivation; a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from καιρός kairos G2540, which designates a fixed or special occasion. (cf. Strong’s Definitions).


¹By NASA/Goddard/Arizona State University - Flickr, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45854207

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