Time

It is debatable whether the Bible contains enough information to formulate a full-scale doctrine of time; nonetheless, the significance of the biblical concept of time is unmistakably the way it uniformly presents God at work in guiding the course of history according to his saving plan. The Hebrew et [te[], moed, iddan [v'd'[], zeman ['mz], yom [/y] and Greek kairos [kairov"], chronos [crovno"], aion [aijwvn] are the main biblical time words depicting this divine work.

God as Lord over Time. Time is not fatalistic or capricious, but, according to Scripture, under God's personal direction and control. Time began at creation and becomes the agency through which God continues to unveil his divine purpose for it.

God is transcendent over time. He established the cycle of days and seasons by which time is known and reckoned ( Gen 1:14 ) and possesses the power to dissolve them according to his eternal purposes ( Isa 60:19-20 ); moreover, he controls world history, determining in advance the times set for all nations and bringing them to pass ( Dan 2:21 ; Acts 17:26 ). But God is not limited by time ( Psalm 90:4 ). It in no sense diminishes his person or work: the eternal God does not grow tired or weary ( Isa 40:28 ) and his purposes prevail ( Prov 16:4 ; Isa 46:10 ).

Furthermore, God imminently expresses concern for his creation. He reveals himself in history according to the times and dates set by his own authority ( Acts 1:7 ) and will bring about in his own time the consummation of world history in Jesus' return ( Eph 1:9-10 ; 1 Tim 6:15 ).

God as "the First and Last" ( Isa 41:4 ; 44:6 ; 48:12 ), "the Beginning and End" ( Rev 21:6 ), "the one who is, was, and is to come" ( Revelation 1:4 Revelation 1:8 ), "King of the Ages" ( 1 Tim 1:17 ; Rev 15:3 ) further points out his lordship over time.

The New Testament presents Jesus as Lord over time. With the Father, he existed prior to the beginning of time, created all things, and sustains all things ( John 1:1-3 ; Col 1:16-17 ; Heb 1:2-3 ). He is neither limited by time, nor adversely affected by it: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" ( Heb 13:8 ). He too is properly called "the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last, the Beginning and End" ( Rev 22:13 ).

Humanity as Subject to Time. In contrast to God and Jesus, humanity is limited by time in the cycle of birth, life, and death. Every person bears the marks of time in the aging process and ultimately dies ( Job 14:5 ; Heb 9:27 ). The span of life is brief and passing ( Psalm 144:4 ; James 4:14 ). Even our time on earththe events/circumstances and length of lifeare in God's hands ( Psalm 31:15 ; 139:16 ).