The Olivet Questions

The Sign of Thy Coming

The disciples were asking for a sign, a portent of His “coming.” We must comment on the word, “coming” as translated in most all modern translations. This is an instance where our eschatology dictates the translation. The disciples were not asking about the timing of His Second Coming. Their eschatology contained no idea of a Second Coming. They had no concept that He was going away. Their eschatology was greatly influenced by the Pharisees of their day. In the then current Jewish mind, a prominent idea behind the Messiah was a conquering warrior, who would defeat all of Israel’s enemies, and exalt her to the head of the nations. He would then rule the world from Jerusalem. This was the Pharisees concept of the Messiah, as it was for many Judeans, since they received most of their teaching from the Pharisee-controlled synagogues. This is still the primary view of the Pharisee-controlled synagogues of today. However, it would take the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, for the disciples to begin to fully understand the true mission and message of God’s Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.

So if this be the case, what did they mean by asking about His Coming?

The word translated as coming here, is the Greek word, parousia. Parousia does not mean coming, but presence. Any competent Bible teacher or commentator will acknowledge this.

This Greek word, parousia, is made up of two other Greek words. First, para, meaning with, or near. Secondly, ousia, [being] which comes from εἰμί, meaning to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.

We can see that the word parousia, literally means, to be with, to exist with, or be present with. So, its basic meaning is presence. We can see this very plainly in Phil. 2:12, where Paul says,

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

The word Paul uses here for presence, is our word, parousia. It is used here as the opposite of absence. If this was translated as coming, it would make no sense.

So if this word, parousia, means presence, then why is it translated as coming when used in reference to Christ’s return? That is a very good question.

The best answer I’ve seen so far to this question, goes back to Jerome and his Latin Vulgate Bible. In this verse, Jerome translated the Greek word, parousia, with the Latin word, adventus, which means arrival or coming. The Latin Vulgate was the Bible for the Ekklesia for about a thousand years. The very first English Bible was translated entirely from its pages (by John Wycliffe). It continued to hold a place of honor and recognized authority over the years. For a comparison of the usage and translation between the Vulgate and the KJV, see this chart.

If we can take a step back and look at this logically, I think the answer will become apparent. The process of going from one place to another, can be said to occur in three stages. There is the,

• Going/Coming - this is actual motion of traveling from one point to another.
• Arrival - this is the moment when the motion of going/coming has concluded. Your destination has been reached and you have arrived.
• Presence - From the moment that your motion of going/coming has ceased, and you have arrived, your presence is established.

The most used word in the NT for to go, to come is ἔρχομαι (erchomai). There is no specific word in the Greek for arrival. As a matter of fact, the word arrival does not appear in the New Testament. When a writer wishes to convey the idea that the act of coming has been completed, he can state this by using parousia. This is due to the fact that once the act of coming has stopped, and you have arrived, your presence is immediately established.

Vines Complete Expository Dictionary says parousia, ‘denotes both an “arrival” and a consequent “presence with.”’ Hence the idea of coming, i.e., motion from one point to another, is antecedent to parousia.

Allow me to give this as an example. Let's say you are taking your family on a visit to the grandparents, who live in another state. There is the traveling from your home to theirs. This would be described by the Greek verb, ἔρχομαι (erchomai). The grandparents would view this as you coming for a visit, while you see it as going for a visit. The same Greek word covers both. Then there is the part of the trip where you must bring your belongings and luggage into their house. This would be classed as your arrival or the initiation of your presence. There is no specific Greek term, just for arrival. Parousia may cover both the arrival and resulting presence. It in no way contains the idea of motion. When Parousia is used, all sense of motion has ceased. Once you have arrived, then you sit down and visit with your loved ones. This would be your Parousia, your established presence.

We can see in several places in the NT, where parousia is used, and presence makes much more sense than coming.

1Cor. 16:17 -- I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. 18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

The word coming in vs. 17 is the word parousia. It makes much more sense to say, “I am glad of the presence of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus:”

It is not in the act of coming that they supplied the Corinthians' lack. It would only be when they arrived and were present, that they could supply what was lacking and refresh anyone’s spirit.

We could continue down this road of going back and forth over whether coming or presence is more correct. The real question is, “How did the disciples understand the term Parousia?” Fortunately, I believe we can answer this.