PresenceOrComing Presence, Coming or Nearness
Based on research of the Aramaic texts 2001 Translation have added
and/or revised the following paragraphs of our linked document Coming,
Presence, or Nearness –
- Compare all Bibles In Commentaries.htm
http://simplebibletruths.net/DictionaryExample.htm See Below
Well, some Bibles have translated
the word parousias at Matthew 24:3 as coming,
but the problem with this is that the Greek word for coming is erchomenon… so that really isn’t the proper translation. However, if
you look at the Hebrew and Aramaic texts, you’ll see that the words he spoke in
either language translate as coming or arrival. So, although much
has been written about the meaning and significance of parousias, that
probably wasn't the word that Jesus used, for he likely spoke in Aramaic.
Another Bible translates parousias as presence, which is good, because
the English word presence is derived from parousias.
So, we would then assume that the Apostles were asking Jesus when he would be
present, not just when he was on his way (coming). But is that what the
Apostles meant when they asked that question? Not if you read what was written
in the accounts of Mark and Luke. For in Mark they asked when these things were
about to be, and in Luke they asked what the signs were when it
was about to begin. In other words, they were asking what the
signs would be when the things that Jesus was foretelling (and of his coming) were
about to happen.
As further proof, note that in the
Aramaic text of Mark, Jesus is quoted as saying, ‘Tell us when these things
will happen and what is the sign that these things are near and all
these things will be fulfilled?’ And in Luke he was quoted as saying, ‘When
will these things be, and what is the sign that these things are near to
happening?’
Also, notice Jesus’ words at Matthew
24:33, where he said, ‘Likewise, when you see all these things [happening],
know that he’s near – at the doors.’ So, the signs that Jesus gave
weren’t the signs of the end, but of when they were ‘about to end.’
And when these signs were seen, Jesus would be ‘near’ and about to ‘come’ (or
enter) to bring destruction.
From (http://www.2001translation.com/Presence.htm):
Matt
24:3
As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately *, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age ?"
Kaqhmenou
(5740) de autou
epi
tou
Orouv
twn
Elaiwn
proshlqon
(5656) autw|
oi
maqhtai
kat'
idian
legontev,
(5723) Eipe
(5628) hmin
pote
tauta
estai,
(5704) kai
ti
to shmeion
thv
shv
parousiav
kai
sunteleiav
tou
aiwnov.
BCC -> Commentary on 24:3
DSN -> Synopsis on 24:3
GEB -> Study Notes on 24:3
GSB -> Study Notes on 24:3
JFB -> Commentary on 24:3
MHC-COM -> Commentary on 24:3
MHC-CON -> Commentary on 24:3
PNT -> Commentary on 24:3
RWP -> Study Notes on 24:3
SRN -> Study Notes on 24:3
TFG -> Commentary on 24:3
TSK -> Commentary on 24:3 TSK -> Entry for 24:3
WEN -> Notes on 24:3
NTB -> Earth;
Jesus,
The Christ (continued); Olives,
Mount Of; Sign
TTT -> Christ,
the Prophet; Prophets;
Second
Coming of Christ, The
EBD -> Revelation
of Christ
WJD -> Devotional
using 24:3
WJD -> Devotional
using 24:3
WJD -> Devotional
using 24:3
WJD -> Devotional
using 24:3
Burton
Coffman
· Darby's
Synopsis
· Gill's
Exposition
· Jamieson,
Fausset, Brown
· Matthew
Henry Complete
· Matthew
Henry Concise
· People's
New Testament
· Robertson's
Word Pictures
· Scofield Reference Notes
· The
Fourfold Gospel
· Treasury
of Scripture
· Wesley's
Explanatory Notes
Matt
24:33
so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He
is near,
right at the door.
outwv
kai
umeiv,
otan
idhte
(5632) panta
tauta,
ginwskete
(5719) oti
egguv
estin
(5748) epi
quraiv.
BCC -> Commentary on 24:33
DSN -> Synopsis on 24:33
GEB -> Study Notes on 24:33
GSB -> Study Notes on 24:33
JFB -> Commentary on 24:33
MHC-COM -> Commentary on 24:33
MHC-CON -> Commentary on 24:33
PNT -> Commentary on 24:33
RWP -> Study Notes on 24:33
TSK -> Commentary on 24:33 TSK -> Entry for 24:33
WEN -> Notes on 24:33
NTB -> Israel, Prophecies Concerning; Jesus, The Christ (continued)
TTT -> Christ, the Prophet; Parables; Second Coming of Christ, The
WJD -> Devotional
using 24:33
WJD -> Devotional
using 24:33
Burton
Coffman
· Darby's
Synopsis
· Geneva
Study Bible
· Jamieson,
Fausset, Brown
· Matthew
Henry Complete
· Matthew
Henry Concise
· People's
New Testament
· Robertson's
Word Pictures
· Treasury
of Scripture
· Wesley's
Explanatory Notes
1
Cor 15:23
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming,
ekastov
de en tw|
idiw|
tagmati;
aparxh
Xristov,
epeita
oi
tou
Xristou
en th|
parousia|
autou;
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NAS |
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Compare
all good dictionaries http://simplebibletruths.net/DictionaryExample.htm
The
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
COMING, SECOND
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See PAROUSIA.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
First Paragraph Reads
The Second Coming
of Christ (a phrase not found in the Bible) is expressed by the apostles in the
following special terms:
(1) "Parousia" (parousia),
a word fairly common in Greek, with the meaning "presence" (2 Corinthians
10:10; Philippians
2:12). More especially it may mean "presence after absence,"
"arrival" (but not "return," unless this is given by the
context), as in 1 Corinthians
16:17; 2 Corinthians
7:6,7; Philippians 1:26.
And still more particularly it is applied to the Coming of Christ in 1 Corinthians
15:23; 1 Thessalonians
2:19; 3:13;
4:15; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians
2:1,8; James
5:7,8; 2 Peter
1:16; 3:4,12;
1 John 2:28--in
all 13 times, besides 2 Thessalonians
2:9, where it denotes the coming of Anti-christ.
This word for Christ's Second Coming passed into the early Patristic literature
(Diognetus, vii.6, e.g.), but its use in this sense
is not invariable. For instance the word in Ignatius, Philadelphians, ix.2,
means the Incarnation. Or the Incarnation is called the first Parousia, as in Justin, Trypho, xiv. But in modern theology it means invariably the Second Coming.
Recent archaeological discoveries have explained why the word received such
general Christian use in the special sense. In Hellenistic Greek it was used
for the arrival of a ruler at a place, as is evidenced by inscriptions in
2001 Translation
Coming,
Presence, or Nearness?
It was just two days before Passover and his death, sometime
around midnight, when Jesus and his Apostles left Jerusalem and crossed the
Valley of Cedars (Kidron), then walked up the Mount
of Olives and sat down in a quiet spot. And as they looked at the marvelous
Then, just after Jesus had foretold the destruction of the
Temple in Jerusalem (as recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21), Jesus’
Apostles asked him to tell them when the thing he had just foretold would
happen. It’s important for us to understand exactly what they asked, because
this will help us to understand the meaning of his reply better, which has to
do (in part) with the coming of the end of the period we’re now living in.
We have three different accounts of these words, one by
Matthew (who may have been an eyewitness), and one each by Mark and Luke, who
probably heard what Jesus said from the Apostles who were there. And because
the words expressed in each case are slightly different, we can see what the
Apostles really understood him to mean, not what the words are thought to mean
in a single verse.
In Greek, Matthew 24:3 reads, ‘Eipon
hemin pote tauta estai kai
ti to semion tes ses parousias
kai synteleias tou aionos.’ Word-for-word in
English, that reads, ‘Say to/us when these will/be and what the sign at/the
your nearness and ending the age.’
In Greek, Mark 13:4 reads, ‘Eipon
hemin pote tauta estai kai
ti to semion hotan melle tauta
synteleisthai panta.’
Word-for-word in English, that reads, ‘Say to/us when these will/be and what
the sign when may/be/about these ending all.’
In Greek, Luke 21:7 reads, ‘Didaskale,
pote oun tauta estai kai
to to semion hotan melle tauta
ginesthai.’ Word-for-word in English, this reads,
‘Teacher, say therefore these will/be and what the sign when may/be/about
these begin.’
We find that the Greek word parousias
(which is only used in the Matthew account) is key to
understanding what that time-period represents when we find it used in other
scriptures. For, that same word is used in the same context at 1 Corinthians
15:23, 1
Thessalonians 2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23, 2 Thessalonians
2:1, 9, James 5:7, 8, 2 Peter 1:16, 3:4,
12, and at 1 John
2:28. So, we suspect that all these scriptures are referring to the same period
in time. But, when is that?
Well, some Bibles have translated the word parousias at Matthew 24:3 as coming, but the
problem with this is that the Greek word for coming is erchomenon… so that really isn’t the proper
translation. However, if you look at the Hebrew and Aramaic texts, you’ll see
that the words he spoke in either language translate as coming or arrival.
So, although much has been written about the meaning and significance of parousias,
that probably wasn't the word that Jesus used, for he likely spoke in
Aramaic.
Another Bible translates parousias
as presence, which is good, because the English word presence is
derived from parousias. So, we would
then assume that the Apostles were asking Jesus when he would be present,
not just when he was on his way (coming). But is that what the Apostles meant
when they asked that question? Not if you read what was written in the accounts
of Mark and Luke. For in Mark they asked when these things were about to
be, and in Luke they asked what the signs were when it was about
to begin. In other words, they were asking what the signs would be when
the things that Jesus was foretelling (and of his coming) were about to
happen.
As further proof, note that in the Aramaic text of Mark,
Jesus is quoted as saying, ‘Tell us when these things will happen and what
is the sign that these things are near and all these things will be
fulfilled?’ And in Luke he was quoted as saying, ‘When will these things be,
and what is the sign that these things are near to happening?’
Also, notice Jesus’ words at Matthew 24:33, where he said,
‘Likewise, when you see all these things [happening], know that he’s near –
at the doors.’ So, the signs that Jesus gave weren’t the signs of the
end, but of when they were ‘about to end.’ And when these signs were
seen, Jesus would be ‘near’ and about to ‘come’ (or enter) to bring
destruction.
Then, starting at Matthew 24:29, we read of Jesus’ coming
(gr. ercomi). These prophecies were never
fulfilled during the destruction of
So, why is there a difference between the Greek word that
was used in the verse in Matthew and those in Mark and Luke, since they were
all quoting the same words of Jesus? Well, recognize that all these accounts
were written several years after Jesus’ death, and they were quoting what they
remembered to be the meaning of his words. Matthew chose to use parousias (meaning parallel),
which really isn’t wrong, because it also means beside, alongside, near,
and next to. So, when Matthew wrote parousias,
he wasn’t necessarily saying that Jesus is there, but that he is nearby.
So, we have translated parousias as near or nearness in this Bible
wherever it is found, for that more closely coincides with the words that Mark
and Luke understood Jesus to mean.
Notice another interesting difference between the accounts
of what the Apostles asked. In Matthew, the question was more complex, for they
not only asked when he would be near, but when the age would end.
However, in Mark and Luke they were just asking when the
Yet, the accounts in Matthew and Mark went on to describe
things that didn’t happen when
Now, in the case of
But were those things to have a greater fulfillment in the
future… possibly in our day?
Many Bible scholars have concluded that the answer is no,
and that the prophecy was completely fulfilled on
And while we agree with the belief that there will be a
greater fulfillment of this prophecy, their argument isn’t totally valid,
because Jesus didn’t actually say anything about the end of the world.
If you go back and read the Greek words, you'll see that he didn’t speak of the
end of the cosmos (world), but of the end of the aionos
(age… a word that those same Bibles also wrongly translate as forever).
And though the age of Jewish worship at the Temple in
Jerusalem did end in 70-C.E., we think that that the nearness of Jesus
will have a second fulfillment because of what is said at Revelation 6:2-7,
where we read, ‘And at that {Look!} I saw a white horse, and the one who was
sitting on it had a bow. He was given a crown and he came to conquer and to
complete his victory… a fire-red horse came out, and … he was authorized to
take peace away from the earth … a black horse … a greenish-yellow horse … and
the grave came following him.’
This familiar scripture, which was written almost thirty
years after the destruction of
For an answer to this, we look to another scripture in
Revelation, this time in the Twelfth Chapter. For in verses seven through
twelve we read of the beginning of hard times for the earth, and of the
start of something new for Jesus. Could this be his nearness? It
says, ‘Next, war broke out in heaven. Michael and his messengers went to war
against the dragon, and the dragon and his messengers fought back; but he lost
and could no longer stay in heaven. So, the huge dragon was thrown out. He is
the first snake, the one who is called the Slanderer and Opposer,
who is leading the whole earth astray. He was thrown down to the earth along
with his messengers. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, This is the
moment when the salvation, the power, the Kingdom of our God, and
the authorization of his Anointed One begins … But woe to the
earth and the sea, because the Slanderer has come down to you in a rage,
knowing that he only has a short time left.’
Now, we know that the things mentioned in this scripture
didn’t happen in the past, because, as we were told at the beginning of the
Revelation, that it was a vision of what would happen ‘in the Lord’s Day.’ And
the fact that the Slanderer has only a short time to create woe on the
earth indicates that this too is a prophecy of our day.
So, when will (or did) that prophecy start
to be fulfilled? Well, at the end of the terrible First World War, as
famine and death were raging throughout Europe, and after he started to see the
horrible plague of Spanish Influenza killing millions throughout the earth,
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was heard to comment that this all looked like ‘the
ride of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.’
Was he right? If he was, that great period of woe for the
earth (and the start of Jesus’ nearness) must have begun somewhere
around 1913-1914. And if that is so, we’re now living in that ‘short time’ when
the Slanderer is raging among us.
Yet, despite the fact that we have three Bible accounts
testifying to and explaining the meaning of Jesus’ presence or nearness, we
continue to receive correspondence proclaiming that our conclusions are wrong…
and since we claim no infallibility, we admit that we could in fact be wrong.
However, there are several emotional issues that have
clouded the meaning of Jesus’ words, for one religious group has stumped the
world proclaiming that Jesus ‘came’ in Kingdom power in 1914. So, they preach
that his ‘coming’ has already happened and that he is now ‘present,’ which has
upset and confused many people. Is their conclusion correct?
Well, they seem to have put the cart before the horse, because,
although Jesus spoke first of his being near (at the doors), and thereafter
speaks of his coming (entry through the doors), they say (for example) that the
‘faithful and discreet slave’ of Matthew 25 was identified early in the 20th
Century, and that was the time of his coming, which is simultaneous with
his presence. Confusing? Yes!
What the account of Revelation 12 does say is that, when
God’s Kingdom and the authority of His Anointed One to rule begins, this would
be signified by a period of ‘woe’ for the earth. So, the heavenly portion of
the establishment of God’s Kingdom apparently begins near the start of ‘the Day
of the Lord,’ and perhaps that’s the time when Jesus is (in fact) ‘near – at
the doors,’ and about to bring the end of the age.
However, there’s no way that we could refer to this period
as Jesus’ coming, for the account in Matthew speaks of his coming
as the time when ‘the sun will grow dark, the moon won’t put out light, the
stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the Heavens will shake… the
sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and all the tribes of the earth
will beat themselves in grief when they see the Son of Man coming on the
clouds in the sky with power and great glory.’
So, saying that Jesus has ‘come’ is very misleading and
technically wrong, and there is no reason to believe the things that follow in
the account in Matthew (the identifying of the faithful, wise slave, for
example) has happened. For more information, see the linked documents, ‘Armageddon – When?’
and ‘The Faithful
and Sensible Slave.’
We have also received a link to a document that argues
against the conclusions we’ve reached above. If you are interested in reading
an alternate viewpoint, you may find it at http://uk.geocities.com/i_witnessing/articles/presence_or_coming.html.
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From (http://www.2001translation.com/Presence.htm):