A conceit has developed among modern ‘philosophers’ about the importance of the Greek’s understanding of time. It involves two words: χρόνος (chro-nos) and καιρός (kai-pos), both of which appear in quick succession in Luke’s account of the encounter between Zechariah and Gabriel. καιρός is used in Gabriel’s pronouncement inflicting silence on Zechariah until John was born. Zechairah would remain speechless “because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time” (Luke 1:20). χρόνος is used (as an articular infinitive verb) in the next verse: “And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.” What the ESV renders as “at his delay” is literally “in his taking time.”
To some extent these uses of καιρός and χρόνος confirm the basis of the conceit. It holds that the Greek’s had two distinct kinds of time: chronological time (χρόνος, from which the English word is derived) and specific or appropriate time (καιρός). But there is more to it than that.
χρόνος was often measured by the dripping of a water clock. In Greek this was a κλεψὐδρα (kleps-ud-ra), literally “water thief.” χρόνος passes by and is gone. It was arranged into chunks called ὥpα (hor-a) from which we get the word “hour.” An unusually long amount of χρόνος passed while Zechariah was in the temple because he was talking with Gabriel and the people started to become concerned.
καιρός is a different concept. It can be used to mean “season.” In modern Greek it has become the word for “weather.” The best way to understand it is as an exact or critical time or opportunity. Gabriel’s prediction that elderly Elizabeth would give birth to a son would be proved correct when καιρός came to pass.
The problem with the ‘philosophers’ I mentioned is in the way they attempt to contrast the “tyranny” of living in χρόνος as opposed to the “freedom” of καιρός. One pundit describes καιρός as being “energized by the living dream of the future” and claims it “presents us with unlimited possibility.” This is nothing but New Age claptrap. καιρός is nothing more than the right time for something to happen.
It’s true that our perception of time is mutable. It seems to speed up or slow down based on emotion and state of mind. Nevertheless one day passes followed by another. The water thief drips by an hour at a time until the day is done. When Zechariah claims Elizabeth is too old to have a child the expression he uses is literally, “advanced in days.”
You can’t choose whether or not χρόνος affects you. You can’t decide to live in καιρός instead. As χρόνος passes by inexorably you simply have to recognize when καιρός occurs and act appropriately.
