THE FULLNESS OF TIME

Along with Creation, the Exodus, the Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus Christ, the Incarnation is a radical irruption of the eternal, divine Presence and power in time and history. It fulfills all of the Old Testament prophecies and promises concerning the Davidic Messiah and His work. Scripture describes this as occurring in the fullness of time, Gal 4:4. It fulfills, rather, He fulfills, all the goals of history.

While it testifies to the linear progression and nature of redemptive history, the fullness of time also informs us that history is likened to the womb of a pregnant woman in which the sovereign God has implanted a soteric seed, a seed of salvation. This seed, the conquering Seed of the woman, God first publicly promised to interpose between His elect and the serpent, and between their respective descendants, Gen 3:15. God’s subsequent word to the patriarchs and prophets contained the organic substance of this covenant promise in ongoing, increasing degrees of clarity. Each and every stage in the unfolding of God’s redemptive purpose occurred according to His eternal foreordination and decree; each and every stage in the unfolding of His redemptive plan contained the organic substance of this promise.

The fullness of time signifies that all the divinely mandated preparations for the coming of God in the flesh were in place. Some of these prearations are:

1. the military and political succession of kingdoms as prophesied by Daniel had already taken place. The last of these four kingdoms, the one characterized by feet of iron and clay, mighty in strength but divided and brittle, Dan 2:41-43 (31-43), the one that was the most terrifying and frightening beast with iron teeth and bronze claws, 7:19 (15-19), i.e., Rome, was now the undisputed world superpower.

2. the pax Romana, Roman peace, was already established. The wars characterizing the rule of Julius Caesar, d. 44 B.C., had ended and the rule of Augustus Caesar, cf. Lk 2:1, ushered in centuries of peace in the Roman Empire. Infrastructures were developed- many roads, among which was the famous Appian Way, were built, and waterways were safe to travel. Consequently, trade, commerce and communication were at an all-time high. Missionaries were able to travel unmolested.

3. Jews, reluctantly exempted by the Roman political and military powers from the worship of Caesar, were able to continue their monotheistic faith.

4. the scattering of Jews in the Diaspora had created many small communities of God-fearing Gentiles who strove to obey the 10 Commandments, studied the Old Testament and were learning to trust in God's promises.

5. the spread of Jews within the Roman Empire facilitated the spread of Christianity. The apostles first came to these and to the God-fearers.

6. since Rome regarded Christianity as a mere variation of Judaism, it was granted the status of a religio licita, a legal religion. By the time Christianity had begun to assert itself as more than an upgraded Judaism, it had spread so far and wide that the Roman powers could do very little to stop it.

7. under Rome's rule, Greek thought, literature and language were regarded with universal legitimacy. In particular, the use of koine Greek, an ordinary or common language that anyone with a modicum of education could apply, was widespread. This is the language in which the New Testament was written.

8. philosophically, centuries of teaching by Plato, Aristotle and their students had brought about no answers to the fundamental questions of life. The widespread number of schools and philosophies, including the Skeptics, Cynics, Sophists, Epicureans, and so on, only testified to the philosophical bankruptcy and impotency they promoted. It was into this milieu that Jesus Christ, the Logos of God, the divine mind, reason, word, speech and Son, appeared. He is the only One that could answer the pressing questions of faith, conduct and life, especially the perennial issue: how can sinful men stand before a holy, just and righteous God.

It was at this precise juncture in history, not a nano-second earlier, not a whisper of a milli-second later, that God the Father “.. sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Gal 4:4, 5. The Incarnation of God in Jesus Christ occurred at that particular kairotic moment foreordained by the Father in eternity past.

This is the meaning of the fullness of time. It signifies the pinnacle and precision of sovereign provision; nothing else needs to be done; nothing further could be said. Jesus Christ is the expected Messianic King Who, in His Person and work, brings to completion all the promises of God. The fullness of time denotes the coming of salvation to Jew and Gentile. As such, it speaks of the terminal dimension of salvation in Christ- apart from Him and after Him, there is no more means or hope of reconciliation to God. He is the exclusive way to God, Jn 14:6; Eph 2:14-16; 1 Pe 3:18; etc. He is the One we celebrate at Christmas. He is the One we glorify and enjoy forever.