Ben Witherington III has argued that references to Jesus returning “soon” are based on a mistranslation of en taxei. Rather than referring to when Jesus will come (soon), it refers to how Jesus will come when He does (quickly). This is important to claims that the NT teaches that Jesus was expected to return in the first century, or the expectation of a pre-tribulation return of Christ.
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[1]Ben Witherington III, “’En Taxei’ – Quickly or Soon?”; available from http://www.patheos.com/blogs/bibleandculture/2015/01/25/en-taxei-quickly-or-soon/; Internet; accessed 17 February 2015.
Thinking to Believe 
February 27, 2015 at 11:08 am
I think the fact that the early church and its expectations reveal they saw Jesus coming as soon rather than quickly argument. Paul had to then qualify how soon and what needs to take place first. 2 Thes 2
This also astablishes that a pre-trib rapture (if you buy into the pre-mil view) impossible, for the man of lawlessness has not been revealed along with the desecration of the Temple that has to take place first. So a pre-mill person can’t say today that Jesus can return anytime, in fact, sense 70AD the church could not say this, and can’t say it today. Maybe this should raise some flags. 🙂
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February 27, 2015 at 11:41 am
With all due respect to Ben Witherington, he makes the same mistake as all Christians, including the writers of the NT. The reference scriptures Witherington cites for the most part refer to Jesus and the Son of Man as the constant interchangeable but in reality Jesus did not speak about himself when he used the term necessarily. In some cases he did but in other cases he spoke of the Son of Man generically and not referring to himself.
Some of the references point this error as in the following:
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John…..
John held that the Son of Man and Jesus Christ was one and the same in every case as does Witherington
Revelation 22:6
The Time Is Near
6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.
This reference makes a case for the “how” he would come, not “when” so perhaps the word “shortly” is from the same reference “en taxie” as he indicates: with the “unsure” and tepid statement: “While “en taxei” can in some contexts mean ‘soon’ telling when something will happen, in Lk. 18.8 and in various other places in the NT it likely has the adverbial sense of ‘quickly’ telling ‘how’ something will happen”
Luke 18:8, I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
This reference he uses here seems to refer to the “en taxie” speedily but it is not speaking about how he is “coming” but speaks to the quick way he will be “avenging”, as “en taxi”, not the “how” of his “coming”.
Nevertheless the most important point is that Jesus was not necessarily speaking about himself exclusively when he used the phrase Son of Man b ut used it in the same way that Abraham did when Jesus said Abraham saw my day and was joyful.
This inportant point to differentiate is noted as Witherington points out, erroneously, by using Ezekiel’s Son of Man reference that does not apply to Jesus at all but to Ezekiel himself.. This reference is not speaking about Jesus; it is clearly speaking about Ezekiel who was referred to as the “Son of Man” more than 90 times in which the prophet Ezekiel is addressed by God as “Son of man.” This seems quite remarkable, as this title also was Christ’s favorite title (using it 80 times), but not always applying it to Himself exclusively.
This is made o0bvious as one reads the opening of Ezekiel chapter 29:
Ezekiel: 29 1-6 In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day, God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, confront Pharaoh king of Egypt. Preach against him and all the Egyptians. Tell him, ‘God, the Master, says:………..”
How could anyone assume that the speaker was referring to anyone else except Ezekiel? Yet Witherington does and by and large almost the entire Christian community.
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February 27, 2015 at 12:04 pm
“……..The Lord Jesus Christ, the Captain of your Salvation (if you’re saved), will soon return to this earth and set things in order and YOU can be on the winning side……..!”
This has been the echo of mankind since the beginning; Christians for 2000 years; and, a banner carried by Muslims since Islam’s founding in the seventh century, the Coming of Al-Mahdi.
Every generation has been waiting for the “Son of Man”,
(to use the generic phrase), to champion their cause in the pursuit of equity, peace, happiness and justice for the betterment of all humanity.( ‘all humanity’ theoretically, since righteous humanity is the qualifier based on one’s discriminatory bias)
Ezekiel was “addressed by God” as “Son of Man” ninety-three times.
Jesus fulfilled his “son of man” role during his life in a ministry campaign that introduced modifications and definitions of the Mosaic Law of eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth revenge tradition: compassion, forgiveness along with a condemnation of religion and the clergy whose rampant sins in society doggedly pursued him and eventually arrested and crucified him.
Jesus said that another “son of man” would appear “in his day” and carry on the business of purging the evils of corruption as mankind continues to civilize. The waiting goes on for that Champion to arrive in OWR Time. It will be a “Son of man” of similar wisdom and common sense who will mitigate the pain in societies slow to sow righteousness.
For sufferers it is sweet to know beforehand clearly the pain that still remains for them as they hope, watch, wait; hope, watch, wait; hope, watch and wait.
Who pray tell will step up to the plate and when pray tell will that day be at hand? The Need is always at hand but the Champion maybe not so much as to be recognized, for it doesn’t enter the perception of everyone the implications of what the Son of Man “in his day”, means.
It seems every generation is in need of the day of the Son of Man; today’s generation no less than the previous generation and tomorrow’s generation no different as circumstances will accordingly reveal.
No doubt the Universe is unfolding as it must regardless of what anyone believes. What is, is and always is, is.
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March 1, 2015 at 1:12 pm
The Righteous Judge Yahshua Messiah’s return is imminent. In Scripture we read of His impending return. As to a precise moment in time of Yahshua’s Second Coming: “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” (Mark 13:32, 33)
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March 1, 2015 at 2:59 pm
Frank Adamick:
Repeating prophecies textually serves no purpose other than to cater to the religious base and while that may provide some pseudo-joy for the quoter it remains dysfunctionally useless.
The Psychology of Religious Prophecy:
They built a large round table and drilled two-inch diameter holes around it, and … Now the secret came out with the introduction of a real live mouse. … The mouse would run around until he went into one of the holes, with the catch box underneath. If the number you bet was the same as the hole number the mouse went in, you won the bet!
Believers; and Conspiracists generally, operate like the Mouse Game. When an event happens in the real world or has already happened, they scurry around looking for prophecies from Holy Books, writings of Nostradamus, Astrology and the like to fiind a hole to run the event into. And in a world enthralled with the supernatural and superstition there are lots of takers. Conspiracy theories are already written(mouse-holed) and awaits only for the next “mouse” event
Prophecies are like psychic predictions; based on wish, hope, chance, luck or educated guess on what’s trending, there may be some entertainment value for believers…..I suppose.
Simply repeating a so-called prophecy is useless without a hole to run it into and only serves to promotes superstition for continued longevity. Even an event mouse-holed is meaningless thereafter if you accept its fulfillment because a fulfilled prophecy no longer holds any allure and simply dies, but in the interest of religion for example, it’s best that prophecies are never fulfilled in order for the next generation to continue the tithing process while hearing about and waiting for, the “Coming”.
On the other hand an educated prophecy( trending “guess”) may be common place in every generation that nobody recognizes if it comes to pass because its profundity is slow to see, like global warming glacial melt, over a period of time instead of with a big bang on a single day.
Nostradamus claimed his prophecies was based on bible scripture; in particular, Nostradamus uses the Bible to show that God gave to him the gift of prophecy. In the letter to Henry II, he quotes a part of one of the most explicit bible verses, which is Joel 3:1; “I will pour my spirit over all people, your sons and daughters will prophesy”. The verse continues with: “your aged ones will have dreams and your young men will have visions.” Nostradamus claims his visions began from October 16, 1524 shortly before his 21st birthday.
Sweet F.A., are you practicing the Nostradamus game?
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March 1, 2015 at 7:55 pm
Lots of different interpretations for sure. I’ve heard everything all over the place; parts of Revelation already took place in 70 AD, could happen any second, rapture could happen any second, no such thing as the rapture, 70 AD fore shadow of what can happen any second, clock started once Israel became a nation, clock started when Israel captured Jerusalem, clock not started because Israel not in control of Temple Mount, have to wait till the Temple is rebuilt or at least Tent as in time of Moses, clock not started because no 7 year peace treaty, false prophet not around yet, false prophet is Francis or next pope, false church is RCC, false church will be perversion of RCC, no one world government yet, UN is one world government, the anti-Christ is alive/not born yet, etc…..
According to the Hebrew calendar it’s year 5775. So approximately 225 Hebrew years left before the Second Coming using that interpretation. I’ve heard slight problem though because trouble figuring out year zero.
Definitely I could be finding what I’m looking for, but we seem to be in deep and looks like something big is going to happen. Whether real or perceived our problems are becoming global and global solutions are going to be proposed. This could very easily end up in power being concentrated and become absolute. From history we know this could end up in dictatorship. The false ecumenical movement is also very troubling to me.
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March 1, 2015 at 11:37 pm
Leo,
You’re dysfunctional when it comes to Bible Scripture. You incorrectly cite Joel 3:1 for Joel 2:28. It’s this sort of sloppy half-assed “research” that hamstrings your understanding.
As far as the Parousia: I reiterate, “for ye know not when the time is.”
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March 2, 2015 at 11:37 am
Sweet F.A.
I was so lolled by your comment; I was almost ROTFLMHO. I thought you were well veresed with all the bible translations. However I do apologize for not being explicit of which translation I used when I quoted Joel 3:1.
You see I was quoting from a website that used the (“Willibrord translation”, a catholic bible translation, the number of this verse is 3,1. In the NBG-translation, a protestant bible translation, the number of this verse is 2,28. In the “Willibrord translation”, the book of Joel contains four chapters; the number of chapters in the NBG-translation is three. The verses 3,1 to 3,5 in the “Willibrord translation” are numbered as 2,28 to 2,32 in the NBG-translation.)
http://www.nostradamusresearch.org/en/rslt/bible_functions.htm
You may be interested to know that there are at least two other translations that use the Willibrord method as noted below starting with the (NABRE) translation. The second translation is from the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) but in the Jewish translation it noted the parallel verses which is what you quoted as Joel 2:28.
Joel 3:1-5 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
III. The Lord’s Final Judgment
Chapter 3
The Day of the Lord
1 [a]It shall come to pass
I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
2 Even upon your male and female servants,
in those days, I will pour out my spirit.
3 I will set signs in the heavens and on the earth,
blood, fire, and columns of smoke;
4 The sun will darken,
the moon turn blood-red,
Before the day of the Lord arrives,
that great and terrible day.
5 Then everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord
will escape harm.
For on Mount Zion there will be a remnant,
as the Lord has said,
And in Jerusalem survivors
whom the Lord will summon.
Joel 3:1-5 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
3 (2:28) “After this, I will pour out
my Spirit on all humanity.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions;
2 (2:29) and also on male and female slaves
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
3 (2:30) I will show wonders in the sky and on earth —
blood, fire and columns of smoke.
4 (2:31) The sun will be turned into darkness
and the moon into blood
before the coming of the great
and terrible Day of Adonai.”
So Frank I am not offended by your comment; I did not take it as a mean-spirited comment, just a well intentioned reminder that sometimes we all make unintended mistakes and I thank you for pointing out the difference and that I should have been more considerate in noting the different translations to avoid putting you in an agitated dither.
In fact I am going out to the store in a little while and I will purchase a bottle of Priestly Sherry Wine; my first toast will be to you in the hope that you are of good cheer, as am I.
Take care. I would like to leave you with a few obsevations I have made and written down not as an albatross for you to wear but simply observations I have made and now pass on to the reader(s).
From a social psychologist’s point of view: The Police having become blinded by enforcing the “letter of the law”, they remain yet blind to the “spirit of the law” ; “discretion” is in recess.
Learned in old school training, discretion, was a big star for credibility and respect, unlike today, it is receding.
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The police are the ultimate mediation authority between Them AND “We The People” us; and, under Their control, but history shows it is difficult enough to harness power, let alone rein it in. We need to be practical about observations and comments of those in defense of Them
It is plain to me what they need; they need Knowledge; and, it is up to
WE / US to give it to them. They need revelations not name calling, knowledge, not opinions.
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What Part of KNOW don’t you understand? is the question.
Anyone can get “emotional” and hurl words of sticks & stones & brigands & arrows but only knowledge opens minds. Teachers are heros, why? because people, the students, are “set free”, by knowledge, not by legislating Good. Knowledge is “knowing” good, “knowing” the right thing to do and “Doing it”.
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When you wear a seatbelt is it because it‘s the right thing to do or because it is the law? If you wear seatbelt because it is the law, then you are subject to the law and under it’s weight. But wearing a belt because it is the right thing to do, you are not subject to the law, you do the right thing without the law, so the law has no effect on you, unlike those who don’t know what the right thing to do is. They disobey the law and come under its penalty. The Law does not set you free, Knowledge does.(read Grace)
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We also talk with different mindsets from different cultures:
We form our different ideas from different mindsets. Knowledge controls thoughts and thoughts control behavior. Knowledge is what is needed to be set free from our “human nature trappings”. There is still time to change directions. Knowledge is a wonderful guide and source of wisdom and if you seek wisdom you will find her treasures: Freedom, Liberty, Justice.
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Love and the Spirit of Good. Love is not a feeling..Love is a spirit…………
It knows no boundaries, transcends all nations, speaks in every tongue; it’s the dream of every man, woman and child……
Charity and the love within suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itslef, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth, bears all things, endures all things.
The fruit of the spirit of good is love, joy, peace, longsuffering(patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.
Against such there is no law.
Amen for Awoman in your life.
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March 2, 2015 at 2:23 pm
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. (Daniel 12:2-4, 8-10, 13)
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