Kairos in ancient Greek is a concept of Greek philosophy that represents an indeterminate lapse of time in which something important happens. Its literal meaning is “appropriate or opportune moment”.
In the Christian religion it is associated with “God’s time”.
SYNONYMS FOR Kairos
- The right or opportune moment
ORIGIN OF Kairos
The Greek word Kairos designates a particularly propitious moment for the execution of a project; or an opportune or expected moment but whose expiration is unknown, it is therefore a concept of Greek philosophy that designates this indeterminate lapse of time in which something important happens.
This character is based on human estimation but in the New Testament it is based on divine initiative. However, this term was used in antiquity and varies in different texts, appearing with slightly different meanings.
For example for Hesiod it is “everything that is better than something”, but Euripides defines it as “the best guide in any human activity”. Therefore it is not possible to unite all its uses and its exact meaning must be referred to the context in which it is used.
For example the term kairos in the Christian religion is placed in the three times of salvation history: past, present and future and is often used in the aforementioned theology in relation to events associated with the end of all things.
CURIOSITIES OF Kairos
Kairos has a major difference with chronos (from the Greek Kronos) and that is that, while Kairos possesses a qualitative nature, Chronos possesses a quantitative nature.
As a god, Kairos was not very well known, while Chronos was the divinity par excellence of the time.