“He may exalt you at the expected time” (1 Pet 5:6). The Conception of Time in the First Letter of Peter

Abstract

In the First Letter of St. Peter we find a clear temporal direction toward a final reward, which will be a divine exaltation and appreciation. Its time is always specified as καιρός, as a concrete moment, a point in time. Otherwise χρόνος, as durative time, always specifies the time of earthly existence, especially from the beginning of Christian life. It is directed toward the final and definitive καιρός. This temporal direction is especially visible in many terms with the preposition εἰς, as hope, heritage in heaven, salvation, exaltation, appreciation, light, and the glory of God. These are especially frequent in the initial part of the Petrine Letter. ion, light and the glory of God. They are especially frequent in the initial part of the Petrine Letter.