Episode 228 of Celebrate Poe is entitled “What Is a Day?” The podcast (and several episodes after it) were influenced by a sermon given by the Rev. Julia Wentworth at Trinity Episcopal Church in Indianapolis earlier this year. This episode deals with Chronos and Kairos time, and delves into the role of time in the Creation story, Mark’s gospel, and the famous “to everything there is a season” verses from Ecclesiastes.
00:00 Intro
01:51 Chronos and Kairos introduced
06:04 Future episodes dealing with time and dreams
09:24 Kairos in the Gospel of Mark
12:28 Chronos (or Kairos) in the Creation story
13:12 The Creation Story
17:23 Interpretation of Creation Story in Genesis 1
24:48 Chronos and Kairos in “to everything there is a season”
27:35.Next episode
27:55 Sources
28:15 Outro
Episode 228 of Celebrate Poe is entitled “What Is a Day?” The podcast (and several episodes after it) were influenced by a sermon given by the Rev. Julia Wentworth at Trinity Episcopal Church in Indianapolis earlier this year. This episode deals with Chronos and Kairos time, and delves into the role of time in the Creation story, Mark’s gospel, and the famous “to everything there is a season” verses from Ecclesiastes.
00:00 Intro
01:51 Chronos and Kairos introduced
06:04 Future episodes dealing with time and dreams
09:24 Kairos in the Gospel of Mark
12:28 Chronos (or Kairos) in the Creation story
13:12 The Creation Story
17:23 Interpretation of Creation Story in Genesis 1
24:48 Chronos and Kairos in “to everything there is a season”
27:35.Next episode
27:55 Sources
28:15 Outro
00:00 Intro
Welcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley and this is Episode 228 - What Is a Day? Instead of the usual theme song associated with Edgar Poe in this podcast - Come Rest in This Bosom - I am beginning and ending this and the next few episodes with sections from Morning Has Broken from my album, Fallingwater Dreams.
Now I had mentioned in the previous episode that I was going to look at the subject of choices in Edgar Poe’s life - but I forgot that Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday were coming up this week - so I am going to begin a look the subjects of time and of dreams in the Bible, Shakespeare, Poe, and the movie Inception - by the end of this series of podcasts, I think you will understand how they are closely related.
01:51 Chronos and Kairos introduced
This podcast episode - and much of what follows in the following weeks are the direct reaction to an excellent sermon about Cairos and Kairos time given by the Rev. Julia Wentworth at Trinity Episcopal Church in Indianapolis earlier this year,
Again,those two aspects of time are known as Chronos and Kairos. Before we go any further - I want to be sure you understand what these terms mean. I suspect that those two words - Chronos and Kairos - might be completely new to you - they were to me.
But before the next few episodes are over, you should have a real understanding of these words. Now Chronos - and that is spelled CHRONOS - Chronos represents measured or chronological time. It is associated with the sequential and quantifiable nature of time, often depicted as a linear progression. Think of 1,2,3,4,5 or Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809 and died in 1849 - numbers you can measure - or think of a chronograph or chronological dates - time that is objective and measurable, such as clocks, calendars, and mathematical calculations. Chronos emphasizes the structured and ordered flow of time - dates on a calendar, or the time on a watch.
CLOCK TICK
Now Kyros - and that is spelled KYROS - signifies a moment or a period, not in a quantitive sense, but in a qualitative, opportune, or poetic manner.
Kyros is often thought of as the right or opportune moment (which is something that can’t be expressed in ordinary 1,2,3,4 numbers.). And some definitions of kyros include rhetoric - using the right word at the opportune moment.
Chronos is not about the poetic or metaphorical essence of time.
Chronos is not concerned with the qualitative significance of moments.
As I will delve into later, for the most part, Chronos is NOT the poetical language of a Shakespeare or a Poe.
I hope by now you can see that I am repeating the words chronos and kairos in different ways so you can wrap you head around them and understand the concepts better.
The ancient Greeks often depicted the concept of Chronos as an old man with a beard and a scythe, symbolizing the passage of time and its inevitable power. I’m sure that we all have seen such a similar image around New Years.
The word "chronos" is also used in some technical terms related to time, such as "chronometer" (a device for measuring time) and "chronology" (the study of the order of historical events).
At the risk of sounding repetitious, I want you to understand that ”Chronos," is the more sequential and chronological concept of time. In rhetoric, Kairos emphasizes the importance of timing, context, and the opportune moment in communication or persuasion. Kairos is used to refer to the proper use of rhetoric at the right moment (or using the right word at the right time.) rhetoric and having a connection to time, but not in a calendar sense.
06:04 Future episodes dealing with time and dreams
For this and the following podcast episode, I would like to take a look at the concepts of chronos and kairos by looking at some sections from the King James Version of the Bible. Of course, I could find some great passages from almost any piece of literature that illustrate chronos, kairos, or both - but I think it would be a great deal more useful to briefly confine my examination to the Bible for today and the following episode. Then I will examine Shakespeare’s use of chronos and kairos in the following episode, and then, for the final episode in this series, I want to examine some of the works of Edgar Allan Poe - all literary works that often transcend conventional measures of time, and have a timeless quality that continues to resonate with readers across generations. And finally - time and dreams in the movie Inception.
Now before I go any further, I want to emphasize that I going to delve into several passages from the King James Version of the Bible NOT to attempt to convert a listener to some kind of Christian nationalism - Celebrate Poe has had downloads in 80 countries - and it would be ridiculous to assume that all listeners were of the Christian faith. But the Bible has had a tremendous influence upon our culture, and my intention is to examine some passages from the King James Version of the Bible by looking at the Bible as literature.
On the other hand, it could be argued that in Christianity, the concept of Kairos takes on a deeper meaning, becoming intertwined with God's plan and divine intervention.
So for the rest of this podcast episode, I would like to examine in more detail several specific verses from a time standpoint. The entire ministry of Jesus can be seen as a prolonged Kairos period, bringing about significant change and fulfilling God's purpose.
While Kairos moments are often associated with positive occurrences, they can also involve challenges and suffering. God may use difficult times to bring about growth and transformation.
It's important to remember that while the concept of Kairos offers a meaningful lens through which to interpret Christian experiences, it should not be used to justify fatalism or passivity. Christians are still called to act and pursue God's will within the framework of both Chronos and Kairos time.
09:24 Kairos in the Gospel of Mark
My personal favorite of the New Testament books is Mark - Mark was the first gospel written and is by far the shortest - and is also a document where Kairos is particularly relevant.
For example - Mark seems to emphasize Kairos as the Fulfillment of Time:
Mark 1:15: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." This opening verse explicitly declares the beginning of Jesus' ministry.
In Mark 10:46-52: The blind Bartimaeus calling out to Jesus as he passes. by can be seen as a Kairos moment. Jesus doesn't just heal him later; he stops specifically for him at that moment, recognizing the blind man’s urgent need.
Mark 14:1-15: The anointing of Jesus by a woman in Bethany is described as happening "at this opportune moment" This act foreshadows his approaching sacrifice and highlights the significance of the timing.
Mark 1:16-20: When Jesus calls his first disciples, they readily leave their nets and follow him. This immediate response symbolizes their recognition of a Kairos moment, understanding the significance of his call and seizing the opportunity to join his mission. In other words, the disciples didn’t say “we’ll follow you later,” but realized the importance of the moment.
Mark 5:25-34: The woman with the issue of blood, considered unclean and ostracized, reached out to Jesus in desperation. Jesus recognized her faith and the urgency of her need, healing her in that moment.
Interpreting Kairos moments can be subjective, and these are just a few examples from Mark's Gospel. Many scholars believe that the concept of Kairos is interwoven with the larger themes of God's plan, redemption, and transformation throughout the narrative of Mark’s Gospel
12:28 Chronos (or Kairos) in the Creation story
Remember that Chronos is the form of time that measures time sequentially - such as a scale or ruler - one hour, two hours, three hours, then four hours is chronological time - or chronos time. And you can remember chronos as the basis of chronometer or chronological time - the sequential time or dates.
Kairos time is NOT sequential time but is often the right or most effective time - kairos is also known as poet’s time - and is a more abstract time that can express ephemeral or eternal events.
13:12 The Creation Story
A great example of a section from the King James Bible that has been interpreted as expressing chronic time, while some people believe it is kairos time are the first 26 verses of the the creation story from the 1st chapter of Genesis.
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
17:23 Interpretation of Creation Story in Genesis 1
Now remember, chronos refers to a linear, measurable concept of time, and Kairos refers to the qualitative time that refers to a special or significant moment.
Not surprisingly, it seems there has always been a debate surrounding the interpretation of "day" in the creation story.
Some argue for a literal interpretation - a strict view that sees each of the days as six chronoglical periods of 24 hours - very similar to a Chronos view of time.
Others propose a more symbolic view, seeing "day" as an unspecified period of time during which God brought forth creation.
Although the creation story uses Chronological language ("first day," "second day"), many scholars argue that each "day" could also represent a significant, divinely ordained moment (Kairos) in the unfolding of creation.
Some might say that God's creative acts weren't bound by the limitations of our 24-hour day, but rather by the perfect timing (Kairos) of his will.
In reality, the Hebrew word used for "day" in Genesis can also mean "epoch" or "indeterminate period.” Additionally, the focus of the story is on the sequence and order of creation, not necessarily the specific timeframe.
It is so much easier to understand the creation story as written when you understand that the word “Yom” can be quite flexible. Yom CAN refer to a literal 24-hour day, but it can also encompass longer periods like epochs or ages.
One way of expressing creation and what happened in what happened in what sequence is to focus on the order, not the clock - that the focus of the creation story is on the order and sequence of God's creative acts, not fitting them into a specific 24-hour timeframe where there are exactly 12 hours or daytime and 12 hours of night.
In other words, the creation story is a narrative about God bringing order out of chaos, with each "day" representing a significant stage in that process.
And to go even deeper into the Kairos aspect, Each "day" can be seen as a divinely ordained moment (Kairos) when God enacted a specific part of creation. These Kairos moments weren't limited by Chronos (clock time), but by God's perfect timing and purpose.
The creation story does describe each "day" with evening and morning, a structure associated with a 24-hour cycle. However, this structure could also be symbolic, representing completion and a new beginning within each Kairos moment.
It seems that most scholars interpret the lack of detail about specific actions within each "day" as evidence that the focus isn't on the length, but on the significance of each creative act.
Probably the most important thing to remember regarding the use of days, is that the flexibility of "day" allows for different interpretations without diminishing the importance of the creation story. The key takeaway is God's power and the wonder of creation, regardless of the specific timeframe
On the other hand, there are several reasons why some people favor interpreting "yom" in the creation story as referring to 24-hour days:
For some, the literal meaning of "yom" as "day" seems like the most straightforward interpretation of the text. The story describes evenings and mornings, a structure familiar to our everyday experience of 24-hour days.
Some proponents of a young earth believe that a literal interpretation aligns better with a specific creation timeframe mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. They see the creation story as a historical account that corresponds with their understanding of Earth's age.
For some theologians, a literal six-day creation emphasizes God's direct and powerful role in shaping the universe. They see the story as a testament to God's creative power within a relatively short timeframe.
But personally, I do not believe that the earth was created in a seven day period where each day was 24 hours.
For one thing, modern scientific understanding of the universe's age and formation processes contradicts a literal six-day creation.
And the meaning of "yom" can be broader than just “day." Yom can also encompass longer stretches of time, and refer to "periods" or even "epochs." This understanding allows for a more symbolic interpretation of the events. Ultimately, the interpretation of "yom" in the creation story is a matter of theological perspective and how one reconciles faith with scientific understanding.
In other words, the vast majority of scholars believe that the emphasis in the creation story is on the order and sequence of creation, rather than a specific timeframe.
One of the many examples in the Bible that illustrates chronos time and Kairos time is the plight of the Israelites in Egypt. According to Exodus 12:40, - Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. A specific, measurable time that would be a classic example of Chronos time - but eventually there was a series of plagues - and God’s intervention - that created the right moment (or Kairos) for their escape.
24:48 Chronos and Kairos in “to everything there is a season”
In conclusion, one of the most famous uses of both chronos and kairos time in the Bible is a list of various activities happening at their appointed times - a list that is one of the most quoted passages in the Scriptures.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-7 and Interpretation
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace
This passage is a beautiful example of both Chronos and Kairos.
Chronos (Linear Time): The passage establishes a cyclical view of time Chronos speaks of seasons (v. 1) and repeated occurrences throughout life (birth/death, planting/harvesting, etc.
Kairos (Opportune Moments): Within this cyclical framework, the passage highlights the importance of recognizing the right moments (Kairos) for specific actions. For example:
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up (v. 2) - Knowing the proper seasons for planting and harvesting is crucial
A time to weep, and a time to laugh (v. 4) - There are appropriate moments for expressing different emotions.:35
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak (v. 7) - Choosing the right moment to speak or remain silent can have a significant impact.
27:35.Next episode
Join us next week, for episode 229 where this podcast takes a deeper look into Chronos and Kairos - in passages ranging from the prologue to Revelations to passages dealing with Easter in Mark’s gospel.
27:55 Sources
Sources include: the Reverend Julia Wentworth, currently pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, the King James Version of the Bible, The Language of God by Dr. Francis Collins, Perplexity.ai and ChatGPT.
28:15 Outro
Thank you for listening to Celebrate Poe.