FULNESS OF TIME

This phrase is found in Galatians 4:4, where Paul speaks of Christ's birth and earthly ministry as occurring when "the fulness of time" had arrived. The expression takes note of the preparation that God, across the centuries, had providentially worked out, so as to ensure the success of the commencement of Christianity. For example: (a) The Hebrew people had given the ancient world a monotheistic religion and a body of inspired Scripture, announcing the coming of the Messiah. (b) The Greeks provided the Koine Greek language, the most perfect instrument for the conveyance of human thought ever known to man. (c) The Romans contributed a marvelous system of law (under which Jesus was declared "innocent" of any wrongdoing -- see Acts 2:23), as well as a remarkable highway system which facilitated the distribution of the gospel. Everything came together with pinpoint focus; truly, God was the master planner who brought it to glorious fruition.