Bible Dictionaries
Coming

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"an entrance" (eis, "in," hodos, "a way"), "an entering in," is once translated "coming," Acts 13:24 , of the coming of Christ into the nation of Israel. For its meaning "entrance" see 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 2:1; Hebrews 10:19; 2 Peter 1:11 . See ENTER , ENTRANCE.

"a coming" (from erchomai, "to come"), is found in Acts 7:52 .

lit., "a presence," para, "with," and ousia, "being" (from eimi, "to be"), denotes both an "arrival" and a consequent "presence with." For instance, in a papyrus letter a lady speaks of the necessity of her parousia in a place in order to attend to matters relating to her property there. Paul speaks of his parousia in Philippi, Philippians 2:12 (in contrast to his apousia, "his absence;" see ABSENCE). Other words denote "the arrival" (see eisodos and eleusis, above). Parousia is used to describe the presence of Christ with His disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration, 2 Peter 1:16 . When used of the return of Christ, at the Rapture of the Chruch, it signifies, not merely His momentary "coming" for His saints, but His presence with them from that moment until His revelation and manifestation to the world. In some passages the word gives prominence to the beginning of that period, the course of the period being implied, 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:1; James 5:7,8; 2 Peter 3:4 . In some, the course is prominent, Matthew 24:3,37; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 John 2:28; in others the conclusion of the period, Matthew 24:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:8 .

The word is also used of the Lawless One, the Man of Sin, his access to power and his doings in the world during his parousia, 2 Thessalonians 2:9 . In addition to Philippians 2:12 (above), it is used in the same way of the Apostle, or his companions, in 1 Corinthians 16:17; 2 Corinthians 7:6,7; 10:10; Philippians 1:26; of the Day of God, 2 Peter 3:12 . See PRESENCE.

Note: The word apokalupsis, rendered "coming" in 1 Corinthians 1:7 , AV, denotes a "revelation" (RV). For a fuller treatment of Parousia, see Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 87,88.