The Fullness of Time

The coming of Christ into the world is the end of time. He is the fulfillment, the fullness of time. His Incarnation is the union of eternity with time in such a way that time is transfigured. Past, present and future become one in our Lord Jesus Christ.

But when the fullness [pleroma] of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV)

In Ephesians 1:9-10, Paul speaks of God’s eternal plan and pleasure: “He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment [pleroma] — to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” 

The pleroma or fullness of time is the completion of time, its purpose being fulfilled, or filled full. Christ Crucified and Risen is not only the fulfillment of time but he is also the completion of all things. He is at once both the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega, who was and is and is to come (Revelation 1:8). In Christ, it is all one.