by George Sidney Hurd The following is an excerpt from my book, The Triumph of Mercy. Some have argued that in 2Corinthians 4:18 aionios must mean “eternal” rather than “eonian” since it is contrasted with that which is temporal. The text, as often translated, could seem to warrant that conclusion. The New King James Version reads: “while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary (πρόσκαιρα, proskaira), but the things which are not seen are eternal (αἰώνια, aionia).” (2Cor 4:18) It is argued that this verse is making a contrast between time and eternity and that aionios in this instance must mean “eternal” rather than “eonian.” However, it is more than significant that the word translated “temporary” is not from the Greek word kronos, used by Plato to distinguish chronological time from eternity. Instead, Paul uses the word proskairos, which is from the word kairos, and refers to that which is momentary in contrast with that which is enduring. Strong’s defines proskairos as: “for the occasion only, i.e. temporary.” Therefore, the antonym of proskairos, as with kairos, would be enduring – not eternal. Plato’s antonym for eternal was kronos – not kairos. What is being contrasted in 2Corinthians 4:18 is that which is temporary or momentary with that which is enduring - not time vs. eternity. The other two uses of the word proskairos in the New Testament are not used to express time as opposed to eternity but rather the momentariness of something as opposed to that which is enduring (cf. Matt 13:21; Heb 11:25). Therefore, all that Paul meant to convey in this comparison is that, rather than focusing on visible things which are momentary and fleeting, we should set our eyes upon those things which are invisible and enduring. That the invisible might also be eternal would be beside the point and beyond the meaning conveyed in the word aionios itself. Paul is not contrasting aionios with kronos but with kairos – not time vs. eternity, but momentary vs. enduring. That aionios refers to chronological time and not eternity in the Scriptures becomes evident when we look at passages like Romans 16:25-26 which, although traditional translators rendered kronois aioniois as "since the world began," literally says: “…according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret from times eonian, (χρόνοις αἰωνίοις, kronois aioniois) but now made manifest….” In the first place, we must bear in mind that eternity does not have times (kronois). Also, an “eternal secret” could not be said to have now been made manifest, since an eternal secret would never be revealed. Also, in 2Timothy 1:9 and Titus 1:2 the phrase, πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων (pro kronon aionion), literally means “before the times of the ages.” To render it as “before times eternal” would be an anomaly since eternity has neither a beginning nor times. That is apparently why the King James translators concealed pro kronon aionion, by mistranslating it to read: “since the world began.” These examples, among others that I present in my book, The Triumph of Mercy, demonstrate that aionios cannot mean eternal as Augustinian theologians would have us believe. 
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