Defenders 3: Doctrine of the Last Things (Part 12): Parables of the Delay of the Parousia - Defenders Podcast

Summary4 min read

Defenders Podcast – Doctrine of the Last Things (Part 12): Parables of the Delay of the Parousia

Host: Dr. William Lane Craig
Date: June 9, 2021

Episode Overview

In this episode of Defenders, Dr. William Lane Craig explores the New Testament parables that address the apparent delay of Jesus' return (the Parousia). Building on the previous discussion about passages seemingly implying an imminent second coming, Dr. Craig examines several of Jesus’ parables in Matthew and Luke. He argues that rather than predicting a swift return during the apostles' lifetimes, Jesus' teachings actually prepare believers for a substantial period of waiting and ongoing ministry before his return.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Addressing Apparent Immediacy Passages

Contextual Ambiguity
- Dr. Craig continues his argument that verses implying Jesus' return within a single generation (“this generation will not pass away…”) are possibly misunderstood due to "contextual ambiguity."
- Quote [00:15]:
  
  "What I've not yet shared with you is that while we do have a pair of troubling verses about this generation's not passing away...what we also have in the Gospel is a parade of parables by Jesus precisely about the delay of the parousia."

Parables Illustrating Delay

Parable of the Faithful and Wise Servant (Matthew 24:45–51; Luke 12:35–48) [01:14]
- The parable contrasts faithful servants with those who presume their master is delayed.
- The "wicked servant" abuses his role, expecting the master not to return soon; he is caught off guard and punished.
- Insight: The delay tests vigilance and faithfulness rather than rewarding presumptions about timing.
Parable of the Ten Maidens (Matthew 25:1–13) [02:28]
- Ten maidens await the bridegroom; only five bring extra oil.
- The bridegroom is delayed, and only the prepared maidens are welcomed when he arrives.
- Lesson emphasized by Dr. Craig:
  
  "Here again we have the delay of the return of the bridegroom. And the lesson is, always, be watchful."
  - (03:38)
Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30) [04:10]
- A master goes on a journey, entrusting servants with varying sums ("talents").
- After "a long time," the master returns for an account.
- The servants rewarded are those who made the most of what they were given, indicating an expectation of diligent work over an extended absence.
- Quote [06:27]:
  
  "So you have here once again a prediction of a long time before the return of the Master."
- Key Point: The “long time” before the master’s return is highlighted as a metaphor for the period before Christ’s return—believers are to be industrious and faithful.
Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46) [07:06]
- At the Son of Man's coming, all nations are judged for their care toward "the least of these."
- The characters in the parable never see Jesus himself, emphasizing ministry carried out during his absence.
- Interpretative insight [09:53]:
  
  "This parable is explicitly contradictory to the predictions that Jesus would return within the generation of his contemporaries. It is describing the ministry of the Church to others in future generations that will transpire before the Master finally comes again and does the reckoning."
- Key takeaway: Acts of service to others are equated with service to Christ himself, even in his prolonged absence.

Summary Reflection

Dr. Craig synthesizes the parables’ lessons:
- Jesus repeatedly taught that no one knows the time of his return.
- His parables prepare the church for a significant period of ministry and waiting.
- The Gospel will be proclaimed throughout the nations, with the end coming at an indeterminate future time.
On the so-called predictions of a swift return [11:19]:

"This odd pair of sayings that seems to imply otherwise, I suggest, is due to contextual ambiguity. It may well be the case that in the original historical context in which Jesus uttered those words, he was not talking about the second coming or the return of the Son of Man at all."

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Delay of the Parousia Emphasized

"You have here once again a prediction of a long time before the return of the Master." (06:27, Dr. Craig)
Watchfulness Encouraged

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Parable of the Ten Maidens recounted at 03:31)
Church’s Ongoing Ministry

"It is describing the ministry of the Church to others in future generations that will transpire before the Master finally comes again and does the reckoning." (09:53, Dr. Craig)

Notable Timestamps

00:15 – Introduction of the theme: verses vs. parables on Jesus’ return
01:14 – Parable of the Faithful and Wise Servant
02:28 – Parable of the Ten Maidens
04:10 – Parable of the Talents
07:06 – Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
09:53 – Dr. Craig’s explicit contradiction of the “imminent return” view
11:19 – Summary that ambiguity stems from context, not from Jesus' mistaken expectation

Conclusion

Dr. Craig argues persuasively that the dominant New Testament message is not of an imminent Parousia but a call to faithful ministry and watchfulness over an undefined period. The repeated emphasis in Jesus' parables on delay and preparation for a long interim undermines simplistic claims that Jesus promised to return within a single generation. Instead, the church is to continue its mission until that unknown day.

For more resources and information, visit reasonablefaith.org.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:01]
A
Welcome to Defenders, the teaching class of Dr. William Lane Craig. For more information and resources from Dr. Craig, go to reasonablefaith.org Last time I argued that passages about the second coming of Christ that appear to imply that Jesus thought that this event was going to take place within the lifetime of the eyewitnesses and create a false impression due to what I called contextual ambiguity. Now, if this weren't enough, what I've not yet shared with you is that while we do have a pair of troubling verses about this generation's not passing away and some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power, what we also have in the Gospel is a parade of parables by Jesus precisely about the delay of the parousia. It is going to appear to be delayed. Look at these then starting with the parable in Matthew 24:45 51 Jesus says, who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has set over his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions and but if that wicked servant says to himself, my master is delayed, and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him and and put him with the hypocrites there men will weep, and gnash their teeth. This same parable is also to be found in Luke 12:35 48. As if that weren't enough, Jesus gives another parable in Matthew 25:1 13, which teaches this same thing. Thing he says, then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to 10 maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise for when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them but the five took flasks of oil with their lamps and as the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, behold the bridegroom come out to meet him. Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise replied, perhaps it will not be enough for us and for you go rather to the dealers, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, lord, Lord, open to us. But he replied, truly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Here again we have the delay of the return of the bridegroom. And the lesson is, always, be watchful. Again if the disciples still hadn't gotten the point. And here's another parable, Matthew 25:14 30. For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents to another, two to another, one to each according to his ability. Then he went away, and he who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward bringing five talents more, saying, master, you delivered to me five talents. Here I have made five talents more. His master said to him, well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. And he also, who had the two talents came forward, saying, master, you delivered to me two talents. Here I have made two talents more. His master said to him, well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. He also, who had received the one talent, came forward saying, master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you do not sow, and gathering where you do not winnow. So I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours. But his master answered him, you wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I have not winnowed. Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was mine own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the 10 talents. For to everyone who has, will more be given, and he will have in abundance. But from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away and cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. There men will weep and gnash their teeth. There is much to be learned from this parable. But the point we want to focus on is again the the long time during which this money could be invested and gather interest and grow, even if it was simply put in the bank. So you have here once again a prediction of a long time before the return of the Master. Now, you'd think the disciples still haven't gotten the point. Maybe not. Matthew 25:31 46 is another parable teaching this same thing. When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from the other, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep and at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee? And the King will answer them, truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. Then he will say to those at his left hand, depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink. I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me naked, and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison, and you did not visit me, then they also will answer, lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger, or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to thee? Then he will answer them, truly I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. In this parable you see again that though Christ is absent, the people involved have never seen Jesus personally. The church ministers to the sick, the poor, and those who are in prison. It teaches that as they did these works to the least of these his brethren, so they have done it to Christ, whom they have never seen. This parable is explicitly contradictory to the predictions that Jesus would return within the generation of of his contemporaries. It is describing the ministry of the Church to others in future generations that will transpire before the Master finally comes again and does the reckoning. So I think that when you consider on balance the teachings of Jesus about his return, it's clear that Jesus says he doesn't know the time of his return, that nobody knows when he is going to come again. But he prepared the disciples over and over again for a long time, a delay of his return, during which time the church will minister in his name to the unfortunate, the Gospel will be preached to all the nations, and finally, at some indeterminate time in the future, the end will come. This odd pair of sayings that seems to imply otherwise, I suggest, is due to contextual ambiguity. It may well be the case that in the original historical context in which Jesus uttered those words, he was not talking about the second coming or the return of the Son of Man at all. Next time I'll share some final thoughts with you about the time of the return of Christ.