"A LITTLE WHILE" A Word Study

----How long is “A Little While”? Can “A Little Wile” be an “elastic” term that can mean any amount of time? Does the bible use the term “A Little While” with any consistency that we can at least allow scripture to interpret scripture? ...I think if we look at the uses in the New Testament we can gain some confidence in how to interpret and apply this elusive term.

“Then said Jesus unto them, Yet A LITTLE WHILE (μικρόν χρόνον) am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.” John 7:33 μικρόν χρόνον (micron chronon)—Literally, A Little Time.

----Jesus was informing his disciples that he would only be with them, that is present with them for “A Little While”. We know that from this point in John it is months or maybe a little more than a year that this time frame refers to.

“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet A LITTLE WHILE (μικρόν χρόνον) is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” John 12:35

----Here in John 12:35 Jesus was warning them that the time which they would have access to the “light” was short. Darkness was soon to overtake them. Here again, however, Jesus is speaking of his presence. His presence is light, and when he leaves the opportunity to behold “That” light would be gone. This little while is again a reference to Christ’s bodily presence on earth. From this passage it is a matter of days-even hours that this “Little While” would elapse.

“Little children, yet A LITTLE while (μικρόν) I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.” John 13:33

----This is similar to the previous two, it gives the disciples warning that Christ would not be with them for much longer. Only a “Little While” would he be with them.

“A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall not see me: and again, A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall not see me: and again, A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, what is this that he saith, A LITTLE while (μικρόν)? We cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall not see me: and again, A LITTLE while (μικρόν), and ye shall see me?” John 16:16-19

----Here are two different “Little While’s”. Tthe first one is that Jesus would not be in the presence of his disciples but for a “Little While”. “A Little While” and they would NOT see Him. But then the next “A Little While”, they (ye) SHALL See me because I go to the Father. This brought no light confusion to the disciples. What??? We shall not see him, but then we shall see him? And they were baffled. But Jesus explains simply that He (Jesus) would be going back to His Father (in “A Little While). Then, in another “Little While” they would see him again at His return.

----Jesus uses the term “A Little While” to describe the time from His last evening prior to His departure to His (at the ascension). Then He uses it again to describe the time between his departure and his return. So from the last supper evening until His ascension would be, “A Little While”, and then from his ascension to His return would be “A Little While”.

“For yet a (very very) LITTLE while, (μικρόν όσον όσον) and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Hebrews 10:37

----In Hebrews, the author modifies the micron (Little while) adding to it a repeated word, “Very Very”--μικρόν όσον όσον -- micron oson oson Here the greek is emphasizing the shortness of the time, but adding oson oson (very very) the repetition of the word adds emphasis to the shortness of the Very Very Little while in which the first century audience should have expected his coming. So the return of Christ cannot be 2000+ years after his ascension unless you can twist, distort, and warp the biblical language in order to stretch it that far. Truly the biblical authors knew nothing of “A Little While” meaning a very long period of time. In each case (at least) the phrase had its application to events that were to take place in the lifetime of the hearers and authors of those words.