Parousia (Noun)
Meaning
(Christian theology) the reappearance of Jesus as judge for the Last Judgment.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- The biblical accounts of the parousia are understood by most Christians as the return of Jesus to judge all humanity.
- According to Christian eschatology, the parousia will occur at the end of time, marking the final triumph of God over evil.
- Some Christian theologians interpret the parousia as a spiritual event, rather than a physical one, in which Jesus is revealed in the hearts of believers.
- The early Christian church considered the parousia to be imminent, expecting Jesus to return within their lifetimes to bring about the Last Judgment.
- The parousia is often associated with the Second Coming of Christ, in which Jesus returns to earth to establish a new heaven and a new earth.