. Word of the Week
September 26, 2026
Proschairos: It’s Just Temporary
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 NASB
Solomon had it right when he said, “There is a time for everything” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV).
There is a season for changing diapers, a season for training wheels. A season for learners permits and for Little League. There is a time for ferrying kids to their events and a time for the empty nest. A time for the 8-to-5 grind and time to retire.
Change is inevitable, and we all know that most things in life are temporary.
The Bible deals with the transitory side of life. There’s even a Greek word that describes it.
The word is proschairos [PRAHSS-kye-rahss] and it is usually translated as “temporary, transitory, passing.” It is the opposite of “permanent” or “eternal.”
We get a hint of its significance when we notice that it comes from two smaller Greek words: pros, which means “for,” and kairos, which means “time, season.” Kairos is the word that describes a crucial point in time, a turning point or opportunity that happens at a particular moment. For a full “Word of the Week” discussion of Kairos, click HERE.
Only four passages in the New Testament use the word proschairos, but even this limited selection spotlights the crucial difference between things that will disappear and things that will last forever. Let’s look at three things that won’t last.
- Temporary pleasures
Moses grew up as a pampered prince in the palace of Pharaoh. A career in the nobility stretched out before him, and all the privileges of high rank were open to him. But he recognized that his good fortune could not last forever. The Pharaoh’s favor would easily fade, especially when his link to the despised Hebrews was revealed.
Choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:25).
Moses ultimately threw in his lot with his people and their God, becoming the target of Pharoah’s wrath. In exchange, he enjoyed the favor of the eternal God.
Sin can be fun. But regrets and hangovers will greet you in the morning. At the right hand of God, however, “there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11).
- Temporary faith
Jesus told the story of a farmer sowing seed in his field. The sower tossed handfuls of seed everywhere, but not every seed bore fruit. In particular, he described seed that landed on rocky ground, springing up but soon withering. This seed was a picture of the person who heard His words but failed to let it take deep root. As the Lord described it,
Yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecutions arise because of the word, immediately he falls away (Matthew 13:21; see also Mark 4:1).
Sadly, there are many people who are attracted to Christianity, but who only hang around for a little while. As long as they enjoy the experience of participating with people of faith, they come to worship and listen to sermons. But when following Jesus becomes difficult, they suddenly disappear. Their apparent commitment is just temporary.
- Temporary trials
We all go through times when life is hard. The pressures keep mounting and our endurance runs low. We simply get tired of pushing through obstacles.
The apostle Paul, however, reminds us that we don’t have to lose heart. Why? Because the problems are temporary and a glorious future awaits us.
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Paul had a life filled with beatings, false accusations, shipwrecks, and unruly churches. Believers today face financial dilemmas, persecution, and frightening headlines. But the apostle points out that even the most hair-raising dilemmas come with an expiration date. It may seem that the flow of problems never ceases, but eternity looms ahead.
As St. Teresa of Avila testified, “From heaven, even the most miserable life will look like one bad night in an inconvenient hotel.”
Study Hint:
You can expand this study by looking at the article on Kairos that was just posted. And one of the best ways to fine-tune your understanding of a word is to compare it to the opposite word. In this case, you’ll want to learn about the word for “eternal.” You can find an article on the Greek word for “eternal” HERE
Coming Up
Elvis Presley topped the record charts in 1957 with his song, “All Shook Up.” It’s an apt description of the anxiety we often feel when we look too hard at the upheaval around us. Next week we will look at a Greek word that describes that feeling – and God’s prescription for it.
©Ezra Project 2026