I guess I’m confused how Philippians 2:15 proves genea means more than the typical time range for a generation? Maybe you could elaborate on that a little more?
The following is my view. I used Chatgpt as a tool to articulate my thoughts more clearly. It's still my view, not Chatgpt's view.
The passage in Philippians 2:15 states:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
At first glance, this might seem to be talking about a specific generation of people in the first century--perhaps referring to those living at the time of Paul. However, this verse raises important questions about the meaning of the word 'genea' (generation), which Paul uses to describe the world system of his day.
Let’s ask some questions to clarify what Paul means by 'genea' in Philippians 2:15:
1. Is Paul referring only to the people alive in his day?
While it’s true that Paul wrote this letter to a specific church in the first century, the way he uses the term crooked and perverse generation suggests he is describing the broader world system under the curse of sin and rebellion. This system is not limited to one particular group of people or one generation but is a description of the current age in which all believers live, across time.
2. Could this "generation" extend beyond the first century?
The language of Philippians 2:15---about being blameless and harmless, children of God without rebuke---is something that applies to Christians throughout the entire church age, not just in the first century. It makes more sense to view this generation as representing the fallen world in general, across all time, in which believers are called to shine as lights. If this is the case, then genea refers to an age, not just a specific group of people alive during a 40-year period.
3. Is there a broader biblical precedent for this use of genea?
Yes, in several other passages, genea is used to describe more than just a 40-year span. For example:
In Matthew 24:34, Jesus says, This generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. While some interpret this narrowly, I argue that the generation refers to the present world system or age, not just the specific people alive in Jesus' time.
In Luke 16:8, Jesus refers to the generation of the children of this world, indicating that genea can describe an entire age or era of people in rebellion against God, not just a 40-year period.
Thus, when Paul speaks of a crooked and perverse generation in Philippians 2:15, it makes more sense to interpret genea as referring to the present age, the world system under the curse of sin and corruption. This fits with the broader biblical usage of genea to refer to an age, not just a narrow period of time.
Once we recognize that genea in Philippians 2:15 likely refers to an age---the entire world system under sin--it helps us understand the broader implications for other passages that use genea, such as Matthew 24:34 and 2 Peter 3:7.
Jesus says in Matthew 24:34, This generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. As noted earlier, many Preterists interpret this as referring to the generation alive in 70 AD. But if genea is meant to refer to an age in Philippians 2:15, we can apply the same understanding here. Jesus may be speaking not just of the first-century generation, but of the present world system---an age characterized by sin, rebellion, and corruption---that must pass away before the new creation comes. This aligns perfectly with the language of 2 Peter 3:7, which speaks of the current heavens and earth passing away in judgment.
In 2 Peter 3:7, Peter writes that the present heavens and earth are reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. This passage is clearly speaking of the present age (the world system as it exists now) that will be destroyed in judgment. If we understand genea in Philippians 2:15 to refer to the present world system, then we can see the connection: both passages describe the end of the current world order, and both use similar language of passing away to describe the transition from the old age to the new age.
To sum up, Philippians 2:15 helps us understand that genea refers to more than just a specific, narrow time period---it refers to the present world system characterized by sin and rebellion. This broader use of genea makes sense in the context of Paul calling believers to shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation, a description that clearly applies beyond the first century.
This understanding of genea as an age helps us interpret Matthew 24:34 and 2 Peter 3:7 in a consistent way. Both passages describe the passing away of the present age---the world system under sin---before the establishment of the new heavens and new earth. The generation in Matthew 24:34 is not just the people of Jesus' time, but the current age, which must pass away before the new creation can be realized.
Therefore, the Preterist interpretation of Matthew 24:34, which limits the generation to the first century, overlooks the broader, more consistent biblical use of genea to describe an age or epoch. By recognizing this, we can see that both Matthew 24:34 and 2 Peter 3:7 are speaking of the same event: the passing away of the current age and the beginning of the new creation. This challenges the Preterist view and opens the door to a more comprehensive eschatological understanding of the New Testament.
