In the time of favor
The "time of favor" refers to a divinely appointed period when God's grace and mercy are abundantly available. The Greek word for "favor" (δεκτός, dektos) implies acceptance and approval. Historically, this echoes the prophetic words from Isaiah 49:8, where God promises restoration and blessing to His people. It signifies a special season of grace, inviting believers to respond to God's call.

I heard you
This phrase assures believers that God is attentive to their prayers and needs. The Greek verb for "heard" (ἐπήκουσα, epēkousa) conveys the idea of listening with intent and responding. It reflects God's faithfulness and readiness to engage with His people, reinforcing the personal relationship between the Creator and His creation.

And in the day of salvation
The "day of salvation" is a pivotal moment when deliverance and redemption are offered. The Greek word for "salvation" (σωτηρίας, sōtērias) encompasses rescue, safety, and preservation. This phrase highlights the eschatological hope and the present reality of salvation through Christ, urging believers to seize the opportunity for spiritual renewal.

I helped you
God's assistance is assured in this phrase, with the Greek verb (βοηθέω, boētheō) meaning to come to aid or rescue. It emphasizes God's proactive involvement in the lives of His people, providing strength and support in times of need. This assurance of divine help encourages believers to trust in God's provision and guidance.

Behold, now is the time of favor
The repetition of "time of favor" with the emphatic "now" (νῦν, nyn) stresses the immediacy and urgency of the message. It calls believers to recognize the present moment as a unique opportunity to experience God's grace. This urgency is a call to action, urging individuals not to delay in responding to God's invitation.

Now is the day of salvation
The reiteration of "now" underscores the critical nature of the present moment. The "day of salvation" is not just a future hope but a present reality available to all who believe. This phrase serves as a powerful reminder that God's offer of salvation is immediate and accessible, encouraging believers to embrace it without hesitation.

Behold, now is the accepted time . . .--The word for "accepted" is much stronger than in the previous clause. Entirely acceptable is, perhaps, its best equivalent. The solemnity of the words was, it may be, intensified in St. Paul's thoughts by what seemed to him the nearness of the impending judgment. Opportunities, as we should say, were offered which might never again recur. But the prolonged experience of the longsuffering of God has given to the words a yet more profound significance. There is, so to speak, a "now" running through the ages. For each church and nation, for each individual soul, there is a golden present which may never again recur, and in which lie boundless possibilities for the future. The words of the Apostle are, as it were, the transfigured expression of the generalisation of a wide experience which tells us that--

"There is a tide in the affairs of men

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune:

Omitted, all the voyage of their life

Is bound in shallows and in miseries."

--Shakespeare, Julius C?sar, iv. 3.

"There is a deep nick in Time's restless wheel
For each man's good."

(Chapman.) Now. No doubt St. Paul meant that, as long as life lasts, the door of repentance is never absolutely closed; but it is probable that he had specially in view the nearness of the advent of Christ. Compare the stress laid upon the word "today" in Hebrews 3:7, 8, and "at least in this thy day" (Luke 19:42).

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