What does "fullness of time" mean?
Fullness of time suggests that Jesus came at a specific time - at the end of a period of time.
The Greek word translated "fullness" is pleroma which signifies completion or filling.
Many statements in the gospel indicate that timing was critical in Jesus' ministry.
The first words which Mark records Jesus as proclaiming are: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14)
Jesus stated to His mother at the wedding feast at Cana: "Dear woman, why do you involve me? . . . My time has not yet come." (John 2:4)
Because of timing, Jesus was able to speak openly in the temple area without anyone trying to stop him: "At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come." (John 7:30)
Clearly timing was a crucial element in Jesus' ministry
Jesus Christ was a man on a schedule.
So, it should be no surprise that the time of the Messiah's coming was set long before the event occurred.
