DID JESUS REALLY SAY EÑ×ÏÌÁÉ ÔÁ×U 'I AM COMING SOON'? INTERROGATING THE USAGE OF ÔÁ×U 'SOON' IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

This work challenges the motive behind the usage of ôá÷? 'soon' in the New Testament amidst the various interpretive thoughts associated with the word as ipsissima vox rather than the ipsissima verba of Jesus. Such an ipsissima verba quest has made some people consider Jesus as a deceiver, who has kept his followers in deceit for centuries about the Parousia. A lot of people have anticipated the second coming of Jesus and lost faith. Some people mock those who still insist on the word 'soon' and it has created difficulty in the proclamation of the gospel message. Using biblical theology and historical-critical methods, this work surveys the various positions and argues that Jesus perhaps never said 'I am coming soon' as understood in the context of imminence for the first century Christians. This work reveals possible interpretations, which underscores ?ñ÷ïìáé ôá÷? “I am coming soon” to become an agent of evangelistic strategy by Apostle John in the intention of Jesus and raises a few implications into the present missionary involvements as the Church waits the groom.