World

Cross-reference:

• Also found in Nave's Topical Bible

World

1. kosmos
2. aion
3. oikoumene

kosmos primarily "order, arrangement, ornament, adornment" 1_Pet_3:3, see kosmos_under_ADORN), is used to denote
(a) the "earth," e.g., Matt. 13;35; John_21:25; Acts_17:24; Rom_1:20 (probably here the universe: it had this meaning among the Greeks, owing to the order observable in it); 1_Tim_6:7; Heb_4:3; Heb_9:26;
(b) the "earth" in contrast with Heaven, 1_John_3:17 (perhaps also Rom_4:13);
(c) by metonymy, the "human race, mankind," e.g., Matt_5:14; John_1:9 [here "that cometh (RV, 'coming') into the world" is said of Christ, not of "every man;" by His coming into the world He was the light for all men]; 1_John_3:10; 1_John_3:16,17 (thrice), 1_John_3:19; 1_John_4:42, and frequently in Rom. 1 Cor. and 1 John;
(d) "Gentiles" as distinguished from Jews, e.g., Rom_11:12,15, where the meaning is that all who will may be reconciled (cp. 2_Cor_5:19);
(e) the "present condition of human affairs," in alienation from and opposition to God, e.g., John_7:7; John_8:23; John_14:30; 1_Cor_2:12; Gal_4:3; Gal_6:14; Col_2:8; James_1:27; 1_John_4:5 (thrice); 1_John_5:19;
(f) the "sum of temporal possessions," Matt_16:26; 1_Cor_7:31 (1st part);
(g) metaphorically, of the "tongue" as "a world (of iniquity)," James_3:6; expressive of magnitude and variety.

See also : kosmos in other topics

aion "an age, a period of time," marked in the NT usage by spiritual or moral characteristics, is sometimes translated "world;" the RV marg. always has "age." The following are details concerning the world in this respect; its cares, Matt_13:22; its sons, Luke_16:8; Luke_20:34; its rulers, 1_Cor_2:6,8; its wisdom, 1_Cor_1:20; 1_Cor_2:6; 1_Cor_3:18, its fashion, Rom_12:2; its character, Gal_1:4; its god, 2_Cor_4:4. The phrase "the end of the world" should be rendered "the end of the age," in most places (see sunteleia_under_END); in 1_Cor_10:11, AV, "the ends (tele) of the world," RV, "the ends of the ages," probably signifies the fulfillment of the Divine purposes concerning the ages in regard to the church [this would come under END]. In Heb_11:3 [lit., "the ages (have been prepared)"] the word indicates all that the successive periods contain; cp. Heb_1:2. Aion is always to be distinguished from kosmos, even where the two seem to express the same idea, e.g., 1_Cor_3:18, aion, 1_Cor_3:19, kosmos; the two are used together in Eph_2:2, lit., "the age of this world." For a list of phrases containing aion, with their respective meanings, see EVER.

See also : aion in other topics

oikoumene "the inhabited earth" (see oikoumene_under_EARTH), is used
(a) of the whole inhabited world, Matt_24:14; Luke_4:5; Luke_21:26; Rom_10:18; Heb_1:6; Rev_3:10; Rev_16:14; by metonymy, of its inhabitants, Acts_17:31; Rev_12:9;
(b) of the Roman Empire, the world as viewed by the writer or speaker, Luke_2:1; Acts_11:28; Acts_24:5; by metonymy, of its inhabitants, Acts_17:6; Acts_19:27;
(c) the inhabited world in a coming age, Heb_2:5.

Notes:
(1) In Rev_13:3, AV, ge, "the earth" (RV), is translated "world."
(2) For phrases containing aionios, e.g., Rom_16:25; 2_Tim_1:9; Titus_1:2, see aionios_under_ETERNAL.

See also : oikoumene in other topics