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Concise Bible Dictionary
:
The word
commonly so rendered in the
Old
Testament
is
tebel
, signifying “the habitable
earth
:” it is an expression of limited bearing, applied to that sphere which comes more directly under
divine
dealings (
Psa. 90:2
2
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. (Psalm 90:2)
); and to the inhabitants, who will be judged (
Psa. 9:8
8
And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. (Psalm 9:8)
). The word in the
New
Testament answering to the above, is;
οἰκονμέη
its various applications can be seen (
Luke 2:1
1
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (Luke 2:1)
;
Acts 11:28
28
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. (Acts 11:28)
;
Acts 17:6, 31
6
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; (Acts 17:6)
31
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)
;
Acts 19:27
27
So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. (Acts 19:27)
;
Heb. 2:5
5
For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. (Hebrews 2:5)
). In the last
passage
it is the coming world, that is, that which is
put
under
the
Son
of
Man
, that is spoken of.
In the New Testament κόσμος is the more general word, which in
Greek
writers signifies “order, regularity, ornament”; it is translated “adorning” (
1 Pet. 3:3
3
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; (1 Peter 3:3)
). The
heaven
and the earth, because of their order and beauty, are called
cosmos
, “the world.” This word is employed for “world” in its various meanings, as for instance the material earth (
Rom. 1:20
20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)
); the inhabitants of the world that will be judged (
Rom. 3:6
6
God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? (Romans 3:6)
); and in a moral sense as the condition and
spirit
which is opposed to
God
(
1 Cor. 2:12
12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)
;
James 4:4
4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)
;
1 John 2:16
16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16)
).
Another word, αἰών, “
age
, duration,” is applied both to the present age, the course of this world, and to age-enduring, or eternity (
Rom. 12:2
2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)
;
Gal. 1:4
4
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4)
;
Eph. 1:21
21
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:21)
;
Eph. 6:12
12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
). With a preposition it is translated “
forever
,” and when the word is repeated, “forever and ever,” or “to the ages of ages” (
2 Cor. 9:9
9
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. (2 Corinthians 9:9)
;
Gal. 1:5
5
To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:5)
;
Phil. 4:20
20
Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:20)
;
1 Tim. 1:17
17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)
). In two passages this word refers to the material worlds (
Heb. 1:2
2
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)
;
Heb. 11:3
3
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)
).
From Anstey’s
Doctrinal Definitions
:
This term is used in the
New
Testament
in
three
main ways:
• As a PLACE—the
planet
Earth
(
John 1:1
1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
0a; 9:5; 17:28; 18:37;
Acts 17:24
24
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; (Acts 17:24)
;
Rom. 1:20
20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)
;
1 Tim. 1:15
15
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)
;
1 John 4:17
17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)
;
Rev. 13:8
8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)
).
• As a SOCIETY
where Christ is excluded (
John 8:23; 15:19; 17:1
23
And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. (John 8:23)
19
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19)
1
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: (John 17:1)
4b-16, 18;
Rom. 12:2
2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)
;
Gal. 1:4; 6:14
4
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4)
14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)
;
2 Tim. 4:10
10
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. (2 Timothy 4:10)
;
James 4:4
4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)
;
1 John 2:15-17; 4
15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15‑17)
15
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:15‑17)
:5a; 5:19).
The world
in this sense refers to the sphere of affairs and activities on earth which
man
in his alienation from
God
has arranged in an attempt to keep himself happy and satisfied without Christ. It operates on false principles and values, and is based on appealing to the desires of the
flesh
. The root principle that characterizes
life
in this sphere is self-seeking. Viewed in this sense, the world is a definite enemy of the
Christian
, which if it is allowed to have even a little space in a
believer
’s
heart
, will dethrone Christ from His rightful place there. The Christian overcomes this enemy by
faith
—by seeing Christ as the center of a whole other scene (
1 John 5:4-5
4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4‑5)
).
• As the PEOPLE
who are part and parcel of the society that man has built for himself in his alienation from God (
Psa. 17:14
14
From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. (Psalm 17:14)
;
John 1:1
1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
0b; 3:16; 4:42; 6:51; 15:18; 17:14a; 1 John 4:5b, 14).
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