World, The

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This term is used in the New Testament in three main ways:
•  As a PLACE—the planet Earth (John 1:11In 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 17:2424God 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. 1:2020For 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. 1:1515This 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 4:1717Herein 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. 13:88And 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; 17:123And 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)
19If 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)
1These 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. 12:22And 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; 6:144Who 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)
14But 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. 4:1010For 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 4:44Ye 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; 415Love 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. 16For 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. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15‑17)
15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16And 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. 17Herein 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 5:4-54For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5Who 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. 17:1414From 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 1:11In 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).