The Synonymous Words for
"World" ,
"Earth", etc.
This
Is Appendix 129 From The Companion Bible.
There
are four Greek words which are thus translated ; and it is
important
that they should be, in each occurrence, carefully
distinguished.
They are as follows :-
1.
Kosmos = the world as created, ordered, and arranged. Hence it
is
used in the LXX (Septaugint) for the Hebrew word rendered
"ornament". See
Exodus 33:5,6.
Isaiah 49:18.
Jeremiah 4:30.
Ezekiel
7:20, etc.
It denotes' the opposite of what man has called
"choas", which
God never created. See notes on Isaiah 45:18 and
Genesis
1:2: for
the Hebrew bara' means not only to create, but that
what
was created was beautiful. The root, meaning to carve, plane,
polish,
implies both order and beauty. Compare Appendix 146.
2.
aion = an age, or age-time, the duration of which is indefinite,
and
may be limited or extended as the context of each occurrence
may
demand.
The
root meaning of aion is expressed by the Hebrew 'olam (see
Appendix
151. I.A and II.A) which denotes indefinite, unknown or
concealed
duration : just as we speak of "the patriarchal age", or
"the
golden age", etc. Hence, it has come to denote any given
period
of time, characterized by a special form of Divine
administration
or dispensation.
In
the plural we have the Hebrew 'olamim
and Greek 'aiones used
of
ages, or of a succession of age-times, and of an abiding from age
to
age. From this comes the adjective, aionios
(Appendix 151. II.B),
used
of an unrestricted duration, as distinct from a particular or
limited
age-time. These age-times must be distinct or they could not
be
added to, or multiplied, as in the expression aions of aions.
These
ages or age-times were all prepared and arranged by God
(see
Hebrews 1:2; 11:3); and there is a constant distinction in
the
New
Testament between "this age", and the "coming age"
(see
Matthew
12:32.
Hebrews 1:2.
Ephesians 1:21).
"This
age" is characterized by such passages as Matthew 13:24-
30, 36-43. Mark
4:19; 10:30. Romans 12:2. 1Corithians
2:8.
2Corithians 4:4. Galatians 1:4. Ephesians 2:2. (transl. "course").
2Timothy 4:10. Titus
2:12.
The
"coming age"
is characterized in such passages as
Matthew
13:39,40,49; 24:3; 28:20. Mark
10:30. Luke
18:30; 20:35.
1Corinthians 15:23. Titus 2:13.
The
conjunction of these ages is spoken of as the sunteleia,
marking
the end of one age and the beginning of another.
Other
indefinite duration are mentioned, but they always refer to
some
unknown and prolonged continuance, the end of which cannot
be
seen; such as the end of life (Exodus 21:6). Hence the Hebrew
Priesthood
was so characterized because its end could not be
foreseen
(see Exodus 40:15. 1Samuel 1:22. Hebrews 7:12). It is used
in
the same way in other connections (see Matthew 21:19. John
8:35). For further information see Appendix
151. II.A.
3.
oikoumene = the world as inhabited. It is from the verb oikeo
=
to dwell. It is used of the habitable world, as distinct from the
kosmos (number 1 above, which = the world as created). Hence, it
used
in a more limited and special sense of the Roman Empire,
which
was then predominant. See Luke 2:1; 4:5; 21:26. It is
sometimes
put by the Figure of Speech Metonymy
(of the Adjunct),
Appendix
6, for the inhabitants (Acts 17:6,31. Hebrews 2:5, etc.).
4.
ge = land, as distinct from water; or earth as distinct from
heaven;
or region or territory, used of one special land, or country,
as
distinct from other countries, in which peoples dwell, each on its
own
soil.