Foundation of the World

This Is Appendix 146 From The Companion Bible.

To arrive at the true meaning of this expression, we must note that

there are two words translated "foundation" in the New Testament:

(1) themelios, and (2) katabole.

The Noun, themelios, occurs in Luke 6:48-49, 14:29, Acts 16:26,

Romans 15:20, 1Corinthians 3:l0-12, Ephesians 2:20, 1Timothy 6:19,

2Timothy 2:19, Hebrews 6:1, 11:10, Revelation 21:14,19. It is never

used of the world (kosmos) or the earth (ge). The corresponding

Verb (themelioo) occurs in Matthew 7:25, Luke 6:48, Ephesians

3:17, Colossians 1:23, Hebrews 1:10 and 1Peter 5:10. The verb is

only once used of the earth (ge). Hebrews 1:10.

A comparison of all these passages will show that these are proper

and regular terms for the English words "to found", and

"foundation".

The Noun, katabole, occurs in Matthew 13:35, 25:34, Luke 11:50,

John 17:24, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 4:3, 9:26 , 11:11, 1Peter 1:20,

Revelation 13:8, 17:8 and the corresponding Verb (kataballo)

occurs in 2Corinthians 4:9, Hebrews 6:1 and Revelation 12:10.

A comparison of all these passages (especially 2Corinthians 4:9

and Revelation 12:10) will show that kataballo and katabole are not

the proper terms for founding and foundation, but the correct

meaning is casting down, or overthrow.

Consistency, therefore, calls for the same translation in Hebrews

6:1, where, instead of "not laying again", the rendering should be

"not casting down". That is to say, the foundation already laid, of

repentance, etc., was not to be cast down or overthrown, but was to

be left and progress made unto the perfection.

Accordingly, the Noun katabole, derived from, and cognate with

the Verb, ought to be translated "disruption", or "ruin".

The remarkable thing is that in all occurrences (except Hebrews

11:11) the word is connected with "the world" (Greek kosmos.

Appendix 129.1), and therefore the expression should be rendered

"the disruption (or ruin) of the world", clearly referring to the

condition indicated in Genesis 1:2, and described in 2Peter 3:5-6. For

the earth was not created tohu (Isaiah 45:18) but became so, as

stated in the Hebrew of Genesis 1:2 and confirmed by 2Peter 3:6,

where "the world that then was by the word of God" (Genesis 1:1),

perished and "the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same

word" were created (Genesis 2:4), and are "kept in store, reserved

unto fire against the day of judgment" (2Peter 3:7) which shall usher

in the "new heavens and the new earth" of 2Peter 3:13.

"The disruption of the world" is an event forming a great dividing

line in the dispensations of the ages. In Genesis 1:1 we have the

founding of the world (Hebrews 1:10 = themelioo), but in Genesis

1:2 we have its overthrow.

This is confirmed by a further remarkable fact, that the phrase,

which occurs ten times, is associated with the Preposition apo =

from (Appendix 104. iv) seven times, and with pro = before

(Appendix 104. xiv) three times. The former refers to the kingdom,

and is connected with the "counsels" of God; the latter refers to the

Mystery (or Secret; See Appendix 193) and is connected with the

"purpose" of God (see John 17:24, Ephesians 1:4, 1Peter 1:20).

Ample New Testament testimony is thus given to the profoundly

significant fact recorded in Genesis 1:2, that "the earth became tohu

and bohu (i.e. waste end desolate); and darkness was on the face of

the deep", before the creation of "the heavens and the earth which

are now" (2Peter 3:7).