4029 world, human beings in
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  0  »  4025 world, the  »  4029 world, human beings in

The world is intended to be the dwelling-place of humanity, as the height of God's creation. Human beings are organised within the world into groupings and nations and have a God-given authority to rule.

The responsibility of human beings to rule

Over the earth

Genesis 2:15-16 See also Genesis 1:25-26,29; Psalm 8:4-6

Over the animal kingdom

Genesis 1:28 “subdue” and “rule” do not give liberty to exploit and abuse but responsibility for caring for and bringing the best out of God's world. See also Genesis 9:1-5; Deuteronomy 22:6-7; Proverbs 27:23-27; Matthew 6:25-26; Acts 10:11-13

The response of human beings to God's commission to rule

Failure through abuse

Hosea 4:2-3 See also Genesis 3:12; Genesis 6:11-12; Deuteronomy 28:15-21

Refusal to fill the earth

Genesis 11:5-7 See also Genesis 4:17

Obedience and blessing

Deuteronomy 28:4-5 See also Genesis 49:25

The ordering of nations within the world

By language

Genesis 11:8-9 See also Genesis 10:5; Nehemiah 13:24; Esther 1:22; Acts 2:6-8; Revelation 14:6

By race

Revelation 7:9 See also Revelation 5:9; Revelation 13:7

By territory

Acts 17:26 See also Genesis 13:11-12; Numbers 13:27-29

By their rise and fall

Jeremiah 18:7-10 See also 2 Chronicles 15:6; Isaiah 19:2; Jeremiah 1:10; Daniel 7:17-18; Matthew 24:7 pp Mark 13:8 pp Luke 21:10-11

By government

Romans 13:1 See also Daniel 2:21; Daniel 4:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14

The world as the object of the gospel proclamation

God sent Jesus Christ to this world

John 3:16 See also Isaiah 45:22; John 1:10,29; 1 John 2:2; John 4:9

Believers are commanded to evangelise this world

Matthew 28:18-19 See also Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8

See also

2354  Christ, mission
2420  gospel
3296  Holy Spirit in the world
5001  human race, the
5051  responsibility
5080  Adam
5326  government
5367  kingdoms
5374  languages
5475  property
5540  society
8424  evangelism



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