Bible Dictionary: World General

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

World General

WORLD (GENERAL)

1. Original Words:

In the King James Version this word represents several originals, as follows: 'erets "earth"; chedhel, "the underworld"; cheledh, "lifetime," "age"; `olam, "indefinite time," "age"; tebhel, "fertile earth"; ge, "earth"; aion, "age," "indefinite time," with frequent connotation of the contents of time, its influences and powers; oikoumene, "inhabited earth," the world of man considered in its area and distribution; last, and most frequently, kosmos, properly "order," with the suggestion of beauty; thence the material universe, as the great example of such order; then the moral universe, the total system of intelligent creatures, perhaps sometimes including angels (1 Corinthians 4:9), but as a rule human beings only; then, in view of the fact of universal human failure, humanity in its sinful aspect, the spirit and forces of fallen humanity regarded as antagonistic to God and to good, "all around us which does not love God."

2. Remarks:

Of the above terms, some need not detain us; 'erets, as the original to "world," occurs only thrice, chedhel, once, cheledh, twice, `olam, twice (including Ecclesiastes 3:11), ge, once. The most important of the series, looking at frequency of occurrence, are tebhel, aion, oikoumene, kosmos. On these we briefly comment in order.

(1) Tebhel.

Tebhel, as the original to "world," occurs in 35 places, of which 15 are found in Psalms and 9 in the first half of Isaiah. By derivation it has to do with produce, fertility, but this cannot be said to come out in usage. The word actually plays nearly the same part as "globe" with us, denoting man's material dwelling-place, as simply as possible, without moral suggestions.

(2) Aion.

We have indicated above the speciality of aion. It is a time, with the suggestion always of extension rather than limit (so that it lends itself to phrases denoting vast if not endless extension, such as "to the aions of aions," rendered "forever and ever," or "world without end"). In Hebrews 1:2; Hebrews 11:13, it denotes the "aeons" of the creative process. In numerous places, notably in Matthew, it refers to the "dispensations" of redemption, the present "age"of grace and, in distinction, the "age" which is to succeed it-"that world, and the resurrection" (Luke 20:35). Then, in view of the moral contents of the present state of things, it freely passes into the thought of forces and influences tending against faith and holiness, e.g., "Be not fashioned according to this world" (Romans 12:2). In this connection the Evil Power is said to be "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

(3) Oikoumene.

The word oikoumene occasionally means the Roman empire, regarded as pre-eminently the region of settled human life. So Luke 2:1 Acts 11:28, and perhaps Revelation 3:10, and other apocalyptic passages. In Hebrews it is used mystically of the Empire of the Messiah (1:6; 2:5).

(4) Kosmos.

We have remarked above on kosmos, with its curious and suggestive history of meanings. It may be enough here to add that that history prepares us to find its reference varying by subtle transitions, even in the same passage. See e.g. John 1:10, where "the world" appears first to denote earth and man simply as the creation of "the Word," and then mankind as sinfully alienated from their Creator. We are not surprised accordingly to read on the one hand that "God.... loved the world" (John 3:16), and on the other that the Christian must "not love the world" (1 John 2:15). The reader will find the context a sure clue in all cases, and the study will be pregnant of instruction.

Handley Dunelm

Library

Evolution in General
... but after all the blood spilt, Evolution is simply "history," a "history of steps,"
a "general name" for the history of the steps by which the world has come ...
/.../drummond/the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/i evolution in general.htm

General Introduction
... General Introduction. In this volume we have sought to present the view taken by
Thomas Aquinas of the moral and spiritual world in which we live, and of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/nature and grace/general introduction.htm

God's Need of Men who Pray
... This present world's general attitude retires prayer to insignificance and obscurity.
By it, salvation and eternal life are put in the background. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the weapon of prayer/iv gods need of men.htm

On the Wisdom of this World
... than the sound of the words, it is at least too abstracted to become a universal
influencing principle in the world, and therefore could not be of general use. ...
/.../swift/three sermons three prayers/on the wisdom of this.htm

Of the Divine Providence in General.
... and most perfect knowledge of the art of making the world for his ... one providence
natural, another supernatural, and that the latter again is general, or special ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iii of the divine.htm

Book v. --General Reply to Sundry of Marcion's Heresies.
... X. Appendix. [Translated by the Rev. S. Thelwall.] Book V."General Reply to Sundry
of Marcion's Heresies. ... 30 We are contending the world's Maker is. ...
/.../book v general reply to sundry.htm

Sermon at the Opening Services of the General Convention, October ...
... Church, is consecrated bishop, and made the first apostle for the New World. ... members
of the Continental Congress, and David Brooks, commissary-general of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whipple/five sermons/i sermon at the opening.htm

General Conference of 1824
... "In thus submitting to the General Conference a ... concerns of this society, in any
measure, to extend the empire of truth and righteousness in our world; at the ...
/.../chapter 7 general conference of.htm

The General Conference of 1836
... however, soon after his return to the United States, declined the office, and before
the next General Conference he was called to his reward in another world. ...
/.../chapter 13 the general conference.htm

The Church under the Roman Empire
... But its authority is much increased by the fact that to become really a general
Council its decrees must be generally received by the Christian world. ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter vi the church under.htm

Subtopics

Worldliness: Eli's Sons

Worldliness: Esau