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
