Dictionaries :: World

World:

primarily "order, arrangement, ornament, adornment" (1Pe 3:3, see ADORN, B), is used to denote

(a) the "earth," e.g., Matt. 13;35; Jhn 21:25; Act 17:24; Rom 1:20 (probably here the universe: it had this meaning among the Greeks, owing to the order observable in it); 1Ti 6:7; Hbr 4:3; 9:26;

(b) the "earth" in contrast with Heaven, 1Jo 3:17 (perhaps also Rom 4:13);

(c) by metonymy, the "human race, mankind," e.g., Mat 5:14; Jhn 1:9 [here "that cometh (RV, 'coming') into the world" is said of Christ, not of "every man;" by His coming into the world He was the light for all men]; Jhn 3:10; 3:16, 17 (thrice), Jhn 3:19; 4:42, and frequently in Rom., 1 Cor., and 1 John;

(d) "Gentiles" as distinguished from Jews, e.g., Rom 11:12, 15, where the meaning is that all who will may be reconciled (cp. 2Cr 5:19);

(e) the "present condition of human affairs," in alienation from and opposition to God, e.g., Jhn 7:7; 8:23; 14:30; 1Cr 2:12; Gal 4:3; 6:14; Col 2:8; Jam 1:27; 1Jo 4:5 (thrice); 5:19;

(f) the "sum of temporal possessions," Mat 16:26; 1Cr 7:31 (1st part);

(g) metaphorically, of the "tongue" as "a world (of iniquity)," Jam 3:6; expressive of magnitude and variety.

World:

"an age, a period of time," marked in the NT usage by spiritual or moral characteristics, is sometimes translated "world;" the RV marg. always has "age." The following are details concerning the world in this respect; its cares, Mat 13:22; its sons, Luk 16:8; 20:34; its rulers, 1Cr 2:6, 8; its wisdom, 1Cr 1:20; 2:6; 3:18, its fashion, Rom 12:2; its character, Gal 1:4; its god, 2Cr 4:4. The phrase "the end of the world" should be rendered "the end of the age," in most places (see END, A, No. 2); in 1Cr 10:11, AV, "the ends (tele) of the world," RV, "the ends of the ages," probably signifies the fulfillment of the Divine purposes concerning the ages in regard to the church [this would come under END, A, No. 1, (c)]. In Hbr 11:3 [lit., "the ages (have been prepared)"] the word indicates all that the successive periods contain; cp. Hbr 1:2. Aion is always to be distinguished from kosmos, even where the two seem to express the same idea, e.g., 1Cr 3:18, aion, 1Cr 3:19, kosmos; the two are used together in Eph 2:2, lit., "the age of this world." For a list of phrases containing aion, with their respective meanings, see EVER, B.

World:

"the inhabited earth" (see EARTH, No. 2), is used

(a) of the whole inhabited world, Mat 24:14; Luk 4:5; 21:26; Rom 10:18; Hbr 1:6; Rev 3:10; 16:14; by metonymy, of its inhabitants, Act 17:31; Rev 12:9;

(b) of the Roman Empire, the world as viewed by the writer or speaker, Luk 2:1; Act 11:28; 24:5; by metonymy, of its inhabitants, Act 17:6; 19:27;

(c) the inhabited world in a coming age, Hbr 2:5.

Notes:

(1) In Rev 13:3, AV, ge, "the earth" (RV), is translated "world."

(2) For phrases containing aionios, e.g., Rom 16:25; 2Ti 1:9; Tts 1:2, see ETERNAL, No. 2.