Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, March 28th, 2024
Maundy Thursday
There are 3 days til Easter!
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Dictionaries
World

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Prev Entry
Workmanship
Next Entry
World Rulers
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links
1: κόσμος

(Strong's #2889 — Noun Masculine — kosmos — kos'-mos )

primarily "order, arrangement, ornament, adornment" (1 Peter 3:3 , see ADORN , B), is used to denote (a) the "earth," e.g., Matthew 13;35; John 21:25; Acts 17:24; Romans 1:20 (probably here the universe: it had this meaning among the Greeks, owing to the order observable in it); 1 Timothy 6:7; Hebrews 4:3; 9:26; (b) the "earth" in contrast with Heaven, 1 John 3:17 (perhaps also Romans 4:13 ); (c) by metonymy, the "human race, mankind," e.g., Matthew 5:14; John 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]; 1 John 3:10; 3:16,17 (thrice),19; 4:42, and frequently in Rom. 1Cor. and 1John; (d) "Gentiles" as distinguished from Jews, e.g., Romans 11:12,15 , where the meaning is that all who will may be reconciled (cp. 2 Corinthians 5:19 ); (e) the "present condition of human affairs," in alienation from and opposition to God, e.g., John 7:7; 8:23; 14:30; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Galatians 4:3; 6:14; Colossians 2:8; James 1:27; 1 John 4:5 (thrice); 5:19; (f) the "sum of temporal possessions," Matthew 16:26; 1 Corinthians 7:31 (1st part); (g) metaphorically, of the "tongue" as "a world (of iniquity)," James 3:6; expressive of magnitude and variety.

2: αἰών

(Strong's #165 — Noun Masculine — aion — ahee-ohn' )

"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, Matthew 13:22; its sons, Luke 16:8; 20:34; its rulers, 1 Corinthians 2:6,8; its wisdom, 1 Corinthians 1:20; 2:6; 3:18 , its fashion, Romans 12:2; its character, Galatians 1:4; its god, 2 Corinthians 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 1 Corinthians 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 Hebrews 11:3 [lit., "the ages (have been prepared)"] the word indicates all that the successive periods contain; cp. Hebrews 1:2 . Aion is always to be distinguished from kosmos, even where the two seem to express the same idea, e.g., 1 Corinthians 3:18 , aion, 1 Corinthians 3:19 , kosmos; the two are used together in Ephesians 2:2 , lit., "the age of this world." For a list of phrases containing aion, with their respective meanings, see EVER , B.

3: οἰκουμένη

(Strong's #3625 — Noun Feminine — oikoumene — oy-kou-men'-ay )

"the inhabited earth" (see EARTH , No. 2), is used (a) of the whole inhabited world, Matthew 24:14; Luke 4:5; 21:26; Romans 10:18; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 3:10; 16:14; by metonymy, of its inhabitants, Acts 17:31; Revelation 12:9; (b) of the Roman Empire, the world as viewed by the writer or speaker, Luke 2:1; Acts 11:28; 24:5; by metonymy, of its inhabitants, Acts 17:6; 19:27; (c) the inhabited world in a coming age, Hebrews 2:5 .

Notes: (1) In Revelation 13:3 , AV, ge, "the earth" (RV), is translated "world." (2) For phrases containing aionios, e.g., Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2 , see ETERNAL , No. 2.

Bibliography Information
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'World'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ved/​w/world.html. 1940.
adsFree icon
Ads FreeProfile