Firstly, some brief background to that word "world" in English.
Literally, in English, it comes from "vir" and "old" — the human age — employing principles of planting and harvesting, of sowing and reward, as an ongoing (as it were) perpetual motion. Yes, an aspect of God, that we are able to glimpse, and partake of. A concept brought into being with God's creation of Adam. Unavailable to the animals, as it involves human reasoning (not just animal instinct).
In Hebrew in the Old Testament, the word "owlam" was used to try to express this concept of perpetuity, of going "on and on". Click here for these verses. In Greek, click here, the word "aion" was used.
Another word for "world" is the divine "order" of things — the outward kingdoms we can view around us.
In the Hebrew Old Testament, "tsaba" click here, was used to convey the sense of a mass (of inhabitants) for warfare, hardship, worship from a kingly point of view, and was translated in English as "host". In the Greek Septuagint's translation of Genesis 2:1 at the end of the sixth day, reflecting on the order and harmony seen in the kingdoms (in heaven and earth), the word "Cosmos" was used, from which we get the word "cosmetic". In the Latin Vulgate the word "Ornatus" was used, from which we get the word "adornment".
Another Hebrew word, "adiy" click here, was translated in English as "ornaments", and was also generally translated as "Cosmos" in the Septuagint, and "Ornatus" in the Vulgate.
Click here for the "Cosmos" verses in the New Testament, reflecting the order of things. Click here for another list which includes the extra verses in the Septuagint.
Luke, when seeing the whole of the (civilised, inhabited) world, the "Global village" in a moment of time, uses the word "Oikoumene" from which we get the word "Ecumenical".
Click here for those verses.
And in the Latin Vulgate they use the words "Orbis Terrae" and "Orbis Universus" — "Globe of the Earth" or "Whole Globe" where "Universus" is a past participle meaning "Turned into One".
In the Old Testament the equivalent Hebrew word is "Tebel", based on the word "Yabal", for a people — either brought forth for wrath - as a lamb or ox to the slaughter / burial — or led forth in peace - as presents - with gladness and rejoicing.
Ok, let's keep going.
On December 28, 2014 8:30 PM, "Stephen Williamson" wrote:
Subject:Thoughts on 1 John 5
Hi all
Chatting to Chris the other day about "For God so loved the world" (this great "army of humanity") but his instruction to us "Do not love the world" (with all its cosmetic trappings) had me meditating on 1 John 5:19 below.
1Jo 5:19 We have seen that we are of God, and the whole world (all the kingdoms), they lie in the wicked one (poneros-the bestower of pain/punishment),
but this ruler has been judged, with the Lord’s cross, followed by the Lord’s resurrection. Hallelujah.
| 1Jo 5:5 | Who is he that overcomes (conquers) the world (Greek-cosmos Latin-mundus) - the trappings of society - but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? |
| 1Jo 5:6 | This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not by water only (in baptism), but by water and blood (in crucifixion). And it is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. |
| 1Jo 5:7 | For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word (Logos-The Underlying Word behind every matter), and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one. |
| 1Jo 5:8 | And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit (in the infilling of Jesus), and the water (the baptism of Jesus), and the blood (the death of Jesus): and these three agree (are) in one. |
| 1Jo 5:9 | If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he has testified of his Son. |
| 1Jo 5:10 | He that believes on (or into) the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believes not God has made him a liar; because he believes not the record that God gave of his Son. |
| 1Jo 5:11 | And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal (aionios-perpetual) life (zoe-vitality, movement), and this life is in his Son. |
| 1Jo 5:12 | He that has the Son has life (zoe); he that has not the Son of God has not life. |
| 1Jo 5:13 | These things have I written to you that believe on/into the name of the Son of God; that you may see that you have eternal life, and that you may (continue to) believe on/into the name of the Son of God. |
| 1Jo 5:14 | And this is the confidence (freedom of talking) that we have in him, that, if we ask (desire) any thing according to his will, he hears us: |
| 1Jo 5:15 | And if we have seen that he hears us, whatsoever we desire, we have seen that we have the desires that we desired of him. |
| 1Jo 5:16 | If any one see his brother (or sister) sin a sin not unto (directed towards) death, he shall ask (desire), and he shall give him life for them that sin not directed towards death. There is sin directed towards death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. |
| 1Jo 5:17 | All unrighteousness (injustice) is sin: and there is sin not directed towards death. |
| 1Jo 5:18 | We have seen that whosoever is born of (everyone being generated from) God sins not (does not practise sin); but he that is begotten of (everyone being generated from) God, keeps (watches out for) themselves, and that wicked one (poneros-the bestower of pain/punishment) touches them not (does not adhere to them). |
| 1Jo 5:19 | We have seen that we are of God, and the whole world (the whole of trapped society) lies in the wicked one (the bestower of pain/punishment). |
| 1Jo 5:20 | And we have seen that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding (via our inner minds), that we may know him that is true (that is uncovered), and we are in him that is uncovered, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the uncovered God, and eternal life. |
| 1Jo 5:21 | Little children, keep yourselves (circle the wagons/look out for each other like a family does) from idols (outward appearances-with no substance). Amen. See too Psalm 139:24 where "Wicked" refers to "idols" |
** End of Report