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Bible Dictionaries
World
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words
or 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.
"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.
"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.These files are public domain.
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.
