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"World" , "Earth", etc. This Is Appendix 129 From The Companion Bible. There are four Greek words which are thus
translated ; and it is important that they should be, in each occurrence,
carefully distinguished. They are as follows :-
1. Kosmos = the world as
created, ordered, and arranged. Hence it is used in the LXX (Septaugint)
for the Hebrew word rendered "ornament". See Exodus
33: 2. aion = an age, or
age-time, the duration of which is indefinite, and may be limited or
extended as the context of each occurrence may demand.
The root meaning of aion is expressed
by the Hebrew 'olam (see Appendix 151. I.A and II.A) which
denotes indefinite, unknown or concealed duration : just as we speak of
"the patriarchal age", or "the golden age",
etc. Hence, it has come to denote any given period of time, characterized
by a special form of Divine administration or dispensation.
In the plural we have the Hebrew
'olamim and Greek 'aiones used of ages, or of
a succession of age-times, and of an abiding from age to age. From this
comes the adjective, aionios (Appendix 151. II.B), used of
an unrestricted duration, as distinct from a particular or limited
age-time. These age-times must be distinct or they could not be added to,
or multiplied, as in the expression aions of
aions.
These ages or age-times were all prepared and
arranged by God (see Hebrews 1: "This age" is characterized by such
passages as Matthew 13: The "coming age" is characterized in
such passages as Matthew 13: The conjunction of these ages is spoken of as the
sunteleia, marking the end of one age and the beginning of
another.
Other indefinite duration are mentioned, but they
always refer to some unknown and prolonged continuance, the end of which
cannot be seen; such as the end of life (Exodus 21: 3. oikoumene = the world as
inhabited. It is from the verb oikeo = to dwell. It is used
of the habitable world, as distinct from the kosmos (number
1 above, which = the world as created). Hence, it used in a
more limited and special sense of the Roman Empire, which was then
predominant. See Luke 2: |