Thursday, February 08, 2007

Use of γηˆ in The New Testament



Another Greek word used in the New Testament that needs to be kept in mind when discussing the use of “aion” and “kosmos” is the word “ge”. The word “ge” is used approximately 252 times in the New Testament and is most often translated “earth”, but depending on context is also translated “ground” or “land”.

The following is a sampling of passages using the word “ge”:

Matthew 5:5 “…the meek shall inherit the “ge”…

Matthew 5:13 “...you are the salt of the “ge”…

Matthew 6:10, 19

“….Thy will be done on “ge” as it is in heaven...” “…Lay not up treasures on “ge”…”

Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on “ge” has been given to me.”

Matthew 13:8, Mark 4:8, and Luke 8:8 (Parable of the sower.)

The seed “…falls on the good “ge”…’ and in this context is correctly translated “ground”.

Acts 7 Stephan’s Speech – “ge” is used 8 times and in context is correctly translated “land”. For example”

“…the “ge” of the Chaldeans…” “…the “ge” of Egypt…” “…the “ge” of Midean…”

For Future Study: The Use of “Kosmos” and “Ge” in the book of Revelations

Of the approximately 252 times “ge” is used in the NT, about 77 of those times are in the book of Revelation. That is more then any other NT book, and accounts for over 30% of the use of “ge” in the NT.

Of the approximately 189 times “Kosmos” is used in the NT, only 3 of those are in the book of Revelation. That is less then 2% of the NT use of “kosmos”.

The extensive and almost exclusive use of the word “ge” in the book of Revelation is very important when considering the structure and meaning of that NT book, especially as “ge” carries an almost exclusive ontological meaning in contrast to the moral meanings associated with “kosmos” and “aion”.

References:

Young's Analytical Concordence
Greek/English Interliner NT (Nestle/Aland Text.)

For His glory,

Thursday, February 01, 2007

The use of Greek Words Translated “world” in Selected NT Passages


This list of verses is from a SS handout our Pastor gave to us. I used my interliner Greek/English NT to identify the Greek words used.

Romans 1:20 - Kosmos is translated as “world”

Romans 12:2 – Aion - has the basic meaning of “age”. Here it is translated as “world”

I Corinthians 1:20-21; 3:19

“…debater of this “aion”...God made foolish the wisdom of this “kosmos”…the “kosmos” did not know God… 3:19 “…the wisdom of this “kosmos”..


Galatians 6:14 – “..the”kosmos” has been crucified to me, and I to the “kosmos”…

Colossians 2:20-23 – “…you died to the elementary principles of the “kosmos”…

I Timothy 6:7 – “…we brought nothing into the “kosmos”…”

James 4:4 – “…friendship with the “kosmos”…”

I John 2:15-17 – “Do not love the “kosmos”….”
(Kosmos translated “world” 4 times in this passage.)

I John 3:13 – “…the “kosmos” hates you…”

I John 4:4-5 – (Kosmos is used 4 times and translated “world”.)

I John 5:19 – “…the whole “kosmos” lies in the power of the evil one…”

Matthew 28:19-20 – “…I am with you always, to the end of the “aion”…”

(Another important passage for understanding “aion” is Galatians 1:4 “…the present evil “aion”…”)

In His grace,

~ The Billy Goat ~