UNDERSTANDING THE USE OF THE WORDS AGE (AION) AND WORLD (KOSMOS).

UNDERSTANDING THE USE OF THE WORDS AGE (AION) AND WORLD (KOSMOS).

Dr David Ogaga

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font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none; text-underline:none">INTRODUCTION: In this particular series of study, we
intend to examine such phrases in the Bible as “The end of the world” “The
elements shall melt with fervent heart” “the world to come”. Are all these
referring to the physical globe? What exactly are the heavens and earth that
will pass away? What is the nature of the fire that will do this melting? What
impact will it make to know that there is a different between the use of the
words AGE and WORLD? etc.

font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none; text-underline:none">AGE is from the Greek word 11.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">“AION” 11.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">and may refer to a
period of time in man’s history, whether having or not having specific dates of
demarcation. Greek lexicographers show the word to mean “space of time”
“clearly defined and marked out epoch” “age” and also “life time”, “life” and
generation”. For instance, that Christ” will rule as king over the house of
Jacob forever” Lk 1:33 literally means “to (for) ages”. And the “fig tree” that
was also cursed “forever” Math. 21:19 is also for the ages “or “age abiding”
which is actually the house of Jacob (Jer. 8:13) speaking of the Old Covenant
that shall pass away forever. Heb. 8:13. Another good examples is Lk. 20:34-35
“The sons of this AGE marry-but those worthy of that AGE and the resurrection –
neither marry nor are given in marriage”. Compare Mk. 10:30. In scripture, it
often denotes a long period of time see Acts 2:21, 15:18, Lk 1:33. The time of
the prophecies about Christ before the fulfillment.

font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none; text-underline:none">The basic sense of “AION is “AGE” or “PERIOD of EXISTENCE”
and it often denotes a long space of time. (Jn. 1:45). Liddel and scotts. “A
Greek-English Lexicon (P 45) List as a definition of AION. “Space of time”
clearly defined and marked out epoch, age, era. It signifies a period of
indefinite duration, or time viewed in relation to what takes place in the
period”. And in this sense the word is very close in meaning to the word text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">WORLD (KOSMOS) font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none"">which means “an
order, SYSTEM OR ARRANGEMENT OF THINGS” in Gal. 1:4 we read of our being
“delivered from the present evil world” kjv. “Present evil age” RSV. “Rescued
us from the present evil world order” JP Philips. “Present age of wickedness”
N.E.B. “Present wicked world” (Jerusalem Bible) “Present wicked system of
things” (Int. Linear Trans.) so you see, what is meant by the WORLD is not the
globe, stars in the galaxy or planets known and unknown. It is not referring to
the universe but rather to the way of life, social structures, cultures,
philosophies, political ideologies, religion and the economic lifestyle of
humanity, devised by man himself outside of God. It speaks of the products of
the carnal mind of man which is enmity and death, Rom. 8:7-8 “for the whole
world system, based as it is on MEN’S PRIMITIVE DESIRES, THEIR GREEDY
AMIBITIONS and THE GLAMOUR OF ALL THAT THEY THINK SPLENDID” but “not derived
from the father” “and we also know that the world around us is under the power
of the evil one? 1 Jn. 2:16; 5:19
(Philips). So when Paul wrote “quit being fashioned after this system of
things, but be transformed by making your mind over” (Rom. 12:2 (Int. Linear
Trans) it was not the time, period of itself that set the fashion, pattern or
models for the people of that time, that he was saying they should change from.
But the standards, practices, manners, customs, ways, outlooks, styles and
other features that formed the life style of that age. And walking in the way
of the world is what the bible says in Eph. 2:2 as “following the course of
this world “RSV. “Following the way of this world” Jb “when you followed the
evil ways of this present age” N.E.B. “that you drifted along on the stream of
this world’s ideas of living, and obeyed its unseen ruler (who is still
operating in those who do not respond to the truth of God” .. (Philips). So to
walk after the pattern of men in this age and still claim to be delivered is a
lie, because it is the system of this “evil world” Gal. 1:4 that God is
delivering us from through His truth. Why? Because the present order directly
opposes His life, which is “righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost”
Rom. 14:17. See Col. 1:13. Eph. 5:5. “For the grace of God has appeared for the
salvation of ALL MEN, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions,
and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, for he gave Himself
for us, that He might rescue us from all our EVIL WAYS and make for Himself a
people of His own, clean and pure, with our hearts set upon Living a life that
is good” Titus 2:11, 12, 14 (RSV, Philips).

font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none; text-underline:none"> So what
are we saying? The word WORLD (Kosmos) should be seen appropriately as “the
system of THINGS” for we are still Living in the present age but not affected
by the “system of things” that characterized the period of time. Therefore note
that “The course of a world which is evil is itself evil and to live in
accordance with it is to live in trespasses and sins” – The Expositor Greek
Testament (Vol. 111,pp 282, 283), on the word Aion.

Dr David Ogaga serves as a kingdom Bible teacher, whose teaching ministry has been of immense benefit in over 10 nations. He is presently focused on raising kingdom minded leaders based on Christ-centered
kingdom eschatology.

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