[B-Greek] KOSMOS

Wounded Ego woundedegomusic at gmail.com
Wed Aug 30 12:22:18 EDT 2006


The discussion of the usage of KOSMOS reminded me of something I have been
puzzled by for a long time...

Both Paul and John use KOSMOS with what I would call a "religious"
definition. They both use the word to refer to "the community of the lost"
(or some approximation thereof). I am puzzled by this as they both seem to
use it as if this usage would already be familiar to them, but it is not
really present in the Liddell/Scott usages listed. 

Does anyone have an opinion on how the John/Paul usage came about?

* Was this usage present in the LXX?
* Was this usage present in secular Greece - and overlooked by
Liddell/Scott?
* Did Paul or John coin the usage, expecting his readers to catch on?

I find the idea that the scriptures are written with non-extant word
meanings disturbing.

I would also like to point out that one should never understand KOSMOS as
meaning "the planet Earth" in bible usage as that would be anachronistic.

William Ross
VGB, Argentina




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