[B-Greek] KOSMOS

Harold Holmyard hholmyard at ont.com
Wed Aug 30 12:47:23 EDT 2006


Dear William,

>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.
>


HH: But if the world in general consists of sinners, then that's the 
kind of world you're dealing with. One could compare the word "crowd," 
whose specific connotation depends on the nature of the people in the crowd.

> 
>
>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.
>  
>



HH: KOSMOS can refer to the "world order," according to LSJ.  The  
negative connotation comes from the Bible's definition of the world 
order as ruled by Satan:

Eph. 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this 
world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now 
at work in those who are disobedient.

>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.
>  
>

HH: Liddell & Scott did not think so. They gave it as a significant 
meaning for KOSMOS, citing John 13:1, and contrasting earth with heaven. 
They give non-biblical examples as well. It is used for earth in 
contrast with the underworld as well. They give plenty of examples of 
the word in a sort of astronomical sense.

Yours,
Harold Holmyard




More information about the B-Greek mailing list