[B-Greek] KOSMOS

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad2 at mac.com
Wed Aug 30 12:54:30 EDT 2006


 
On Wednesday, August 30, 2006, at 12:48PM, Harold Holmyard <hholmyard at ont.com> wrote:

>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.

Yes, and you might compare such expressions in modern languages as "le monde," "tout le monde," "die ganze Welt." All these expressions mean "people in general" or "people."

>>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
>
>---
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>
>


Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad2 at mac.com
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/



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