Lexical Summary kosmos: World, universe, order, adornment Original Word: κόσμος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance adorning, world. Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally)) -- adorning, world. see GREEK komizo HELPS Word-studies 2889 kósmos (literally, "something ordered") – properly, an "ordered system" (like the universe, creation); the world. [The English term "cosmetic" is derived from 2889 /kósmos, i.e. the order ("ensemble") used of treating the face as a whole.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition order, the world NASB Translation adornment (1), world (184), world's (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2889: κόσμοςκόσμος, κόσμου, ὁ; 1. in Greek writings from Homer down, an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, or der. 2. as in Greek writings from Homer down, ornament, decoration, adornment: ἐνδύσεως ἱματίων, 1 Peter 3:3 (Sir. 6:30 Sir. 21:21; 2 Macc. 2:2; the Sept. for צָבָא of the arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts,' as the ornament of the heavens, Genesis 2:1; Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 17:8; Isaiah 24:21; Isaiah 40:26; besides occasionally for עֲדִי; twice for תִּפְאֶרֶת, Proverbs 20:29; Isaiah 3:19). 3. the world, i. e. the universe (quem κόσμονGraeci nomine ornamenti appellarunt, eum nos a perfecta absolutaque elegantia mundum, Pliny, h. n. 2, 3; in which sense Pythagoras is said to have been the first to use the word, Plutarch, de plac. philos. 2, 1, 1, p. 886 c.; but according to other accounts he used it of the heavens, (Diogenes Laërtius 8, 48, of which it is used several times also by other Greek writers (see Menag. on (Diogenes Laërtius, the passage cited; Bentley, Epistles of Phalaris, vol. i., 391 (Lond. 1886); M. Anton. 4, 27 and Gataker's notes; cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word, IV.)): Acts 17:24; Romans 4:13 (where cf. Meyer, Tholuck, Philippi); 1 Corinthians 3:22; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Philippians 2:15; with a predominant notion of space, in hyperbole, John 21:25 (Wis. 7:17 Wis. 9:3; 2 Macc. 8:18; κτίζειν τόν κόσμον, Wis. 11:18; ὁ τοῦ κόσμου κτίστης, 2 Macc. 7:23; 4 Macc. 5:25 (24); — a sense in which it does not occur in the other O. T. books, although there is something akin to it in Proverbs 17:6, on which see 8 below); in the phrases πρό τοῦ τόν κόσμον εἶναι, John 17:5; ἀπό καταβολῆς κόσμου (Matthew 13:35 R G; 4. the circle of the earth, the earth (very rarely so in Greek writings until after the age of the Ptolemies; so in Boeckh, Corpus inscriptions i., pp. 413 and 643, nos. 334 and 1306): Mark 16:15; (John 12:25); 1 Timothy 6:7; βασιλεία τοῦ κόσμου, Revelation 11:15; βασιλεῖαι (plural) τοῦ κόσμου, Matthew 4:8 (for which Luke 4:5 τῆς οἰκουμένης); τό φῶς τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, of the sun, John 11:9; ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ, properly, Matthew 26:13; hyperbolically, equivalent to far and wide, in widely separated places, Romans 1:8; (so ἐν παντί τῷ κόσμῳ, Colossians 1:6); ὁ τότε κόσμος, 2 Peter 3:6; the earth with its inhabitants: ζῆν ἐν κόσμῳ, opposed to the dead, Colossians 2:20 (λῃστής ἦν καί κλέπτης ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, i. e. among those living on earth, Ev. Nicod. 26). By a usage foreign to secular authors, 5. the inhabitants of the world: θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ καί ἀγγέλοις καί ἀνθρώποις, 1 Corinthians 4:9 (Winers Grammar, 127 (121)); particularly the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human race (first so in Sap. (e. g. 6. "the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ" (cf. Winer's Grammar, 26): John 7:7; John 14:27 ( 7. "worldly affairs; the aggregate of things earthly; the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, riches, advantages, pleasures, etc., which, although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ": Galatians 6:14; 1 John 2:16; 1 John 3:17; εἶναι ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου, to be of earthly origin and nature, John 18:36; somewhat differently in 1 John 2:16 (on which see εἰμί, V. 3 d.); κερδαίνειν τόν κόσμον ὅλον, Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25; οἱ χρώμενοι τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ (critical text τόν κόσμον; see χράομαι, 2), 1 Corinthians 7:31a; μέριμναν τά τοῦ κόσμου, 33f; φίλος and φιλία τοῦ κόσμου, James 4:4; ἀγαπᾶν τόν κόσμον, 1 John 2:15; νικαν τόν κόσμον, the incentives to sin proceeding from the world, 1 John 5:4f; the obstacles to God's cause, John 16:33; (cf. ἐλθέτω χάρις καί παρελθέτω ὁ κόσμος οὗτος, Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, c. 10 [ET]). 8. any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort (cf. English a world of curses (Shakspere), etc.): ὁ κόσμος τῆς ἀδικίας, the sum of all iniquities, James 3:6; τοῦ πιστοῦ ὅλος ὁ κόσμος τῶν χρημάτων, τοῦ δέ ἀπίστου οὐδέ ὀβολός (a statement due to the Alex. translators), Proverbs 17:6. Among the N. T. writers no one uses κόσμος oftener than John; it occurs in Mark three times, in Luke's writings four times, and in the Apocalypse three tinms. Cf. Kreiss, Sur le sens du mot κόσμος dans le N. T. (Strasb. 1837); Düsterdieck on 1 John 2:15, pp. 247-259; Zezschwitz, Profangräcität u. Biblical Sprachgeist, p. 21ff; Diestel in Herzog xvii., p. 676ff; (Trench, Synonyms, § lix.); on John's use of the word cf. Reuss, Histoire de la theologie chretienne au siecle apostolique, ii., p. 463ff (i. e. livre 7 chapter viii.); cf. his Johanneische Theologie, in the Beiträge zu den theol. Wissenschaften, Fasc. i., p. 29ff; (Westcott on John 1:10, 'Additional Note'). The term frequently denotes the whole created order arranged by divine wisdom. John 1:10 notes that “He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him,” underscoring both the Creator–creature distinction and humanity’s blindness. Acts 17:24 affirms, “The God who made the world and everything in it is Lord of heaven and earth.” Scripture thus presents the κόσμος as originally good, purposeful, and God-centered, reflecting His glory (Romans 1:20; Hebrews 4:3). The World as Humanity Kosmos can signify the collective mass of people needing salvation. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus is “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42), and God was “reconciling the world to Himself in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:19). This usage emphasizes the universal offer of grace beyond national or ethnic boundaries. The World in Rebellion Often the word speaks of the organized system of fallen humanity in opposition to God. John 15:18 warns, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.” James 4:4 brands friendship with such a world as enmity toward God. 1 John 2:15–16 lists its components: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. This moral order is corrupt, transient, and hostile to the gospel. Satanic Dominion The κόσμος lies under demonic sway. Jesus calls the devil “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Paul names him “the god of this age” who blinds unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). Yet Christ’s cross spelled judgment on that ruler, guaranteeing ultimate defeat. Jesus’ Saving Work for the World The incarnation was expressly “for the life of the world” (John 6:51). The Son was sent “not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 3:17). 1 John 2:2 states that He is “the atoning sacrifice…not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” Salvation history centers on God’s initiative toward a lost cosmos. Mission to the World The Great Commission is worldwide in scope: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Believers are dispatched as the Father sent the Son (John 17:18). The church therefore maintains an outward focus, proclaiming truth “openly to the world” (John 18:20) while living as “lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15). Believers in but Not of the World Disciples remain physically present—“I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world” (John 17:11)—yet are set apart. Jesus prays, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:16). Practical separation entails resisting its values (Romans 12:2) while engaging its people with love and truth (Matthew 5:14). Victory Over the World Through the Cross and Faith Christ announced, “Take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Through His death believers are crucified to it (Galatians 6:14). “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith” (1 John 5:4). This triumph is moral, spiritual, and eschatological. The World’s Transience and Judgment “The present form of this world is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31). Its wisdom is destined for nothing (1 Corinthians 1:20-28). Global judgment once came by flood (2 Peter 2:5) and will come again by fire (2 Peter 3:6-7). Hebrews 9:26 speaks of Christ’s sacrifice “at the end of the ages,” marking a decisive turning point. Eschatological Renewal While the present world system faces doom, Scripture looks to a renewed creation under Christ’s reign: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15). The groaning cosmos (Romans 8:19-22) will be liberated into glorious freedom when the Redeemer consummates His work. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Guard against worldliness by cultivating love for the Father (1 John 2:15). Historical Theological Reflection From the early apologists who contrasted the church’s purity with pagan society, to Augustine’s “two cities,” to Reformation emphases on vocation in the world yet pilgrim status, kosmos theology has shaped Christian identity. Contemporary missions and ethics continue to wrestle with balancing cultural engagement and prophetic distinctiveness, echoing the New Testament tension inherent in Strong’s 2889. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 4:8 N-GMSGRK: βασιλείας τοῦ κόσμου καὶ τὴν NAS: the kingdoms of the world and their glory; KJV: the kingdoms of the world, and INT: kingdoms of the world and the Matthew 5:14 N-GMS Matthew 13:35 Noun-GMS Matthew 13:38 N-NMS Matthew 16:26 N-AMS Matthew 18:7 N-DMS Matthew 24:21 N-GMS Matthew 25:34 N-GMS Matthew 26:13 N-DMS Mark 8:36 N-AMS Mark 14:9 N-AMS Mark 16:15 N-AMS Luke 9:25 N-AMS Luke 11:50 N-GMS Luke 12:30 N-GMS John 1:9 N-AMS John 1:10 N-DMS John 1:10 N-NMS John 1:10 N-NMS John 1:29 N-GMS John 3:16 N-AMS John 3:17 N-AMS John 3:17 N-AMS John 3:17 N-NMS John 3:19 N-AMS Strong's Greek 2889 |
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