The Evangelical Universalist Forum

Meaning Of Kosmos

Evangelical Universalism Arguments against Evangelical Universalism
#1

Just been putting together a short Powerpoint presentation on UR, with a view to inviting a few friends over for a short series over 4 evenings- 15 min each with approx 1 hour discussion after soup and buns.

However, when looking at verses that speak of Jesus as Saviour of the whole **world **etc I found that the listed Greek definitions in Thayers Greek definitions has a list of verses that it refers to as referring to 'believers only"

Thayer’s translation ‘Kosmos’:

  1. an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government
  2. ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, ‘the heavenly hosts’, as the ornament of the heavens. 1Pe_3:3
  3. the world, the universe
  4. the circle of the earth, the earth
  5. the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family
  6. the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ
  7. world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly
    7a) 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
  8. any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort
    8a) the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Rom_11:12 etc)

**8b) of believers only, Joh_1:29; Joh_3:16; Joh_3:17; Joh_6:33; Joh_12:47 1Co_4:9; 2Co_5:19
**

Now I’m aware that translating ‘kosmos’ requires observance of context but without exception these verses are ones that I would class as strongly universalist ; yet Thayer sees kosmos in a restricted sense in interpretation of these texts.

**I wondered 2 things:-

  1. If someone with authoritative (I use the term loosely) knowledge of Koine Greek has a comment/explanation re: translating ‘Kosmos’?

2)Is Thayers translation being particularly biased (perhaps in other areas too)?**
’
The verses are listed below.

J*oh 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Joh 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Joh 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Joh 12:47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
1Co 4:9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.
2Co 5:19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. *

Look forward to your thoughts
S

#2

As for kosmos, you are correct, it’s a loaded word. Kosmos in various instances means, for instance, the corrupted powers of the Earth, or all the humans on the Earth. I generally consider the “world” translations more or less correct. I discussed this issue some time ago and trying to substitute other words didn’t really make much sense. It’s very close to our understanding of “world”. I don’t know if it means universe, I wouldn’t go that far.

There is a phrase somewhere where Jesus speaks, I think, of the elect, and says “thank you Father for those in the world”. So the world here would be a bigger part. Just like there’s all of Israel, and a remnant of Israel, but all Israel will be saved.

Romans 5 and Romans 11 use a less difficult to translate word “all” (I believe the Greek was “pantos”. “pantos” is used in 1 John to say “through [the word] all things were made”). Same with 1 Timothy 4.

#3

Id say its primary meaning is all of creation. The meaning of the world as in “worldly” in christian speak is also correct because the opposite is heavenly or of God, the uncreated. The way it relates to the elect is they have been reborn with the image of the heavenly, the incorruptible seed. We are not of this world because the dust man has already been crucified with Christ.

#4

I have studied koine Greek for several years, though I am far from being an “authority”.

It seems that the word “κοσμος” has the primary meaning of “arrangement” and thus applies to systems (even a system of ornamentation). I think the word is used most often for this world’s system.

Although God loved the κοσμος so much that He gave His only-begotten Son (John 3:16) so that people could have lasting life, we are told NOT to love the κοσμος or the things that are in it (I John 2:15). We need to love God’s system rather than the world system.

#5

I think John 3:16 refers to the people (animals) in the world, while 1 John 2:15 to the “powers and authorities” as per Ephesians, which may come from people. It’s an interesting dynamic.

#6

Thanks for your thoughts guys.
On reading round a bit I gather Thayer was probably a Calvinist which would explain his limited atonement view of Jn 3:16,
Jn 1:29 etc.
I guess, where possible using a spectrum of interpreters/commentators and other ‘experts’ is a good idea to balance bias as much as possible.
Cheers S

#7

Here’s the Strongs, in case you don’t have it:

G2889
κόσμος
kosmos
kos’-mos
Probably from the base of G2865; orderly arrangement, that is, decoration; by implication the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]): - adorning, world.

#8

Cindy said:

Thanks Cindy
Yes I have Strong’s and Thayer on esword which is where I was referencing from. I probably use Strong’s more often and probably would cross check with other dictionaries if I thought their translation a bit dodgy on an important matter.
Cheers S