Meaning of "Kosmos"

Wow you are sure to be called a heretic in short order for challenging the tradition of the SBC .

By the way I don't fully agree with your final analysis, but have been thinking quite a bit actually about this term and its usage.

 

Allow me to offer our Reformed brother this, that I found:

In the year 1823 a dialog between one who believed in limited atonement and one who did not was published in the Utica Christian Repository. Aspasio represents the limited view and Paulinus the unlimited view. Aspasio has just enumerated the various usages for the word "world" in Scripture. Though the reply of Paulinus is lengthy, it will be quoted here since it answers so well the limited redemptionists in this regard.
"I am willing to grant, for the sake of giving your objection all possible force, that these words are used in the various senses you mention. Not, however, that I believe the word 'world' is ever used for God's people as distinguished from others. What then, is the force of your objection? It is plainly this, that because these words are sometimes used in a limited sense, they may be so used in the texts I have quoted, and that you are at liberty to put this construction upon them if you please. But where will this principle lead us? Let us apply it to a few cases. The word God is sometimes used to signify a civil ruler; therefore, according to this principle of interpretation, it may be so understood in any given text. 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,' may mean, In the beginning a civil leader created the heavens and the earth. The word everlasting is sometimes used to signify a limited duration; therefore, it may be so understood in any given text; and, 'These shall go away into everlasting punishment,' may mean, These shall go away into a punishment of limited duration. And when the saints are promised everlasting life, it may mean a life of limited duration. And when Christ is styled the 'Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,' it may mean, the mighty civil ruler, the Father of a limited duration. The word salvation is sometimes used to signify deliverance from a temporary calamity therefore, it may be so understood in any given text, and there may be no salvation but deliverance from temporal calamities. The word resurrection is sometimes used to signify regeneration; therefore it may be so understood in any given text, and there may be not resurrection foretold in the Scripture but regeneration. The word baptism is sometimes used to signify sufferings; therefore, it may be so understood in any given text; and the command to the apostles to go out and baptize all nations may mean that they [109] should go and inflict sufferings upon all nations. A principle of interpretation which leads into such absurdities cannot be admitted as a correct rule of interpreting the Word of God. Under the operation of such a rule, the Bible would become, as some pretend it is, a book by which anything can be supported, and nothing proved. Every part of it would become 'vague and ambiguous in its meaning.' ''
Johnathan Edwards and others, The Atonement (Boston: Congregational Board of Publication, 1859), p. 581

Reformed Theologians restrict the interpretation of words to best fit their doctrine and I feel that the attitude among our Reformed brethren is that we must consult with them to get the proper meaning of "world", "all", etc.

 

Well, to help muddy the waters, right click and save this link to download the complete BDAG entry for kosmos. It's 7 pages, so I couldn't post it here.

 

1. By now we should all realize that kosmos or "world" does not always refer to every individual who has ever lived or will ever live.

2. My own belief about John 3:16ff is to take kosmos as intensive, the sinful world, as the rest of the verses point out.

 

If the above information I presented is wrong, or false concerning the word Kosmos, please provide evidence to the contrary and sources. Otherwise all this 18th century quote was is rhetoric. Which I would like to know who the author is and the source you got it from.

Thanks for your input.

The source is clearly given. I was merely trying to point out that there are other views to the interpretation of words than that expressed by the Reformed brethren. Rather rhetoric or not, it expresses another point of view here. (Elohim is indeed a term that applies to God, as well as magistrates, rulers, etc.

Thank you too for your input.

 

Pretty much, plus some. It would probably be good to read some of the secular examples to see how it is used, as well, in context.

 

Once we have to argue over what the writter meant by the use of a word that clearly means what it means with out an adjective your arguement is no longer with the one who quotes it but, the author.
1Ti 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
1Ti 6:2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Athur Pink lost this arguement the minute he opened his mouth.
MB

 

Shouldn't evangelists be called a kosmo-nauts?

 

RB,

I agree with your first statement about context determining the meaning of a word. But you lost me when you gave Pink's different categories of what the word could mean.

As far as my opinion goes - the "world" here is not limited by any contextual factors. As such I see no reason for it to have anything other than a universal meaning.

I'm not terribly sure about Pink's position on things - I believe he did have several significant changes in his doctrinal positions throughout his life - but I have no firm recollection of this.

 

Maybe these few words are not close dnought for your [attack on individual deleted-personal attacks can get you an all expense paid vacation from the Baptist Board, especially types of this nature]at one sitting so let me condense the verse some:

God so loved the world that ... WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH on Him should not perish but have everlasting life." There, does that bring out the meaning that ANY individual can have eternal life though the Son by BELIEVING??

skypair

 

The irony is that Skypair often talks about "unity" and what-not. His idea of unity is belittling everyone into submission to Skypair's theology.