World refers to the heavens and the earth which form the universe and the place where human beings and animals live. Among both the Jewish people and the Greeks the terms world and earth were used inter-changeably to mean the created universe, the fruitful and habitable earth. The scriptural/biblical declaration, "The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness thereof; the world and those who dwell therein" denotes the whole of created nature.

To Yahweh belong earth and all it holds,
the world and all who live in it;
he himself founded it on the ocean,
based firmly on the nether sea. - Ps. 24:1-2 -

According to the Old and New Testament, the world was created by God's word.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. - Gen. 1:1 -

In the beginning was the Word:
the Word was with God
and the Word was God. - John 1:1 -

The world was created by God's words, identified with Jesus Christ in the Gospel According To Saint John in the New Testament.

He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things came to be,
not one thing had its being but through him.
All that came to be had life in him
and that life was the light of men,
a light that shines in the dark,
a light that darkness could not overpower.

A man came, sent by God.
His name was John.
He came as a witness,
as a witness to speak for the light,
so that everyone might believe through him.
He was not the light,
only a witness to speak for the light.

The Word was the true light
that enlightens all men;
and he was coming into the world.
He was in the world
that had its being through him
and the world did not know him.
He came to his own domain
and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to all who believe in the name of him
who was born not out of human stock
or urge of the flesh
or will of man
but of God himself.
The Word was made flesh,
he lived among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father,
full of grace and truth. - John 1:2-14 -

World is also associated with mankind. Christ said of His disciples, "You are the light of the world". Often world is used to indicate "the men of this world" who are said to lie in wickedness. The men are called "the world" not only because they compose the greater part of the world's population but mainly because they pursue and cherish the things of this world.

We know that we belong to God,
but the whole world lies in the power of the Evil One.
We know, too, that the Son of God has come,
and has given the power
to know the true God.
We are in the true God,
as we are in his Son, Jesus Christ.
This is the true God,
this is eternal life.
Children, be on your guard against false gods. - 1John 5:19-21 -

World may denote the fleeting character of life's riches and pleasures and the folly of making them of central importance in life. Will a person gain anything if he wins the whole world but loses his life?

For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life? - Matt. 16:25-26 -

Anyone who loves his life loses it;
anyone who hates his life in this world
will keep it for eternal life.
If a man serves me, he must follow me,
wherever I am, my servant will be there too.
If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him. - John 12:25-26 -

The term world also denotes the condition of human affairs with man alienated from and opposed to God. Jesus wants His followers to live in the world but not of the world, and to serve, and to be God's witness but not get caught up in the godless pleasures and perverting of life.

I passed your word on to them,
and the world hated them,
because they belong to the world
no more than I belong to the world.
I am not asking you to remove them from the world,
but to protect them from the evil one. - John 17:14-15 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -