|
|
The Foundation Of The
"World"
It is written in (Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:).To arrive at the true meaning of this expression, we must note that there are two words translated "foundation" in the New Testament: (1) themelios, and (2) katabole.
The Noun, themelios, occurs in (Luke 6:48-49
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. Luke 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Acts 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. Romans 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: 1 Corinthians 3:10-12 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 1 Timothy 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Hebrew 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Hebrew 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Revelation 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;). It is never used of the world (kosmos) or the earth (Greek).The corresponding Verb (themelioo) occurs in (Matthew 7:25
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Luke 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Hebrew 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. The verb is only once used of the earth, Hebrew 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:).The comparison of all these passages will show that these are proper and regular terms for the English words "to found" and "foundation".
The Noun, “katabole,” occurs in (Matthew 13:35
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Luke 11:50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Hebrew 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Hebrew 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Hebrew 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 1 Peter 1:12 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.).And the corresponding Verb (kataballo) occurs in (2 Corinthians 4:9 P
ersecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Hebrew 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.). Will show that kataballo and katabole are not the proper terms for founding and foundation, but the correct meaning is “casting down,” or “overthrow.”Consistency, therefore, calls for the same translation in (Hebrew 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,). Where, instead of "not laying again," the rendering should be "not casting down". That is to say, the foundation already laid, of repentance, was not to be cast down or overthrown, but was to be left and progress made unto the perfection.Accordingly, the Noun katabole, derived from, and cognate with the Verb, ought to be translated "disruption", or "ruin."
The remarkable thing is that in all occurrences (except Hebrew 11:10) the word is connected with "the world" (Greek kosmos), and therefore the expression should be rendered "the disruption, or ruin of the world", clearly referring to the condition indicated in (Genesis 1:2
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.). And described in (2 Peter 3:5-6 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:). For the earth was not created “void,” (Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.). But “became” so, as stated in the Hebrew of (Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.) And confirmed in (2 Peter 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:). Where "the world that then was by the word of God" (Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.). Perished, and "the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word" were created (Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,). And are "kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment" (2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.). Which shall usher in the "new heavens and the new earth" of (2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.)."The disruption of the world" is an event forming a great dividing line in the dispensations of the ages. In Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. We have the founding of the world, (Hebrew 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:). But in (Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.). We have its “overthrow.”The former refers to the kingdom, and is connected with the "counsels" of God: the latter refers to the “Mystery” or “Secret,” and is connected with the "purpose" of God, (John 17:24
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,).Ample New Testament testimony is thus given to the profoundly significant fact recorded in Genesis 1:2, that "the earth “became” without form and void, i.e. wasted and desolated: and darkness was on the face of the deep", before the creation of "the heavens and earth which are now" (2 Peter 3:7
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.).__________________________________________________________________________________________________-