Schaff's Bible Dictionary
WORLD. V. is the translation of five Hebrew and four Greek words. It is therefore not always plain in what sense it is used. , or that which is finite, temporary. Job 11:17; "the veiled," unlimited time, whether past or future; used very frequently, and generally translated "for ever;" and finally, the poetical term for "world," which occurs some thirty seven times, but in various meanings which are easily understood. " Ex 20:11. T. the Greek words are equally diverse: Aion, "duration," thus used of time past, Luke 1:70, of time present, with the idea of evil, both moral and physical.
Mark 4:19. " 2 Cor 4:4. Aion is also put for endless duration, eternity, 1 Tim 6:16, to signify the material world as created by the Deity, Heb 11:3; also the world to come, the kingdom of the Messiah. Ge, the earth, in contrast to the heavens. Rev 13:3. Kosmos, used in several senses: (a) the universe, the heavens, and the earth. Matt 13:35, and thence for the inhabitants of the universe, 1 Cor 4:9, and an aggregate. Jas 3:6. (b) This lower world as the abode of man, John 16:18; the inhabitants of the earth or mankind. Matt 5:14. (c) The present world, as opposed to the kingdom of Christ.
John 12:25; specifically, the wealth and enjoyments and cares of this world. Matt 16:26, and so for those who seek the opposite things to the kingdom of God, the worldlings. John 15:19. Oikonmene, the inhabited earth, Matt 24:14, the people of it. Acts 17:31, sometimes the Roman empire (the then civilized world), Acts 17:6, including Palestine and adjacent parts. Luke 2:1; Acts 11:28. The Jews distinguished two worlds, or aeons, the present aeon to the appearance of the Messiah, and the future aeon, or the Messianic era, which is to last for ever. " Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1; Acts 2:17.
, but the dividing-line is marked by the second instead of the first advent of the Messiah. Matt 12:32; 1 Cor 10:11; Gal 4:3; Heb 1:2; Heb 6:5; Jer 9:26.