Foundation Of The World
Foundation Of The World
FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.The phrase occurs in Mat 25:34, Luk 11:50, Joh 17:24 ( is doubtful in Mat 13:35, see RVm). It is a common expression in the NT, e.g. Eph 1:4, Heb 4:3; Heb 9:26, 1Pe 1:20, Rev 13:8; Rev 17:8. In general it denotes a time sense, implying a strong declaration of priority. It always occurs with the prepositions or . primarily means the laying down or founding of anything, hence the absolute beginning. is a word of much more varied meaning, into the different phases of which we need not here enter. Its present use as applied to the Universe is well established. The whole expression is equivalent to the phrase found in Mar 10:6; Mar 13:19 from the beginning of the creation ( ). Old Testament Hebrew has no term which would quite correspond to the Greek (Dalman, Words of Jesus, p. 162). Mat 13:35 is an unliteral rendering of Psa 78:2 , which the LXX translates . The foundation of the world stands for the definite epoch when this present Universe was originated.
W. S. Kerr.