World (3635) (oikoumene the feminine participle present passive of oikeo = to dwell or abide) describes the inhabited portion of the earth, exclusive of the heavens above and hell below. The Romans used oikoumene in their secular writings to refer to the Roman Empire, for to them their empire equated with the whole world. Finally, in some NT contexts oikoumene was used to refer to the inhabitants of the world (see below Acts 17:31, 19:27, Re 12:9 - note) Oikoumene is used 40 times in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (LXX) (2 Sam. 22:16; Est. 3:13; Ps. 9:8; 18:15; 19:4; 24:1; 33:8; 49:1; 50:12; 72:8; 77:18; 89:11; 90:2; 93:1; 96:10, 13; 97:4; 98:7, 9; Prov. 8:31; Isa. 10:14, 23; 13:5, 9, 11; 14:17, 26; 23:17; 24:1, 4; 27:6; 34:1; 37:16, 18; 62:4; Jer. 10:12; 51:15; Lam. 4:12; Dan. 2:38; 3:2). Here are some representative uses (note the preponderance of uses in the Psalms)... Psalm 9:8 And He will judge the world (Hebrew = tebel = inhabited world; Lxx = oikoumene) in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity. Psalm 19:4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world (Hebrew = tebel = inhabited world; Lxx = oikoumene). In them He has placed a tent for the sun Psalm 96:13 Before the LORD, for He is coming; For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world (Hebrew = tebel = inhabited world; Lxx = oikoumene) in righteousness, And the peoples in His faithfulness. Here are the 15 NT uses of oikoumene... Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come. Luke 2:1 Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. Luke 4:5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. Luke 21:26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Acts 11:28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. Acts 17:6 And when they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also; Acts 17:31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." Acts 19:27 "And not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship should even be dethroned from her magnificence." Acts 24:5 "For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. Romans 10:18 (note) But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world." Hebrews 1:6 (note) And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, "And let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 2:5 (note) For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. Revelation 3:10 (note) 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. Revelation 12:9 (note) And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 16:14 (note) for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. The True Light Christ, whose glory fills the skies Christ, the true, the only Light, Sun of righteousness, arise, Triumph o'er the shades of night; Dayspring from on high, be near, Daystar, in my heart appear. Dark and cheerless is the morn, Unaccompanied by Thee; Joyless is the day's return Till Thy mercy's beams I see; Till Thy inward life impart, Glad my eyes, and warm my heart. Visit then this soul of mine; Pierce the gloom of sin and grief; Fill me, Radiance Divine, Scatter all my unbelief; More and more Thyself display, Shining to the perfect day. —Charles Wesley "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/romans_1016-21.htm#world