Synonym for: World, Age.

See Definition for \aiwn\ 165 See Definition for \kosmov\ 2889

It is only in a part of their meanings that these two words are in any real sense synonymous, and it is that part which is here considered. Both A.V. and R.V. often translate \aiwn\ by world, thus obscuring the distinction between it and \kosmov\. \aiwn\ is usually better expressed by age, it is the world at a given time, a particular period in the world's history.

\kosmov\ has very frequently an unfavorable meaning, denoting the inhabitants of the world, mankind in general, as opposed to God. A similar meaning is often attached to \aiwn\, it means the spirit of the age, often in an unfavorable sense. See Eph 2:2, where both words occur together. An exceptional meaning for the plural of \aiwn\ is found in Heb 1:2 11:3, where it denotes the worlds, apparently in reference to space rather than time.