The Foundation of the World

THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR
SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR

“THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD”

To arrive at the true meaning of this expression, we must note that there are two words that are translated “foundation” found in the New Testament: (1)themelios, something put down, i.e. a substruction or foundation of a building Strong’s number 2310and (2) katabole a foundation as that which is laid down, or in the sense of founding, metaphorically of “the foundation of the world,” Strong’s number 2602

The Noun, themelios, occurs in Luke 6:48, 49; 14:29 etc. It is never used of the World (Greek kosmos) or of the earth (ge). The corresponding Verb (themelioo) occurs in Matthew 7:25; Luke 6:48 etc. And the verb is only once used of the earth (Hebrews 1:10 “And You Lord, in the beginning laid the FOUNDATION (themelioo) of the earth. And the heavens are the work of Your hands.”) A comparison of all these passages of Scriptures 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; 25:34; Luke 11:50; John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; Hebrews 4:3; 9:26; 11:11; 1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8; 17:8; and the correspondingVerb (kataballo) occurs in 2 Corinthians 4:9; Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the FOUNDATION (kataballo) of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.”

A comparison of all these passages (especially 2 Corinthians 4:9, and Revelation 12:10

“Persecuted, but not forsaken; STRUCK DOWN,[overthrow] but not destroyed –“2 Corinthians 4:9

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been CAST DOWN.” Revelation 12:10

Will show that the Greek word kataballo and katabole are not the proper terms for the words founding and foundation, but the correct meaning is casting down, oroverthrow. Consistency, therefore, calls for the same translation in Hebrews 6:1, where, instead of “not laying again,” the rendering should be “not casting down.” [‘Thru-which from letting the of-the original of-the anointed saying on the maturity we-should be-being-carried no again foundationDOWN-CASTINGof-after-mind from dead acts andof-belief on God’ Alexandrian Text 400 A.D.]

Note: so instead of using the word [foundation] kataballo Greek, we should go back to the oldest manuscript that we have and use the words casting down.

That is to say, the foundation already laid, of repentance, &c, was not to be CAST DOWN or OVERTHROWN, but was to be left – and progress made unto the perfection in Christ. 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 Hebrews 11:11) 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 described in 2 Peter 3:5, 6. For the earth was notcreated tohu(Isaiah 45:18 “For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain [tohu], Who formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord, and there is noother.”) 2 Peter in 3:6 says that the world was destroyed by the flood in the days of Noah, but in 2 Peter 3:7 it will be destroyed by fire, which will usher in the “new heavens and the newearth” of 2 Peter 3:13. This ends this study – Paul the Learner

“THOU ART PETER” (MATTHEW 16:18)

In Greek we find that the two words petros and petra are quite distinct, the former being masculine gender, and the latter feminine. The latter [petra] denotes a rock or cliff, in situ, firm and immovable. The former [petros] a fragment of the rock or cliff, which one traveller may move with his foot in one direction and another may throw in another direction. The former word petros is the Greek translation of the word Cephas, a stone, which was Peter’s name in Aramaic, as was his appellative “Barjona” (John 1:42).

It is remarkable that there is only one other instance (Luke 22:34) in which our Lord addressed him as “Peter” (Petros), but, in all other cases, by his fore-name “Simon,” reminding him of what he was before his call, and of the characteristics of his human nature. In that other instance it is used in connection with the coming exhibition of his weakness, in the prediction of his denial of his Lord. There is thus a special significance in the use of the word “Peter” in Matthew 16:16. It was the same connected with his commission and apostleship; another commission being about to be committed to him.

It was not Peter, the man, who would be the foundation, for, as we have said, petra is feminine, and must refer to a feminine noun expressed or implied. That noun could hardly be any other than homologia, which means a confession; and it was Peter’s confessionthat was the one subject of the Father’s revelation and the Son’s confirmation. Moreover, in (1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”)

It has once for all been declared by the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ is our foundation and not Peter. The earliest known reference to Matthew 16:18 are found in Origen’s Commentary (A.D. 186-253), which is older than any extant Greek manuscript. He says:

“If we also say the same as Peter, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,’ not by the instruction of flesh and blood, but by the illumination of the heavenly Father in our hearts, we ourselves become the same thing as Peter. If you should think that the whole church was built by God only on that one, Peter, what will you say of John…or each of the apostles?”

This is conclusive as to the interpretation. But there are other and later references to these words by AUGUSTINE (A.D. 378), and JEROME (A.D 305), alike older than any Greek MSS. Now extant Jerome wrote thus in his exposition (Benedictine ed. Volume 1 page 33):

“And I tell thee, that thou hast said to Me, ‘Thou are the Christ, &c and I tell thee that thou art Peter, and on this rock, &c”

Augustine wrote in his Retractationes(Benedictine Ed, volume 1 page 33):

“I have somewhere said, concerning the apostle Peter, that the Church was founded on him, as a petra, or rock; but I know that I have since very often explained what our Lord said to signify on Him Whom Peter confessed; but between these two opinions, let the reader choose that which is the more probable.”

In Augustine’s Sermon In die Pentecostis (Benedictine Ed, tom, 5 page 1097; also Pusey’s Translation, Sermons on the New Testament, volume 1 page 215), he explains the reason for this retraction in a periphrastic citation of the whole context: -

“When our Lord had asked His disciples who men said that He was, and when, in reporting the opinions of others, they had said that some said He was John, some Elijah, others Jeremiah or one of the prophets, He said to them: ‘But ye, Who do ye say that I am?’ Peter(one alone for the rest, one for all) answered “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This, most excellently, most truly spoken, was deservedly rewarded with this reply:

“Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood revealed not this to thee, but My Father Who is in heaven; and I tell thee that thou hast said: (hast said, observe, hast made confession unto Me; receive therefore the benediction): ‘and I tell thee that thou art Peter; and on this rock (Petra) I will build My church.’”

Greek Text 400 A.D.

And-I yet to-you am-saying that you are Peter (rock) and on this the rock I-shall-be-home building of-me the out-called and gates of-un-perceived not will-be-down-strong-ing of-her.

Matthew 16:18

“I tell you also that you are the stone, and upon this stone I will build my church; and the doors of Sheol shall not shut upon it.” Matthew 16:18 Syriac Peshitta Test 100 A.D.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11 Syriac Peshitta Text 100 A.D.

This ends this study – Paul the Learner