The Foundation of the World
The expression "foundation of the world" rendered in versions of the Bible at least 10 times, is understood by many, as the "creation of the physical earth".
Is this a correct understanding?
Foundation
The Greek word commonly translated "foundation", is katabolé (καταβολή), which means "a laying down".
Strong's Concordance
[the] foundation
καταβολῆς (katabolēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2602: From kataballo; a deposition, i.e. Founding; figuratively, conception.
World
The Greek word kosmos (κόσμος), rendered "world" in the Bible, at least 186 times, generally (99% of the time) refers to the inhabitants of the physical earth.
This can easily be seen in a number of verses.
For example, Job 34:13, makes a distinction between the earth, and the world.
However, some may argue against this, so let's consider the word usage in the book that uses this word the most times - The Gospel of John.
John uses the Greek word kosmos 78 times, and in all cases, the word does not refer to the physical earth, or globe.
Consider John 1:9-10
9 This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him.
In saying the "world did not know him", John let's us know what world the light came into, and what world came into being through him... that this is the world of mankind, and not the physical earth, as some think.
This fact is evident throughout John's Gospel, even in the most known text in the Bible - John 3:16
Foundation of the World
Hence, the rendering "foundation of the world", simply put... is, the laying down - a deposition, i.e. Founding; figuratively, conception - of the world of mankind.
Conclusion
The world of mankind began at Acts 17:26.
However, the Bible highlights two aspects of this world.
The world that is not from the Father, but is controlled by Satan. 1 John 2:15-17; 1 John 5:19
The foundation of the world which includes righteous seed. Luke 11:50, 51
So, when reading the 10 scriptures - Matthew 13:35; Matthew 25:34; Luke 11:50; John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 9:26; 1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8, I hope this is of help.
The Concept of Free WillTracing the Freewill Concept
Who determined that free will or freewill exists?
Did humans originate the concept?
The Question of Free Will
To question the concept of free will, one need to first define free will.
Where do we start?
This itself is a complex question, since no human knows the true history of free will, and its origin... or do we.
We see the problem with this, right away.
The problem of free will has been identified in ancient Greek philosophical literature, says that man has questioned free will from when? Epictetus (1st century CE).
That's interesting, for two reasons.
Did the concept start with Rome... Greece... Persia... Babylon... Egypt... or God, and therefore Israel?
The answer is not hidden, and I will answer it shortly.
Free will defined [according to secular sources]
What is the problem here?
Free will has various definitions depending on who you talk to.
Hence, this ideas of free will, defined above, are not worth considering here.
The Origin of Free Will
The Bible - a collection of writings, covering a period of about 1,600 years, starting from about 1513 B.C.E. does contain the concept of free will in numerous places.
However, since we are considering origins, let's start with God.
Does God have free will?
No question. However, this was written about 740 B.C.E...
Hosea 14:4
Vocabulary and Language versus Philosophy
Is the concept of free will a philosophy, that is of human origin?
The Hebrew expression nedabah (נְדָבָה) is rendered freewill offering, freely, plentiful, voluntary, offering, willingly, offering. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)
This Hebrew word comes from the Hebrew word nadab, of which Topical Lexicon says...
The verb נָדַב consistently underlines a movement of the heart that is neither coerced nor merely dutiful.
Free Will is NOT a Philosophical Concept NOR of Philosophical Origin
To argue that free will is a philosophical expression, is to argue that the word voluntary is philosophical.
voluntary
Origin and history of voluntary
OED's earliest evidence for voluntary is from around 1400, in Lanfranc's Cirurgie.
To argue that voluntary is philosophical, leaves us with no words to actually use when translating the Hebrew, and Greek scriptures.
Is that reasonable?
Verb or Noun
"Will" used in Hosea 14:4, is a verb.
As a modal auxiliary verb, "will" expresses futurity.
God's willing here, is free. God will love them... guaranteed, and God does so freely - voluntarily.
Focus here is not on the verb though, which isn't from the Hebrew.
Does free will involve having the ability to will freely?
To will (verb) oneself and to do so freely, involves making decisions even against one's will ( noun - desires, wants).
One does not have to give into sinful desires James 1:14, but has the ability to freely will oneself against those desires.
Human Free Will
Voluntary offerings were made by "every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering... Exodus 35:21
Exodus 35:26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair.
Exodus 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
The Israelites - man, woman, child - understood the concept of freewill offerings - offerings made voluntarily - of their own accord... willingly, without being prompted, or forced.
Leviticus 22:18, 21, 23; Leviticus 23:38; Numbers 15:3; Numbers 29:39; Deuteronomy 12:6; Deuteronomy 12:17' Deuteronomy 16:10;
This gift of free will, originated with God, and was conveyed to all of God's children. See OP.
1 Corinthians 9:16-18, verse 17 says,
According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon...
STRONGS NT 1635: ἑκών
ἑκών, ἑκοῦσα, ἑκον, unforced, voluntary, willing, of one's own will, of one's own accord: Romans 8:20; 1 Corinthians 9:17. (From Homer down.)
At Philemon 1:14, Paul says...
The fact that humans have free will is obvious, and denying it is avoidable, since we know Adam - the first man, was created with free will.
Summary
The Bible is filled with scriptures that require no reasoning, but directly describes free will... Not a philosophical notion.
The philosophical arguments have no place in a discussion on free will, which originated with God.
Those philosophies relate, not to the vocabulary and word usages, but ideas surrounding these.
Free will is from God, and very much a concept understood by his people.
Free will is determined by God, and is not a human notion.
Free will does not require the usage of a noun.
Humans do have God given free will... defined, not by philosophers, but in God's word... the holy scriptures.
The expression "foundation of the world" rendered in versions of the Bible at least 10 times, is understood by many, as the "creation of the physical earth".
Is this a correct understanding?
Foundation
The Greek word commonly translated "foundation", is katabolé (καταβολή), which means "a laying down".
Strong's Concordance
katabolé: a laying down
Original Word: καταβολή, ῆς, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: katabolé
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ab-ol-ay')
Definition: a laying down
Usage: (a) foundation, (b) depositing, sowing, deposit, technically used of the act of conception.
[the] foundation
καταβολῆς (katabolēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2602: From kataballo; a deposition, i.e. Founding; figuratively, conception.
World
The Greek word kosmos (κόσμος), rendered "world" in the Bible, at least 186 times, generally (99% of the time) refers to the inhabitants of the physical earth.
This can easily be seen in a number of verses.
For example, Job 34:13, makes a distinction between the earth, and the world.
However, some may argue against this, so let's consider the word usage in the book that uses this word the most times - The Gospel of John.
John uses the Greek word kosmos 78 times, and in all cases, the word does not refer to the physical earth, or globe.
Consider John 1:9-10
9 This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him.
In saying the "world did not know him", John let's us know what world the light came into, and what world came into being through him... that this is the world of mankind, and not the physical earth, as some think.
This fact is evident throughout John's Gospel, even in the most known text in the Bible - John 3:16
Foundation of the World
Hence, the rendering "foundation of the world", simply put... is, the laying down - a deposition, i.e. Founding; figuratively, conception - of the world of mankind.
Conclusion
The world of mankind began at Acts 17:26.
However, the Bible highlights two aspects of this world.
The world that is not from the Father, but is controlled by Satan. 1 John 2:15-17; 1 John 5:19
The foundation of the world which includes righteous seed. Luke 11:50, 51
So, when reading the 10 scriptures - Matthew 13:35; Matthew 25:34; Luke 11:50; John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 9:26; 1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8, I hope this is of help.
The Concept of Free Will
Who determined that free will or freewill exists?
Did humans originate the concept?
The Question of Free Will
To question the concept of free will, one need to first define free will.
Where do we start?
This itself is a complex question, since no human knows the true history of free will, and its origin... or do we.
History of free will [according to secular sources]
The problem of free will has been identified in ancient Greek philosophical literature. The notion of compatibilist free will has been attributed to both Aristotle (4th century BCE) and Epictetus (1st century CE): "it was the fact that nothing hindered us from doing or choosing something that made us have control over them".[6][11] According to Susanne Bobzien, the notion of incompatibilist free will is perhaps first identified in the works of Alexander of Aphrodisias (3rd century CE): "what makes us have control over things is the fact that we are causally undetermined in our decision and thus can freely decide between doing/choosing or not doing/choosing them".
The term "free will" (liberum arbitrium) was introduced by Christian philosophy (4th century CE). It has traditionally meant (until the Enlightenment proposed its own meanings) lack of necessity in human will,[12] so that "the will is free" meant "the will does not have to be such as it is". This requirement was universally embraced by both incompatibilists and compatibilists.[13]
We see the problem with this, right away.
The problem of free will has been identified in ancient Greek philosophical literature, says that man has questioned free will from when? Epictetus (1st century CE).
That's interesting, for two reasons.
- Man was arguing about free will as to whether or not it exists, or if it is seen in one way or other.
- Man was arguing about this from the first century C.E. onward.
Did the concept start with Rome... Greece... Persia... Babylon... Egypt... or God, and therefore Israel?
The answer is not hidden, and I will answer it shortly.
Free will defined [according to secular sources]
Free will is generally understood as (a) the capacity or ability of people to (a) choose between different possible courses of action,[1] (b) exercise control over their actions in a way that is necessary for moral responsibility, or (c) be the ultimate source or originator of their actions.[2][3][4] There are different theories as to its nature, and these aspects are often emphasized differently depending on philosophical tradition, with debates focusing on whether and how such freedom can coexist with physical determinism, divine foreknowledge, and other constraints.
Some philosophers and thinkers conceive free will to be the capacity to make choices undetermined by past events. However, determinism suggests that the natural world is governed by cause-and-effect relationships, and only one course of events is possible - which is inconsistent with a libertarian model of free will.[5] Ancient Greek philosophy identified this issue,[6] which remains a major focus of philosophical debate to this day.
What is the problem here?
Free will has various definitions depending on who you talk to.
Hence, this ideas of free will, defined above, are not worth considering here.
The Origin of Free Will
The Bible - a collection of writings, covering a period of about 1,600 years, starting from about 1513 B.C.E. does contain the concept of free will in numerous places.
However, since we are considering origins, let's start with God.
Does God have free will?
No question. However, this was written about 740 B.C.E...
Hosea 14:4
Vocabulary and Language versus Philosophy
Is the concept of free will a philosophy, that is of human origin?
The Hebrew expression nedabah (נְדָבָה) is rendered freewill offering, freely, plentiful, voluntary, offering, willingly, offering. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)
This Hebrew word comes from the Hebrew word nadab, of which Topical Lexicon says...
The verb נָדַב consistently underlines a movement of the heart that is neither coerced nor merely dutiful.
Free Will is NOT a Philosophical Concept NOR of Philosophical Origin
To argue that free will is a philosophical expression, is to argue that the word voluntary is philosophical.
voluntary
adjective
Done or undertaken of one's own free will.
a voluntary decision to leave the job.
Acting or done willingly and without constraint or expectation of reward.
a voluntary hostage; voluntary community work.
Normally controlled by or subject to individual volition.
The act of willing or choosing; the act of forming a purpose; the exercise of the will.
The result of an act or exercise of choosing or willing; a state of choice.
The power of willing or determining; will.
Origin and history of voluntary
voluntary(adj.)
"proceeding from or subject to the will," hence "done of one's own free choice without external constraint," late 14c., voluntarie, from Anglo-French voluntarie (Old French volontaire) and directly from Latin voluntarius "willing, of one's free will," from voluntas "will," from the ancient accusative singular present participle of velle "to wish" (see will (v.)).
The earliest known use of the word voluntary is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).OED's earliest evidence for voluntary is from around 1400, in Lanfranc's Cirurgie.
To argue that voluntary is philosophical, leaves us with no words to actually use when translating the Hebrew, and Greek scriptures.
Is that reasonable?
Verb or Noun
"Will" used in Hosea 14:4, is a verb.
As a modal auxiliary verb, "will" expresses futurity.
God's willing here, is free. God will love them... guaranteed, and God does so freely - voluntarily.
Focus here is not on the verb though, which isn't from the Hebrew.
Does free will involve having the ability to will freely?
To will (verb) oneself and to do so freely, involves making decisions even against one's will ( noun - desires, wants).
One does not have to give into sinful desires James 1:14, but has the ability to freely will oneself against those desires.
Human Free Will
Voluntary offerings were made by "every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering... Exodus 35:21
Exodus 35:26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair.
Exodus 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
The Israelites - man, woman, child - understood the concept of freewill offerings - offerings made voluntarily - of their own accord... willingly, without being prompted, or forced.
Leviticus 22:18, 21, 23; Leviticus 23:38; Numbers 15:3; Numbers 29:39; Deuteronomy 12:6; Deuteronomy 12:17' Deuteronomy 16:10;
This gift of free will, originated with God, and was conveyed to all of God's children. See OP.
1 Corinthians 9:16-18, verse 17 says,
Paul uses the Greek word hekón: Willing, Voluntary. Which means of one's own free will.
According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon...
STRONGS NT 1635: ἑκών
ἑκών, ἑκοῦσα, ἑκον, unforced, voluntary, willing, of one's own will, of one's own accord: Romans 8:20; 1 Corinthians 9:17. (From Homer down.)
At Philemon 1:14, Paul says...
The Greek word hekousios - meaning free will, is the neuter of a derivative from hekon; voluntariness -- willingly, which is (an adjective, a primitive term) – properly, willing; "unforced, of one's own will, voluntary" (J. Thayer), i.e. acting on one's own accord. The root (hek-) emphasizes intentional, deliberate action (choice), i.e. "of free-will" (J. Thayer).
The fact that humans have free will is obvious, and denying it is avoidable, since we know Adam - the first man, was created with free will.
Summary
The Bible is filled with scriptures that require no reasoning, but directly describes free will... Not a philosophical notion.
The philosophical arguments have no place in a discussion on free will, which originated with God.
Those philosophies relate, not to the vocabulary and word usages, but ideas surrounding these.
Free will is from God, and very much a concept understood by his people.
Free will is determined by God, and is not a human notion.
Free will does not require the usage of a noun.
Humans do have God given free will... defined, not by philosophers, but in God's word... the holy scriptures.
