Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

GE AND COSMOS

It is the purpose of this article to enhance the knowledge of several folks with a distinction, and contrast of the words “Ge” and “cosmos. ”First of all, the term “Ge” is not to be confused as the opposite of “Haw” as a directional command to a farm animal. Additionally, it is not to be confused with a slang expression of the South as in “Geeminee or geewhiz.” But more to the point, it is not to be confused with “Cosmos.” Of course, here the phonetics are quite different, but the idea still gets muddled. Speaking of muddled, some minds may be muddled already, but bear with me.

In the Bible, the word “world” is most often used as the translation of “cosmos.” This is proper, but herein is also the problem. Too many students tend to think of the “world” as the planet on which we live. That is an incorrect understanding. The ancient Greek word “cosmos” references a working system designed to produce predictable results. Hence the universe of planetary bodies is referred to as a cosmos as it is a definite, predictable working pattern. The order of the world of men is a cosmos because it is framed on the predictable order of sin and death. A clock is a cosmos since it is a working system designed to produce predictable results. Oh, yes, they call that stuff women use to make themselves pretty “cosmetics.” That, too, is from cosmos because it transforms a female from an ordinary human being to a predictable system designed to attract the opposite sex. (now, I am going to get it). Summation: “world” is from “Cosmos.” It designates a system. It is not a designation of the planet earth in the context of creation.

Of course, there is a term designating the planet. It is “Ge.” Furthermore, that root word in its expansion gives us such words as “geology, geography, geometry, geophysics, Georgia,” etc., all having to do with physiology of the planet.

Being discriminatory with words goes a long way toward eliminating confusion of ideas. It helps the speaker to think more precisely, and it helps the audience to infer more properly what exactly has been implied, connoted, or denoted. Most all of us would profit from a review of etymology ( a study of root words, prefixes and suffixes). It would most likely stoke our love for our mother tongue as well as open pleasurable avenues of ideas contained therein which may have never been entertained previously. Well, I had hoped this article would be somewhat of a cosmos, but it seems that all I can say is “Gee.”

FOR THOUGHT: Did this article help you to learn anything? With a proper understanding of words, these two words, does that alter your thinking on several passages of scripture?