[Greek] οἰκουμένη (oikoumenē), [Latin] orbe: world, inhabited earth, all over the world; Lk.4:5, Rom. 10:18, Act.11:28, Act.17:6, Act. 24:5, Lk.2:1, Lk. 21:26, Act. 17:31, Rev.3:10, Rev. 12:9
Oikoumene: The Greek World
Background Information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means inhabited region, Greek world, barbarian lands, the whole world, and Roman world.
Demosthenes’ On the Halonnesus 7.35: “He will not restore your possessions, for he claims them as his own, and his rewards will not be delivered in this part of the world, for fear his motive should be misrepresented to the Greeks; some other country, it seems, new quarter will assigned for the bestowal of your rewards.”
Demosthenes’ On the Crown 18.48: “Since then the whole world has become crowded with men exiled, punished in every conceivable way.”
New Testament: This term means the world, empire, earth, people, humankind, and entire world.
Oikumene: The Roman world
Scripture:
Mt.24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.” (All the nations refer to the Gentiles. These inhabited lands were more or less consisting of the Roman Empire. The end shall not be until the gospel has done its work.)
Lk.2:1:“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.” (The whole world is Rome, Italy, and the Roman provinces.)
Caesar Augustus reign:
- The reign of Augustus is usually dated from 27 BC to 14 AD.
- Augustus was regarded as savior, god, and peace-maker (pax Augustus).
- Luke intentionally defines Jesus as savior, God, and peace-maker in contrast to Augustus.
- Augustus is simply God’s agent who provides the occasion for God’s purposes to bring Jesus into the world.
- Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were residents, not refugees, under the Roman Empire.
Lk.4:5: “The devil took Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.” (The kingdoms of the world are the areas of the world which are inhabited by man. The devil had been granted power and glory of these kingdoms. The devil could give this power to any one he wished.)
Satan’s power and authority in the world:
- Mt.4:9: Satan will grant these kingdoms of the world if you prostrate and worship him.
- Jn.12:31: Satan is the ruler (prince) of the world.
- Eph.2:2: Satan is the ruler of power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the world.
- Eph.6:12: Principalities, powers, world rulers of present darkness, evil spirits in the heavens.
Acts 17:6: “The Jews shouted, ‘These people [Paul and Silas] have been creating a disturbance all over the world have now come here.'” (In the synagogue in Thessalonica, Paul stated that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. But the Jews became jealous and gathered a mob in protests. The Jews accused Paul was supporting another king, Jesus, in defiance of the Caesar’s decree.)
Acts 17:31: “[In speaking to the Athenians], Paul states, ‘God has established a day on which He will judge the world with justice through a man He has appointed.'” (Paul acknowledges the Athenians’ religiosity, but states we have a God who does not need to served by human hands but made the whole human race. This God has overlooked the peoples’ ignorance, but now demand that all people repent.)
Acts 19:27: “The danger grows, not only that our business will be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be of no account, and all the world worship will be stripped of her magnificence.” (The silversmiths claimed that Paul has ‘misled’ a great number of people by saying that the gods made by hands are not gods at all. Paul was seen as undermining the silversmiths’ paganism and livelihood.)
Acts 24:5: “We found this man [Paul] to be a pest; he creates dissension among the Jews all over the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazoreans.”
Pest: one who corrupts the morals of others, a seditious person, a wicked person
Dissension: an advocate of sedition, doctrines contrary to laws and customs of Moses, a crime severely punished by the Romans
World: the Roman Empire
Sect: part, precursor
Nazarenes: a name given to Christians by way of contempt, those from Judea, Jesus was a Nazarean
Etymology: The Greek noun oikos means home. The Greek verb meno- means to remain.
Conclusion:
Ecumenical, ecumenism, orbit
Update: Since Vatican II and with Synodality, the Church seems to focus more on ecumenism and walking together rather than preaching the gospel and making disciples of all nations.
Rather than fulfilling the Church’s primary mission to BRING SOULS INTO HEAVEN, it focuses more MAKING A BETTER WORLD/SEEKING FAVOR WITH THE WORLD.
Contrary to public belief, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were NOT refugees. They were residents who moved from one region to another under the Roman empire. Recently, some clergy and laity seek to politicize the manger (inserting ICE as an governmental enemy).
The devil’s domain resides in earthly kingdoms of the world. The devil often seeks to seduce us with worldly desires: idols, sin, fame, wealth, money, notoriety, and power. The devil also seek to distract us from God with busyness, spiritual dryness, and worldliness. All the devil needs to do is TO MAKE US FORGET ABOUT GOD!
In the Synodal Church, synodality (lived experiences, tolerance, inclusion, false compassion) often take precedence over Church teachings, doctrine, and Jesus’ statements. This is Synodality becoming elevated as an IDOL.