The Oikoumene in the NT
Jim Jordan has pointed out that the Greek word “oikoumene” is used in the NT to refer to the Hellenistic and Helleno-Roman world, rather than to the entire inhabited earth. It could be translated as “empire.” Against this background, the usage in Heb 2:5 is very striking, since it talks about the “coming oikoumene” being subjected to Jesus. This is NOT a reference to the eschatological order, but to a new “world empire,” the empire of the Son of Man (Dan 7), the stone that grows into a mountain (Dan 2). The world-empire that follows the Hellenistic oikoumene, Christendom or the church, is the one subjected to Jesus.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
In Medias Res
Your weekly digest for all things Theopolis.