Accepting the fact of the ages and of the age-times, we now enquire from the

Scripture an answer to the question "when did they commence?"

As a fuller contribution to the subject, we place before the reader some of the most

important expressions that are found in the N.T. dealing with the time factor of the ages.

Such expressions as "the end of the world"; "since the world began"; "this world"; "the

world to come" are known to all; we now propose to submit them to a more careful

scrutiny, so that the Scriptural association of time with the ages shall be better seen. The

reader already knows that aion is often translated "world" in the A.V.; and while it is a

good rendering, meaning etymologically "the age of man" (vir-eld), it simplifies the

enquiry if we agree to translate kosmos by "world" and aion by "age", thereby preserving

the distinction that must be maintained between words of place and words of time.

"The end of the world." There are more words than one that can be translated "end";

the word used in this phrase is sunteleia. In Matt. 13: 39, 40, 49; 24: 2 & 28: 20

aion is in the singular, but in the one remaining occurrence, namely in Heb. 9: 26, aion

is used in the plural. What the significance of this change may be we do not pause at the

moment to consider, but just make a note of the fact that nowhere else except in Matthew

or Hebrews do we meet the expression sunteleia tou aionos. If there is a period that can

be called "the end of the world", there is also a period which speaks of a time "since the

world began" or "from the beginning of the world". We should remember when reading

this expression that the word arche "beginning" does not occur in the phrase, all that is

found in the original being the words ap aionos "from (an) age", when used in

Luke 1: 70; Acts 3: 21 and 15: 18; and apo ton aionon the plural with the article, in

Eph. 3: 9 and Col. 1: 26.  We observe that in the last reference the ages are coupled

with the generations a term which we must consider separately.

"The world to come"  translates two forms, one in which aion is spoken of as

erchomenon "coming", Luke 18: 30;  and aion spoken of as mello "about to be"

Matt. 12: 32; Eph 1: 21 and Heb. 6: 5.

"This world" and "that world" are contrasted, the former expression using toutou with

aion, the latter using ekeinos. "That world" occurs but once, namely in Luke 20: 35, but

"this world" occurs some fourteen times, and these will be given fuller consideration

when the occurrences are being examined in detail. Variations of this expression are

found in Gal. 1: 4 which adds the words "present" and "evil", and I Tim. 6: 17,

II Tim. 4: 10 and Titus 2: 12, where the word nun "now" is added.

One passage contains the phrase "before the ages" (plural) pro ton aionon, I Cor. 2: 7,

the other passages which speak of "before the world" employ the word kosmos not aion.

The word "generation" is used in association with the ages. Genea has three meanings

in the N.T. It means the simple succession from father to son (Matt. 1: 17); it means a

company of men living at the same time and sharing similar characteristics; and thirdly it