Matthew 24:14 - Good-news proclaimed (1st century biblical fulfillment?)

Matthew 24:14 - The good news proclaimed (1st century biblical fulfillment?)


Matthew 24:13 - Shall be saved? (1st century understanding & historical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:14

Matthew 24:15 - Abomination of desolation (1st century understanding & historical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:15 & Luke 21:20 - Jerusalem surrounded by armies (1st century historical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:14: "And this good-news (of) the kingdom will-be-proclaimed in the whole world for (a) testimony (to) all the nations. And then the end will-come."

The same Greek words that are used in the various passages will be CAPITALIZED.


Summary

Jesus said in Matthew 24:14: "And this GOOD-NEWS (of) the kingdom WILL-BE-PROCLAIMED IN THE WHOLE WORLD for (a) testimony (to) all the nations". The specific Greek word for the "WORLD" in Matthew 24:14 can be used in the Bible to describe specifically the Roman Empire, as for example a "decree went-out from Caesar Augustus (that) all THE WORLD (should) be-registered" (Luke 2:1). 

Later in the 1st century, Paul wrote in the present tense about "the GOOD-NEWS being-present to you, just-as also in all the world" (Colossians 1:5-6) and added in the past tense that it was "the GOOD-NEWS which you-heard, the (one) HAVING-BEEN-PROCLAIMED IN all creation under heaven" (Colossians 1:23).

You can find below further evidences of that. 


Term: The "world"?

It is written in Matthew 24:14: "And this good-news (of) the kingdom will-be-proclaimed in THE whole WORLD for (a) testimony (to) all the nations". The specific Greek word for the "WORLD" in Matthew 24:14 is "oikoumené" [3625 in Greek]. This specific Greek word is only used 4 times in all the gospels combined. 

The Greek word for "WORLD" [oikoumené 3625 in Greek] used in Matthew 24:14 is not the same Greek word as one that could also be translated as "world" [kosmos 2889 in Greek], which is used 93 times in all the gospels combined, as for example in the following verse: "For God so loved the world [kosmos 2889 in Greek] that He-gave (His) only-born Son" (John 3:16).


Terms: The whole world?

It is written in Matthew 24:14: "And this good-news (of) the kingdom will-be-proclaimed in THE WHOLE WORLD for (a) testimony (to) all the nations".

The specific Greek word for the "WORLD" [oikoumené 3625 in Greek] in Matthew 24:14 can be used in the Bible to describe specifically the Roman Empire. This can include such expression as "THE WHOLE WORLD" and "all THE WORLD".

For example: "Agabus (by) name, signified through the Spirit (that) there would-certainly be (a) great famine over THE WHOLE WORLD [oikoumené 3625 in Greek]which took-place in-the-time-of CLAUDIUS" (Acts 11:28).

Another example there was a "decree went-out from CAESAR AUGUSTUS (that) ALL THE WORLD [oikoumené 3625 in Greek] (should) be-registered" (Luke 2:1).

Another example: "But not only is-there-a-danger (for) us (that) this part (may) come into disrepute, but also (that) the temple (of) the great goddess Artemis (may) be-counted for nothing, and (that she) whom all Asia and THE WORLD [oikoumené 3625 in Greek] worships (may) even be-about to-be-torn-down (from) her majesty" (Acts 19:27).

Map of the Roman Empire in the 1st century (click on the map to expand):



Believers in the 1st century impacting the world?

Early in the 1st century, the 1st century disciples could be described as impacting "THE WORLD":

For example: "they-were-dragging Jason and some brothers before the city-authorities, shouting that “The (ones) having-upset THE WORLD — these (ones) are also present here" (Acts 17:6).

Another example: "For having-found this man (to be a) plague, and setting-in-motion disputes (among) all the Jews throughout THE WORLD, and (a) ringleader (of) the sect (of) the Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5).

Here is a non-exhaustive map of cities already reached with the good-news in the 1st century that were explicitly named in the Bible (click on the map to expand):



The good news proclaimed in the whole world to all the nations?

It is written in Matthew 24:14: "And this GOOD-NEWS (of) the kingdom WILL-BE-PROCLAIMED IN the WHOLE WORLD for (a) testimony (to) ALL THE NATIONS".

Paul wrote later in the 1st century specifically "(to) all the (ones) being in Rome" (Romans 1:7) that "your faith is-being-proclaimed in the WHOLE world" (Romans 1:8) and "(it is) not (that) they-did not hear, (is it)? On-the-contrary: “Their voice went-out into all the earth, and their words to the ends (of) the WORLD" (Romans 10:18), and wrote about the "GOOD-NEWS and the proclamation (of) Jesus Christ" (Romans 14:24) "now having-been-revealed and having-been-made-known to all THE NATIONS through (the) prophetic Scriptures according-to (the) command (of) the eternal God" (Romans 14:25) and "your obedience reached to all" (Romans 16:19).

Paul wrote later in the 1st century about "the GOOD-NEWS being-present to you, just-as also in all the world it-is bearing-fruit and growing" (Colossians 1:5-6), "the GOOD-NEWS which you-heard, the (one) HAVING-BEEN-PROCLAIMED IN all creation under heaven" (Colossians 1:23).


Early Christians authors

Early Christian authors would have written about this. 

In the 1st century, a Christian author named Clement of Rome wrote in "1 Clement":

(1 Clement 5:5-7): "Paul made known [the] prize of patient endurance, having seven times worn bonds, having been exiled, having been stoned, having become a preacher both in the east and in the west, he took the suitable credit of his faith, having taught the whole world righteousness and having come upon the terminus of the west and having borne witness under the ones ruling. In this way he was released from the world"


In the 2nd century, a Christian author named Justin Martyr wrote in "First Apology":

(XXXIX): "From Jerusalem there went out into the world, men, twelve in number [...] by the power of God they proclaimed to every race of men that they were sent by Christ to teach to all the word of God"


Around the 4th century, the Christian historian Eusebius wrote in "The Proof of the Gospel":

(1:6): "The teaching of the new covenant was borne to all nations, and at once the Romans besieged Jerusalem and destroyed it and the Temple"


In the 4th century, a Christian author named Chrysostom wrote in "Homilies on Matthew":

Homily 75: "He added moreover, And this gospel shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all nations, and then shall the end come [Matthew 24:14] [...] before the taking of Jerusalem the gospel was preached, hear what Paul says, Their sound went into all the earth; [Romans 10:18] and again, The gospel which was preached to every creature which is under Heaven. [Colossians 1:23] And do you see him running from Jerusalem unto Spain? And if one took so large a portion, consider what the rest also wrought. For writing to others also, Paul again says concerning the gospel, that it is bringing forth fruit, and growing up in every creature which is under Heaven [Colossians 1:6]. But what means, For a witness to all nations? Forasmuch as though it was everywhere preached, yet it was not everywhere believed. It was for a witness, He says, to them that were disbelieving, that is, for conviction, for accusation, for a testimony; for they that believed will bear witness against them that believed not, and will condemn them. And for this cause, after the gospel is preached in every part of the world, Jerusalem is destroyed, that they may not have so much as a shadow of an excuse for their perverseness. For they that saw His power shine throughout every place, and in an instant take the world captive, what excuse could they then have for continuing in the same perverseness? For in proof that it was everywhere preached at that time, hear what Paul says, of the gospel which was preached to every creature which is under Heaven. [Colossians 1:23]"


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