Course

"an age" (see AGE), is sometimes wrongly spoken of as a "dispensation," which does not mean a period of time, but a mode of dealing. It is translated "course" in Eph 2:2, "the course of this world," i.e., the cycle or present round of things. See AGE, ETERNAL, EVER, WORLD.

properly, "a running, a race" (from edramon, "to run"), hence, metaphorically, denotes "a career, course of occupation, or of life," viewed in a special aspect, Act 13:25, Act 20:24, 2Ti 4:7.

primarily, "daily service," as, e.g., in the Sept. of 2Ch 13:11 (from epi, "upon, or by," hemera, "a day," Eng., "ephemeral"), hence denoted a "class," or "course," into which the priests were divided for the daily service in the Temple, each "class" serving for seven days (see 1Ch 9:25). In the NT it is used in Luk 1:5, Luk 1:8.

Note: Cp. ephemeros, "daily (food)," Jam 2:15.

"a wheel," is translated "wheel" in Jam 3:6, RV, with metaphorical reference to the round of human activity (AV, "course"), as a glowing axle would set on fire the whole wooden wheel.

"to make room for, to go forward," is rendered "hath not free course," in Joh 8:37, RV (AV, "hath no place"). See COME, No. 24.

Notes: (1) Connected with dromos, A, No. 2, is euthudromeo, "to make (or run) a straight course" (euthus, "straight"), Act 16:11, Act 21:1. (2) In 2Th 3:1, trecho, "to run" (RV), is translated "have free course" (AV). (3) In 1Co 14:27, ana meros, "by turn," "in turn" (RV), is rendered "by course" (AV). (4) For ploos, "a sailing or voyage, course," Act 21:7, AV (RV, "voyage"), see VOYAGE.