Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
a world that is running down
English answer:
a world that is decaying, slowly dying
Added to glossary by
Yvonne Gallagher
May 31, 2023 16:07
12 mos ago
27 viewers *
English term
a world that is running down
English
Art/Literary
Religion
Creationism
The sinless, “very good” creation was marred by the rebellion of the first man, Adam. His sin brought an intruder into the world — death. God had to judge sin with death, as He warned Adam that He would (Genesis 2:17; cf. 3:19).
As a result of God’s judgment on the world, He has given us a taste of life without Him — ***a world that is running down***; a world full of death and suffering. The Apostle Paul tells us that the creation “groans” over this:
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (Romans 8:20–22)
God Himself subjected the creation to processes of decay, as a consequence of man’s sin.
As a result of God’s judgment on the world, He has given us a taste of life without Him — ***a world that is running down***; a world full of death and suffering. The Apostle Paul tells us that the creation “groans” over this:
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (Romans 8:20–22)
God Himself subjected the creation to processes of decay, as a consequence of man’s sin.
Change log
Jun 6, 2023 12:07: Yvonne Gallagher Created KOG entry
Responses
+1
16 mins
Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Ireland
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Ireland
right word, right place. everytime
Native in: English (Variants: US, Canadian, Irish, UK) 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
108
Selected
a world that is decaying, shabby, dilapidated
a world without God's input, and therefore no longer the paradise of creation, because of Adam's sin but now "a world full of death and suffering"
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/run-dow...
2. PHRASAL VERB
If people run down an industry or an organization, they deliberately reduce its size or the amount of work that it does.
3. PHRASAL VERB
If someone runs down an amount of something, they reduce it or allow it to decrease.
PHRASAL VERB
If a machine or device runs down, it gradually loses power or works more slowly.
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Note added at 5 days (2023-06-06 11:05:59 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad to have helped
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/run-dow...
2. PHRASAL VERB
If people run down an industry or an organization, they deliberately reduce its size or the amount of work that it does.
3. PHRASAL VERB
If someone runs down an amount of something, they reduce it or allow it to decrease.
PHRASAL VERB
If a machine or device runs down, it gradually loses power or works more slowly.
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Note added at 5 days (2023-06-06 11:05:59 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad to have helped
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Helena Chavarria
2 hrs
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Thanks Helena!
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| neutral |
Domini Lucas
: I agree with decaying, but wouldn't use shabby or dilapidated in the context of the world. I can see that it could mean run down though in terms of working more slowly, etc.
10 hrs
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see Dbox. I firmly believe these adjectives all fit in the context
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all!"
20 hrs
Domini Lucas
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Academic and Literary Translator
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Spanish to English, Greek to English
decomposing/perishing/wasting away
This is a hunch as I am still not fully clear about what the author means by running down, hence my low confidence in submitting this answer. But in terms of Biblical context and what follows, I think it is more likely to be something along these lines.
I did originally wonder whether it meant something like running out of steam, but the context makes me think it this is nearer to the author's intention. cf. my discussion entries.
I would want to go back to the author on this one if at all possible because both of the words I am proposing feel as if they could be stronger than theirs, despite the context. In any case I think there is a sense of the world being finite or time-limited and destructible as opposed to the eternal, which is indestructible and being renewed day by day (2 Cor. 4:16)
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Note added at 21 hrs (2023-06-01 13:23:20 GMT)
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wasting away is used in the NIV version of 2 Corinthians 4:16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Corinthians 4...
The Greek original has diaphtheiretai for wasting away, which is a word related to the phthora used in Romans (see my discussion entry).
The same Greek-to-English Lexicon of the New Testament relates the 2 Cor. 4:16 meaning to to destroy, ruin, also to consume, related to bodily vigour or strength, decay, and further relates it to things that can be destroyed by by the worm, moth that eats provisions or clothing cross-referencing to Lk. 12:33.
cf. also the same Luke 12:33 verse which uses diaphtheirei,/i> in relation to purses that will not wear out out. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lk 12:33&versio...
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Note added at 21 hrs (2023-06-01 13:42:00 GMT)
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Correction: only one out above - in relation to purses that will not wear out
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Note added at 21 hrs (2023-06-01 13:44:25 GMT)
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wearing out could be a good option for running down
I did originally wonder whether it meant something like running out of steam, but the context makes me think it this is nearer to the author's intention. cf. my discussion entries.
I would want to go back to the author on this one if at all possible because both of the words I am proposing feel as if they could be stronger than theirs, despite the context. In any case I think there is a sense of the world being finite or time-limited and destructible as opposed to the eternal, which is indestructible and being renewed day by day (2 Cor. 4:16)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2023-06-01 13:23:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
wasting away is used in the NIV version of 2 Corinthians 4:16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Corinthians 4...
The Greek original has diaphtheiretai for wasting away, which is a word related to the phthora used in Romans (see my discussion entry).
The same Greek-to-English Lexicon of the New Testament relates the 2 Cor. 4:16 meaning to to destroy, ruin, also to consume, related to bodily vigour or strength, decay, and further relates it to things that can be destroyed by by the worm, moth that eats provisions or clothing cross-referencing to Lk. 12:33.
cf. also the same Luke 12:33 verse which uses diaphtheirei,/i> in relation to purses that will not wear out out. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lk 12:33&versio...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2023-06-01 13:42:00 GMT)
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Correction: only one out above - in relation to purses that will not wear out
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Note added at 21 hrs (2023-06-01 13:44:25 GMT)
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wearing out could be a good option for running down
Discussion
It's good to have these discussions
Thanks for explaining
In terms of the context you are probably right that "shabby" and "dilapidated" may not work so well to describe a world that is decaying which I think is the best adjective in this particular context
Good to know,
So it needs to be kept fairly clear then with no need for readers to research more deeply, unless they want to do so
Obviously, in this field, there have been many interpretations of biblical texts over the years, with new ones being added all the time. I saw someone complained about being offended by the unstylish English and content, but really, we don't need to agree with content or style in order to translate/interpret. If anyone is really offended, they should just stay away....
Domini seems to think it is the first lot as she delves ever deeper (too deep?) into meanings here and searches for external (to this text) references.
As I said already, I see no problem with the English at all. "Run(ning) down" is a common phrasal verb (yes, in UK and US English, presumably in Australian English too) and, like most phrasal verbs, has several meanings, often within the same context. I've been teaching EFL for over 40 years and thus know how difficult it is for non-native English speakers to discern meanings of phrasals, especially where several meanings can apply.
It does break things down further (i.e. specific use of the word in different Biblical chapters) and also refers to it being used as moral/ethical decay in another instance, however in Romans it is physical.
The Illustrated Bible Dictionary (1994) states:
corruption (Gk. phthora, diaphtora)... usually connotes the transience of the present world order. In Rom.8:21 it is used of the liability of the material universe to change and decay; contrast the 'imperishable' (Gk. aphthartos) inheritance reserved for believers (1 Pet. 1:4). In 1 Cor. 15:42ff, it denotes the liability of the 'natural' body to death and dissolution; 'perishable' (Gk. phthartos) is practically equivalent to 'mortal' (Gk. thnetos), as 'imperishable' (Gk. aphtharsia) predicated of the 'spiritual' body, is a synonym of 'immortality' (Gk. athanasia). In Acts 2:27ff, 13:3ff. 'corruption' (in the sense of decomposition) is the rendering of Gk. diapthora, … Ps.16:10 in LXX itself… to the case of Jesus, whose body, being raised from death, saw no corruption’ (Acts 13:37).
UK Business English:
- to reduce a business or organization in size or importance, or to become reduced in this way The example given is The government is secretly running down the troop levels.
US English:
to use energy, power, or strength. The example given is By 1923 the radio boom seemed to be running down.
I am still not convinced we would usually phrase it that way in UK English, but I am a bit brain dead today. However, the fact that the writer lives in the US does make me think that perhaps the lose energy, power, or strength meaning might be closer to the author's intention?
(Our entries crossed by the way, so these were in response to your original discussion entries!)
I stand corrected re the English. I didn't think we usually use running down in that way in UK English. I still think it is not commonplace and that we tend to collocate running out or run down.
(Will continue in second entry)
But if something is "run-down" it can also look dilapidated. That's where I'm coming from But yes, it can mean more about decaying and dying in that sense of running down.
I also wondered about "creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God and I took this as meaning that mankind can be cleansed of the original sin by getting christened and thus becoming God's children again.
Hence, my reading is that this world is no longer the paradise it was and is being allowed become run-down or not being taken care of. Death and pain are now also part of this world. Thus decaying, or shabby and dilapidated all fit as synonyms here for this run-down world, as opposed to the former paradisical world curated by God
Is this still a text originally written in English? If so, do you happen to know if the author is a native English speaker, or are they non-native from another country writing in English? If non-native, perhaps their background might give a clue? Otherwise, I'm not clear whether it's badly expressed or an actual misprint.