OP's question is on regard to this verse.
He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world [απο καταβολης κοσμου];
"Why would Jesus have had to suffer since the beginning of the world? If it was to account for man's sins, would this imply that mankind was sinning (and thus in existence) since the foundation of the world? Hebrews 9:26"
That is a really good question. According to the way this verse is translated it would seem that there has never been a time when there was no sin in the world. Considering this view, it does not make sense.
What's interesting is that there is another word for foundation and there is a good reason it was not used here. Here is the word for foundation in scripture that accurately describes a foundation.
Strong's Number: 2310 Browse Lexicon
Definition
1 laid down as a foundation, the foundation (of a building, wall, city)
2 metaph. the foundations, beginnings, first principals
a of institution or system of trut
θεμέλιον (themelion) — 8 Occurrence
Englishman's Concordance
θεμέλιον (themelion) — 8 Occurrences
Luke 6:48 N-AMS
GRK: καὶ ἔθηκεν θεμέλιον ἐπὶ τὴν
KJV: and laid the foundation on a rock:
Luke 14:29 N-AMS
GRK: θέντος αὐτοῦ θεμέλιον καὶ μὴ
NAS: he has laid a foundation
Romans 15:20 N-AMS
GRK: ἐπ' ἀλλότριον θεμέλιονοἰκοδομῶ
INT: upon another's foundation I might build
1 Corinthians 3:10 N-AMS
GRK: σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον ἔθηκα ἄλλος
NAS: I laid a foundation, and another
2Corinthians 3:11 N-AMS
GRK: θεμέλιον γὰρ ἄλλον
KJV: For other foundation can no man
1 Corinthians 3:12 N-AMS
GRK: ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον χρυσόν ἄργυρον
NAS: builds on the foundation with gold,
1 Timothy 6:19 N-AMS
GRK: ἀποθησαυρίζοντας ἑαυτοῖς θεμέλιον καλὸν εἰς
NAS: of a good foundation for the future,
Hebrews 6:1 N-AMS
GRK: μὴ πάλιν θεμέλιον καταβαλλόμενοι μετανοίας
NAS: again a foundation of repentance
But the one having heard and not having done is like to a man having built a house on the ground without a foundation, on which the stream burst, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6:49
Here again the word for foundation is: themeliou
2310 [e]
themeliou
θεμελίου
a foundation
The word in Hebrews that is translated foundation is from the word:
◄ 2602. katabolé ►
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2602: καταβολή
καταβολή, καταβολῆς, ἡ (καταβάλλω, which see);
- a throwing or laying dow
Two words are translated foundation. They are not similar in meaning. They have no common elements. One means place-care and the other means down-casting.
place-care as foundation, and down-casting as disruption.
Foundation is always a basis for building. Nothing is ever built on the disruption.
FOUNDATION = THEMELIOS (PLACE-CARE)
DISRUPTION = KATABOLE (DOWN -CAST)
Most every version I have seen translates this word katabole as foundation.
There is one that translates that the word katabole as disruption.
Nor is it that He may be offering Himself often, even as the chief priest is entering into the holies of holies yearly by the blood of others, since then He must often be suffering from the disruption of the world, Hebrews 9:26 Concordant Literal
Before the disruption there was no sin. No enmity. No estrangement. No darkness. Before the disruption there existed only good. There was no evil.
There was some sort of event ominous that took place, and is a down casting of sorts…
There was a reason the Son of God was slain from the disruption of the world:
From the disruption there has come sin and suffering, opposition and estrangement. From that point the death of God's Son was a certainty. God cannot now be approached by the creature. The headship of Christ is denied by creation. There is now not only an event, but also a state of disruption.
The following list of Scriptures shows all the occurrences of disruption when it refers to the disruption of the world. Note the distinction between ‘before' and ‘from' the disruption.
Before the disruption:
John 17:24. "Thou lovest Me before the disruption of the world."
Eph. 1:4 "He chooses us in Him before the disruption of the world."
1 Peter 1:20 "The precious blood of Christ, as of a flawless and unspotted lamb, foreknown, indeed, before the disruption of the world."
From the disruption:
Matt. 13:35 "I shall be opening My mouth in parables, I shall be emitting what is hid from the disruption of the world."
Matt.25:34 "The kingdom made ready for you from the disruption of the world."
Luke 11:50 "The blood of all the prophets which is shed from the disruption of the world."
Heb. 4:3 "Although the works occur from the disruption of the world."
Heb. 9:26 "He must be suffering often from the disruption of the world."
Rev. 13:8 "The Lambkin, slain from the disruption of the world."
Rev. 17:8 "The scroll of life, from the disruption of the world."
We can see there are three things stated to have been "before the disruption," and seven things which are "from the disruption." One of the outstanding occurrences of ‘disruption' is found in Ephesians One, verse four. There we read, the saints were chosen in Christ "before the disruption of the world," C.V."
Quoted from
The Disruption
Its Place in God's Ways
By Andrew Maclarty