Central
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The term "central" in a biblical context often refers to the concept of something being of primary importance or at the core of a particular teaching, event, or location. While the word "central" itself may not appear frequently in the Bible, the idea of centrality is woven throughout Scripture in various forms, emphasizing the importance of God, His commandments, and His chosen people.

Centrality of God and His Commandments

The centrality of God is a foundational theme in the Bible. The Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, underscores this by declaring, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This passage highlights the central role of God in the life of the believer, calling for complete devotion and love.

The Ten Commandments, given in Exodus 20, serve as a central moral code for the Israelites and, by extension, for Christians. These commandments are central to understanding God's expectations for His people and are reiterated throughout Scripture as a guide for righteous living.

Centrality of Christ

In the New Testament, the centrality of Jesus Christ is paramount. Colossians 1:17-18 states, "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence." This passage emphasizes Christ's central role in creation, the church, and the believer's life.

The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are central events in the Christian faith, providing the basis for salvation and eternal life. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." These events are central to the gospel message and the hope of believers.

Central Locations in Biblical History

Several locations hold central significance in biblical history. Jerusalem is often considered the central city in the Bible, serving as the political and spiritual heart of Israel. It is the site of the Temple, the center of Jewish worship, and the city where Jesus was crucified and resurrected. Psalm 122:3-4 describes Jerusalem as "a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD."

Mount Sinai is another central location, where Moses received the Law from God. This event is pivotal in establishing the covenant between God and Israel, as described in Exodus 19-20.

Central Themes in Scripture

The Bible contains several central themes that are crucial for understanding its message. Redemption, covenant, and kingdom are among these themes. Redemption through Christ is central to the New Testament, as seen in Ephesians 1:7, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace."

The concept of covenant is central to both the Old and New Testaments, illustrating God's promises and faithfulness to His people. The kingdom of God is another central theme, representing God's sovereign rule and the ultimate fulfillment of His plan for creation.

In summary, while the term "central" may not be explicitly used, the concept is deeply embedded in the Bible, highlighting the importance of God, Christ, key locations, and overarching themes that define the faith and practice of believers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (a.) Relating to the center; situated in or near the center or middle; containing the center; of or pertaining to the parts near the center; equidistant or equally accessible from certain points.

2. (n.) Alt. of Centrale.

Greek
2411. hieron -- temple.
... worshippers. 2411 (from 2413 , "") - the Temple complex, ie (precincts,
courtyards) and the central . Word Origin see hieros. temple. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2411.htm - 6k

5508. Chios -- Chios, an island in the Aegean Sea
... Phonetic Spelling: (khee'-os) Short Definition: Chios Definition: Chios (modern
Scio), an important island in the Aegean Sea, off the west central coast of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5508.htm - 6k

1053. Galatia -- Galatia, a district in Asia Minor or a larger ...
... Feminine Transliteration: Galatia Phonetic Spelling: (gal-at-ee'-ah) Short Definition:
Galatia Definition: Galatia, a large Roman province in central Asia Minor ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1053.htm - 6k

2587. Kappadokia -- Cappadocia, a province of Asia Minor
... Kappadokia Phonetic Spelling: (kap-pad-ok-ee'-ah) Short Definition: Cappadocia
Definition: Cappadocia, a large Roman province in the central eastern part of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2587.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
4074. Maday -- a son of Japheth, also his desc. and their land
... Madai, Medes, Media. Of foreign derivation; Madai, a country of central Asia --
Madai, Medes, Media. 4073, 4074. Maday. 4075 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4074.htm - 6k

8484. tikon -- middle
... middlemost, midst. Or tiykon {tee-kone'}; from tavek; central -- middle(-most),
midst. see HEBREW tavek. 8483, 8484. tikon or tikon. 8485 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/8484.htm - 6k

Library

The Central Solitude
... LXXII THE CENTRAL SOLITUDE. John xvi.32. ... There is in every large life a certain central
solitude of this kind into which no other soul can enter. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lxxii the central solitude.htm

The Central Sun
... SERMON XXX. THE CENTRAL SUN. (Sunday after Ascension, Evening.) Ephesians
4:9.10. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxx the central sun.htm

Central Position of Christ in the History of the World.
... FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO THE DEATH OF ST. JOHN, ad 1-100 Section 8.
Central Position of Christ in the History of the World. To ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 8 central position of.htm

As I have Said, I Propose to Take Only one Central Instance...
... Chapter 7 As I have said, I propose to take only one central instance? As
I have said, I propose to take only one central instance ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 7 as i have.htm

Of Perfect Conversion, which is an Effect of this Method of Prayer ...
... OF PERFECT CONVERSION, WHICH IS AN EFFECT OF THIS METHOD OF PRAYER"TWO OF ITS AIDS,
THE ATTRACTION OF GOD, AND THE CENTRAL INCLINATION OF THE SOUL. ...
/.../chapter ix of perfect conversion.htm

Their Diversity of Sentiment Affects the Very Central Doctrine of ...
... Chapter XXXIX."Their Diversity of Sentiment Affects the Very Central Doctrine of
Christianity, Even the Person and Character of the Lord Jesus. ...
/.../against the valentinians/chapter xxxix their diversity of sentiment.htm

Cadman -- a New Day for Missions
... From this post he was called to Central Congregational Church, Brooklyn, with but
one exception the largest Congregational Church in the United States. ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/cadman a new day.htm

Introductory Remarks.
... The great central fact of the gospel is thus expressed by Jesus himself: "God so
loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter i introductory remarks.htm

The Church and Her Mission, or the Three Constitutional Synods ...
... they had established powerful congregations at Herrnhut and Kleinwelke; in Silesia,
at Niesky, Gnadenberg, Gnadenfrei and Neusalz; in Central Germany, at ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter i the church and.htm

Schools.
... It received the name of the Central School, as our idea was to transfer
to it the best boys from what we called the Bazar schools. ...
/.../kennedy/life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xii schools.htm

Thesaurus
Central (1 Occurrence)
... accessible from certain points. 2. (n.) Alt. of Centrale. Multi-Version
Concordance Central (1 Occurrence). Judges 16:29 Samson took ...
/c/central.htm - 7k

Graecia
... Tymphrestus (now, Velouchi, 7,610 ft.) in Aetolia, at which point spurs
radiate through Central Greece. The highest peaks are Mt. ...
/g/graecia.htm - 21k

Esdraelon
... Jezreel," the name of the great plain (called by the natives Merj Ibn Amer; ie,
"the meadow of the son of Amer") which stretches across Central Palestine from ...
/e/esdraelon.htm - 15k

Shephelah (2 Occurrences)
... That is, the low hills west of Samaria are (to use the Hebrew phrase) 'ashedhoth,
or slopes of the central range, and not a separate group. ...
/s/shephelah.htm - 15k

Serpent (40 Occurrences)
... Typhlops vermicularis Merr., Greece and Southwestern Asia; T. simoni Bttgr., Palestine;
Eryx jaculus L., Greece, North Africa, Central and Southwestern Asia ...
/s/serpent.htm - 46k

Sabbatical (1 Occurrence)
... and probably other instruction. In Leviticus 25:1-7 the central idea of
the Sabbatical year is unfolded. Although it has been said ...
/s/sabbatical.htm - 16k

Ephraim (168 Occurrences)
... It lay in the wild, uncultivated hill-country to the north-east of Jerusalem,
betwen the central towns and the Jordan valley. Ephraim, Mount. ...
/e/ephraim.htm - 56k

Shechem (61 Occurrences)
... Shechem became one of the cities of refuge, the central city of refuge for Western
Palestine (Joshua 20:7), and here the bones of Joseph were buried (24:32). ...
/s/shechem.htm - 38k

Eden (19 Occurrences)
... done. 1. Central Asia: Columbus when passing the mouth of the Orinoco surmised
that its waters came down from the Garden of Eden. ...
/e/eden.htm - 28k

Period (43 Occurrences)
... MAIN EVENTS 1. Struggles of Individual Tribes 2. Civil Strife 3. The Six Invasions
4. Need of Central Government V. RELIGIOUS CONDITIONS VI. ...
/p/period.htm - 34k

Resources
What is a chakra? | GotQuestions.org

What is incarnational ministry / incarnational theology, and is it biblical? | GotQuestions.org

Was Saint Peter the first pope? | GotQuestions.org

Central: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Central (1 Occurrence)

Judges 16:29
Samson took hold of the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and leaned on them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Central

Related Terms

Centre (8 Occurrences)

Central (1 Occurrence)

Old (3966 Occurrences)

Man (26072 Occurrences)

Testament (13 Occurrences)

Adam (29 Occurrences)

Messenger (235 Occurrences)

Center on God's Presence
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