In biblical terms, the concept of "center" can be understood both literally and metaphorically, often representing a focal point of spiritual, moral, or physical significance. The Bible, while not frequently using the term "center" explicitly, conveys the idea through various narratives and teachings.

1. Center as a Physical Location:

In the Old Testament, Jerusalem is often depicted as the center of worship and the spiritual heart of Israel. The city is described as the place where God's presence dwells, particularly in the Temple. Psalm 48:2 refers to Jerusalem as "beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King." This highlights Jerusalem's central role in the religious life of the Israelites.

The Tabernacle, and later the Temple, served as the physical center of worship for the Israelites. The Ark of the Covenant, housed within the Holy of Holies, was considered the earthly throne of God, symbolizing His presence among His people. The centrality of the Temple is emphasized in 1 Kings 8:29, where Solomon prays, "May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which You said, 'My Name shall be there.'"

2. Center as a Spiritual Focus:

The Bible often speaks of God as the center of life and worship. In Deuteronomy 6:5, the Shema commands, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This verse underscores the centrality of God in the life of a believer, calling for total devotion and love.

Jesus Christ is presented as the central figure of the New Testament. In Colossians 1:17-18, Paul writes, "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 everything He might have the supremacy." This passage highlights Christ's preeminence and central role in creation and the church.

3. Center in Moral and Ethical Teaching:

The Bible often uses the heart as a metaphorical center of human will and emotion. Proverbs 4:23 advises, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life." The heart is seen as the center of moral and ethical decision-making, influencing one's actions and character.

In the teachings of Jesus, the heart's condition is central to one's relationship with God. In Matthew 15:18-19, Jesus explains, "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." This teaching emphasizes the heart's central role in moral purity and integrity.

4. Center in Community and Fellowship:

The early church is depicted as a community centered around the teachings of the apostles, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Acts 2:42 states, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This verse illustrates the central activities that defined the early Christian community, fostering unity and spiritual growth.

The concept of the church as the body of Christ further emphasizes the idea of a spiritual center. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Paul writes, "For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." This metaphor highlights the interconnectedness of believers, with Christ as the central unifying force.

In summary, the concept of "center" in the Bible encompasses physical locations, spiritual focus, moral teachings, and community life, all pointing to the centrality of God and Christ in the life of believers.1. (n.) A point equally distant from the extremities of a line, figure, or body, or from all parts of the circumference of a circle; the middle point or place.

2. (n.) The middle or central portion of anything.

3. (n.) A principal or important point of concentration; the nucleus around which things are gathered or to which they tend; an object of attention, action, or force; as, a center of attraction.

4. (n.) The earth.

5. (n.) Those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who support the existing government. They sit in the middle of the legislative chamber, opposite the presiding officer, between the conservatives or monarchists, who sit on the right of the speaker, and the radicals or advanced republicans who occupy the seats on his left, See Right, and Left.

6. (n.) A temporary structure upon which the materials of a vault or arch are supported in position until the work becomes self-supporting.

7. (n.) One of the two conical steel pins, in a lathe, etc., upon which the work is held, and about which it revolves.

8. (n.) A conical recess, or indentation, in the end of a shaft or other work, to receive the point of a center, on which the work can turn, as in a lathe.

9. (v. i.) Alt. of Centre

10. (v. t.) Alt. of Centre

2588. kardia -- heart
... Spelling: (kar-dee'-ah) Short Definition: the heart, inner life, intention Definition:
lit: the heart; mind, character, inner self, will, intention, center. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2588.htm - 7k

3510. nephros -- a kidney, fig. the (inmost) mind
... Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: nephros Phonetic Spelling:
(nef-ros') Short Definition: a kidney as a general emotional center Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3510.htm - 7k

53. hagnos -- free from ceremonial defilement, holy, sacred
... 1, 122) -- properly, to the); (chaste, unadultered); pure ; because (undefiled from
sin), ie without spoilation even within (even down to the center of one's ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/53.htm - 7k

59. agorazo -- to buy in the marketplace, purchase
... 59 (from 58 , "the ancient marketplace, town-center") -- properly, to make in
the marketplace (""), ie as transfers from seller to buyer. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/59.htm - 9k

1282. diaprio -- to saw asunder, cut to the heart
... emotionally "sawn asunder," as when the heart is "ripped in two" ("cut to the quick") --
ie when a person is "split down the center" (emotionally) when ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1282.htm - 7k

1904. eperchomai -- to come to or upon
... effects that the particular coming. (Note the prefix , showing the action
as the "epi-center" of what happens.). 1904 ("come upon, apt ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1904.htm - 8k

346. anakephalaioo -- to sum up, gather up
... a () . 346 ("recapitulate") shows the head as the "organizing center," causing
all the parts to work together in harmony. [R. Lenski ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/346.htm - 7k

3319. mesos -- middle, in the midst
... word Definition middle, in the midst NASB Word Usage among (3), among* (5), before*
(3), between (1), between* (3), center (6), forward* (3), midday* (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3319.htm - 6k

2872. tabbur -- highest part, center
... 2871, 2872. tabbur. 2873 . highest part, center. Transliteration: tabbur
Phonetic Spelling: (tab-boor') Short Definition: center. ...
/hebrew/2872.htm - 6k

1179. Baal Chermon -- "Baal of Hermon," the center of Baal worship ...
... "Baal of Hermon," the center of Baal worship on Mt. ... Word Origin from Baal and Chermon
Definition "Baal of Hermon," the center of Baal worship on Mt. ...
/hebrew/1179.htm - 6k

1184. Baale Yehudah -- "Baal of Judah," the center of Baal worship ...
... "Baal of Judah," the center of Baal worship in Judah. Transliteration: Baale Yehudah
Phonetic Spelling: (bah-al-ay' yeh-hoo-daw') Short Definition: Baale-judah. ...
/hebrew/1184.htm - 6k

7130. qereb -- inward part, midst
... From qarab; properly, the nearest part, ie The center, whether literal, figurative
or adverbial (especially with preposition) -- X among, X before, bowels, X ...
/hebrew/7130.htm - 6k

8432. tavek -- midst
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition midst NASB Word Usage along (3),
among (135), among* (1), between (2), center (10), high (1), home (2), inside (9 ...
/hebrew/8432.htm - 6k

The First Three Properties of Nature were Never to have Been Seen ...
... of life, was their whole turning from the light of God; and therefore they found
themselves where they had turned their desire; that is, in the center of nature ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-3-32 the first three properties.htm

Some Preliminary Definitions
... When the writer lived in the open country several years ago he went to
Mifflin Center school and attended Wesley Chapel church. ...
/.../church cooperation in community life/chapter i some preliminary definitions.htm

Building for Community Service
... It is believed that the type of building suitable for an open country community
will be somewhat different from that needed in a village center. ...
/.../vogt/church cooperation in community life/chapter v building for community.htm

The Setting
... He becomes the center of the Church's life, the living witness and guardian of its
faith. ... The bishop is the living center of the Christian tradition. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/richardson/early christian fathers/the setting.htm

Choosing the Tens
... The city was laid out near the center of Goshen, a long strip of fertile country
given over to the Israelites since the days of the Hyksos king, Apepa, near ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter i choosing the tens.htm

Praises and Vows Accepted in Zion
... The all-glorious person of the Redeemer, God and Man, is the great center
of Zion's temple, and the only real altar of sacrifice. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/praises and vows accepted in.htm

Gravity Upward.
... by His own choice. Man's true gravity is toward a center upward. Sin's
gravity is toward a center downward. When an ordinary man ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/gravity upward.htm

The Social Challenge to the Church
... For many years it has been argued that the schoolhouse should be so built that it
could be made the community center for all types of activities. ...
/.../vogt/church cooperation in community life/chapter iv the social challenge.htm

The Work of Regeneration.
... In the center of our being, ego, personality rules our nature, disposition, form
of being, and existence, imparting its impress, form, character, and spiritual ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxii the work of regeneration.htm

Introductory.
... He is the divine harmony of all human sects and creeds, the common life-center of
all true Christians; where their hearts meet with their affections, prayers ...
//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/introductory.htm

Center (30 Occurrences)
... point of concentration; the nucleus around which things are gathered or to which
they tend; an object of attention, action, or force; as, a center of attraction ...
/c/center.htm - 17k

Centre (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To be placed in a center; to be central. 2. (vi) To be collected to a point;
to be concentrated; to rest on, or gather about, as a center. ...
/c/centre.htm - 9k

Central (1 Occurrence)
... 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 ...
/c/central.htm - 7k

Pergamum (2 Occurrences)
... Pergamos was chiefly a religious center of the province. ... Later, when it became
the capital, Pergamos remained the religious center. ...
/p/pergamum.htm - 12k

Pergamos (1 Occurrence)
... Pergamos was chiefly a religious center of the province. ... Later, when it became
the capital, Pergamos remained the religious center. ...
/p/pergamos.htm - 12k

Buying (12 Occurrences)
... stores. In the center of the platform is a sejadeh, a rug or mat. Upon this
the keeper sits in true oriental fashion-cross-legged. ...
/b/buying.htm - 23k

Bethel (67 Occurrences)
... associated with the pillar. This spot became a center of great interest,
lending growing importance to the town. In process of time ...
/b/bethel.htm - 38k

Eden (19 Occurrences)
... The expression, "the children of Eden that were in Telassar," undoubtedly referred
to a tribe which inhabited a region of which Telassar was the center. ...
/e/eden.htm - 28k

Turn (963 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To cause to move upon a center, or as if upon a center; to give circular
motion to; to cause to revolve; to cause to move round, either partially ...
/t/turn.htm - 41k

Eye (145 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) The center of a target; the bull's-eye. 12. ... ap'-'-l: The eyeball, or globe
of the eye, with pupil in center, called "apple" from its round shape. ...
/e/eye.htm - 54k

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Center: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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