The concept of "onward" in the Bible encapsulates the idea of progress, perseverance, and the forward movement of God's people in their spiritual journey and mission. This theme is woven throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of faith, obedience, and the pursuit of God's purposes.

Biblical Instances and Themes

1. Journey of Faith: The patriarchs, such as Abraham, exemplify the onward journey of faith. In Genesis 12:1, God commands Abram, "Go forth from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you." This call to move forward into the unknown is a foundational example of trusting in God's promises and direction.

2. Exodus and Wilderness: The Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their subsequent journey through the wilderness is a significant narrative of moving onward despite challenges. In Exodus 14:15, the LORD instructs Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward." This command underscores the necessity of advancing in faith, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

3. Pressing Toward the Goal: The Apostle Paul frequently uses the metaphor of a race to describe the Christian life. In Philippians 3:13-14, he writes, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus." This passage highlights the forward momentum required in the Christian walk, focusing on the ultimate prize of eternal life with Christ.

4. Perseverance in Trials: The New Testament encourages believers to persevere through trials as part of their onward journey. James 1:2-4 states, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." This perseverance is essential for spiritual growth and maturity.

5. Advancing the Kingdom: The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 is a call to move onward in spreading the Gospel: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." This command to "go" signifies the active and ongoing mission of the Church to advance God's kingdom on earth.

Theological Implications

The theme of moving onward is deeply rooted in the understanding of God's sovereignty and faithfulness. Believers are called to trust in God's plan and timing, knowing that He is guiding their steps. The onward journey is not without its challenges, but it is marked by the assurance of God's presence and the hope of future glory.

Practical Application

Christians are encouraged to apply the principle of moving onward in their daily lives by:

· Continually seeking spiritual growth and maturity.
· Remaining steadfast in faith during trials and uncertainties.
· Actively participating in the mission of the Church to spread the Gospel.
· Trusting in God's guidance and provision for the future.

The call to move onward is a call to live a life of purpose, faith, and obedience, ever pressing toward the fulfillment of God's promises and the ultimate hope of eternal life with Him.1. (a.) Moving in a forward direction; tending toward a contemplated or desirable end; forward; as, an onward course, progress, etc.

2. (a.) Advanced in a forward direction or toward an end.

3. (adv.) Toward a point before or in front; forward; progressively; as, to move onward.

4285. proegeomai -- to go before (as a leader)
... to go before (as a leader). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proegeomai Phonetic
Spelling: (pro-ay-geh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I lead onward by example ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4285.htm - 7k

3062. loipos -- the rest, the remaining
... 1), other people (1), other things (1), other women (1), others (4), remaining
(2), rest (26), still (2), then (1), things that remain (1), time onward (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3062.htm - 7k

4281. proerchomai -- to go forward, go on
... From pro and erchomai (including its alternate); to go onward, precede (in place
or time) -- go before (farther, forward), outgo, pass on. see GREEK pro. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4281.htm - 7k

2517. kathexes -- successively
... from kata and hexes Definition successively NASB Word Usage afterwards* (1),
consecutive order (1), orderly sequence (1), successively (1), successors onward ( ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2517.htm - 6k

5265. nasa -- to pull out or up, set out, journey
... cause to blow, bring, get, make to go away, forth, forward, onward, out,.
A primitive root; properly, to pull up, especially the ...
/hebrew/5265.htm - 6k

1973. haleah -- out there, onwards, further
... adverb Definition out there, onwards, further NASB Word Usage abroad (1), aside
(1), beyond (1), beyond* (5), further (1), onward (3), wide (2). ...
/hebrew/1973.htm - 6k

4605. maal -- above, upwards
... 1), forward (2), greater (1), greatly (1), heaven (4), high above (1), high* (1),
higher (4), highly (2), hovered* (2), older (2), onward (2), over (4), over ...
/hebrew/4605.htm - 6k

Passing Onward. November 3.
... Passing Onward. November 3. Liturgies are but temporary expressions of the Church's
heart. The Bible is the immutable story of her husband's love. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/daily thoughts /passing onward november 3.htm

Onward, Christian Soldiers
... VI. PROCESSIONALS Processionals 530. Onward, Christian soldiers. 6.5., 12 lines ... Sabine
Baring-Gould, 1864. Onward, Christian soldiers,. Marching as to war,. ...
/.../processionals 530 onward christian soldiers.htm

PM Staughton. Onward and Upward.
... 317. PM Staughton. Onward and Upward. ... when the night's longest; Onward and onward
still be thine endeavor; The rest that remaineth will be forever. ...
/.../book of hymns for public and private devotion/317 p m staughton onward.htm

LM Watts. Press Onward to the Mark.
... SUPPLEMENT. 541. LM Watts. Press Onward to the Mark. 1 Awake, our souls,
away, our fears; Let every trembling thought be gone. Awake ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/541 l m watts press.htm

The Missionary Angel.
... 1 Onward speed thy conquering flight; Angel, onward speed; Cast abroad thy radiant
light, Bid the shades recede; Tread the idols in the dust, Heathen fanes ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/318 the missionary angel.htm

The Soldier of the Cross.
... The Soldier of the Cross. 1 Soldier, to the contest pressing, Onward, let thy watchword
be; God upon thee pours his blessing; What though man derideth thee! ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/992 the soldier of.htm

He Shall not Keep Silent.
... A little while longer and His patience will end. Trusting in the Lord thy God,
Onward go. Holding fast His faithful word, Onward go. ... Onward go. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/he shall not keep silent.htm

M. Anonymous. The Angel of the Lord.
... M. Anonymous. The Angel of the Lord. 1 Onward speed thy conquering flight, Angel,
onward speed! ... 2 Onward speed thy conquering flight, Angel, onward fly! ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/591 7 & 5s m.htm

Septuagesima 116. Oft in Danger, Oft in Woe
... cento. Oft in danger, oft in woe,. Onward, Christians, onward go; ... Great your
strength, if great your need. Onward then to battle move,. ...
/.../septuagesima 116 oft in danger.htm

Austria. 8S, 75. D.
... Onward, onward, men of heaven Bear the gospel's banner high; Rest not, till its
light is given, Star of every pagan sky: Send it where the pilgrim stranger ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/445 austria 8s 75 d.htm

Onward (25 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Moving in a forward direction; tending toward a contemplated or desirable
end; forward; as, an onward course, progress, etc. ...Onward (25 Occurrences). ...
/o/onward.htm - 13k

Forward (252 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To help onward; to advance; to promote; to accelerate; to quicken; to hasten;
as, to forward the growth of a plant; to forward one in improvement. ...
/f/forward.htm - 42k

Forwardness (2 Occurrences)
... for'-werd for'-werd-nes (hale'ah, naca`; spoudaios): As an adverb "forward" has
the meaning of "onward" in space or time, or in the movement of affairs. ...
/f/forwardness.htm - 13k

Drag (19 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To draw slowly or heavily onward; to pull along the ground by main force;
to haul; to trail; -- applied to drawing heavy or resisting bodies or those ...
/d/drag.htm - 14k

Onwards (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) Onward. Multi-Version Concordance Onwards
(9 Occurrences). Luke 11:50 so that the blood of all the ...
/o/onwards.htm - 9k

Urge (34 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To press; to push; to drive; to impel;
to force onward. 2 ... 7. (vi) To press onward or forward. 8 ...
/u/urge.htm - 15k

Glossy (2 Occurrences)
... in vessels of papyrus upon the waters,'saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation
tall and smooth, to a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation ...
/g/glossy.htm - 7k

Treadeth (25 Occurrences)
... vessels of papyrus upon the waters,'saying , Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation
tall and smooth, to a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation ...
/t/treadeth.htm - 14k

Drive (132 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To impel or urge onward by force in a direction away from one, or along
before one; to push forward; to compel to move on; to communicate motion to; as ...
/d/drive.htm - 38k

Meteth (3 Occurrences)
... vessels of papyrus upon the waters, 'saying', Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation
tall and smooth, to a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation ...
/m/meteth.htm - 7k

What is the blessed hope? | GotQuestions.org

How can I know if I am being called to preach? | GotQuestions.org

Was Jesus created? | GotQuestions.org

Onward: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus