The concept of "retraced" in a biblical context often involves the idea of returning, revisiting, or going back over a path or course previously taken. This notion can be seen in various narratives and teachings throughout the Scriptures, where individuals or groups are called to return to a former state, path, or relationship with God.

Biblical Instances of Retracing:

1. Return to God:
The theme of returning to God is prevalent throughout the Bible. The prophets frequently called the Israelites to retrace their steps back to God after periods of rebellion and idolatry. In the book of Hosea, God implores His people to return: "Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds" (Hosea 6:1). This call to retrace their spiritual journey back to God emphasizes repentance and restoration.

2. The Prodigal Son:
In the New Testament, the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) illustrates the concept of retracing one's steps. The younger son, after squandering his inheritance, decides to return to his father, saying, "I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you’" (Luke 15:18). His physical and spiritual retracing leads to reconciliation and celebration.

3. Retracing Steps in Repentance:
Repentance itself can be seen as a form of retracing. It involves a conscious decision to turn away from sin and return to a righteous path. In Revelation, the church in Ephesus is admonished to retrace their steps: "Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first" (Revelation 2:5). This call to action involves revisiting their initial devotion and love for Christ.

4. Israel's Journey:
The Israelites' journey through the wilderness is another example where retracing occurs. After their initial refusal to enter the Promised Land, they wander for forty years before retracing their steps back to the border of Canaan (Numbers 14:34). This physical retracing is symbolic of their spiritual journey and preparation to enter the land God promised them.

5. Paul's Missionary Journeys:
The Apostle Paul often retraced his steps during his missionary journeys to strengthen and encourage the early churches. Acts 15:36 records, "Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing'" . This retracing was crucial for the growth and stability of the early Christian communities.

Theological Implications:

Retracing in the biblical sense often involves a return to foundational truths and a recommitment to God's covenant. It is a reminder of the importance of perseverance, reflection, and the willingness to correct one's course. The act of retracing is not merely physical but deeply spiritual, signifying a return to God's intended path and purpose for His people.2015. haphak -- to turn, overturn
... 5), overthrow (5), overthrown (3), overthrows (1), overturned (1), overturns (2),
perverted (2), reined about* (1), restore (1), retraced (1), shifted (1 ...
/hebrew/2015.htm - 6k

Letter vii.
... their course; and when a certain other day [78] was almost tripled in duration,
even in twenty whole hours [79] , either the universe retraced contrary routes ...
/.../dionysius/letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter vii.htm

Christian Stewardship.
... souls? Alas! it was evident that the principal cause of the retraced movement
was not found in the reverse of the times. It was ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter ii christian stewardship.htm

The Extension of the Church Throughout the World
... and ordain.] Their Jewish persecutors followed them and drove them to Derbe, the
farthest limit of their journey; and from thence they retraced their steps ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter iii the extension of.htm

From Antioch to the Destruction of Jerusalem.
... dead. From Derbe the missionaries retraced their steps except that they
did not go through Cyprus on the return to Antioch. Their ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xx from antioch to.htm

Not Wishing to Overload this Long Essay with Too Many Parentheses. ...
... Now, broadly, I have only to answer here, as everywhere in this book, that history
is not a toboggan slide, but a road to be reconsidered and even retraced. ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 47 not wishing to.htm

Lovest Thou Me?
... Although he had lain in the grave, and descended into the regions of the dead, and
had retraced his steps to the land of the living, yet how marvellously ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/lovest thou me.htm

Intrepid Bearing of St. Ambrose in the Presence of the Emperor ...
... The emperor, struck with admiration at the boldness of the bishop, began to reflect
on his own conduct, and, with much contrition, retraced his steps. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xxv intrepid bearing of st.htm

The Disturbance which the Greeks and Christians had About Attalus. ...
... barbarians. Impelled by rage and terror at this incident, Alaric retraced
his steps, and returned to Rome, and took it by treachery. ...
/.../chapter ix the disturbance which the.htm

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the ...
... First, when our Lord had retraced His steps from the eastern shore in search of
rest and retirement, it was so close on the Jewish Sabbath (Friday), that He ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxi the cavils of.htm

Notes
... of Greek odes, according to which the chorus danced from the altar to the end of
the orchestra in one stanza, then 'turned,' and retraced their steps for the ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/notes.htm

Retraced (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Retraced (2 Occurrences). Acts 14:21 and, after
proclaiming the Good News to the people there and gaining ...
/r/retraced.htm - 6k

Gaining (17 Occurrences)
... Acts 14:21 and, after proclaiming the Good News to the people there and gaining
a large number of converts, they retraced their steps to Lystra, Iconium, and ...
/g/gaining.htm - 11k

Retorted (2 Occurrences)

/r/retorted.htm - 7k

Retract (2 Occurrences)

/r/retract.htm - 7k

Proclaiming (63 Occurrences)
... Acts 14:21 and, after proclaiming the Good News to the people there and gaining
a large number of converts, they retraced their steps to Lystra, Iconium, and ...
/p/proclaiming.htm - 25k

Converts (9 Occurrences)
... Acts 14:21 and, after proclaiming the Good News to the people there and gaining
a large number of converts, they retraced their steps to Lystra, Iconium, and ...
/c/converts.htm - 8k

Steps (113 Occurrences)
... Acts 14:21 and, after proclaiming the Good News to the people there and gaining
a large number of converts, they retraced their steps to Lystra, Iconium, and ...
/s/steps.htm - 34k

Succoth (18 Occurrences)
... In his pursuit of Zeba and Zalmunnah, Gideon seems to have retraced the path followed
by Jacob, passing Succoth before Penuel (Judges 8:5). Their churlishness ...
/s/succoth.htm - 16k

Text (5 Occurrences)
... Revelation are lacking. It is without accents, breathings or punctuation,
though corrected and retraced by later hands. In the Gospels ...
/t/text.htm - 73k

Manuscripts
... Revelation are lacking. It is without accents, breathings or punctuation,
though corrected and retraced by later hands. In the Gospels ...
/m/manuscripts.htm - 39k

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