Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terms, the concept of a "frontier" can be understood as the boundary or border of a land or territory. The Bible often discusses frontiers in the context of the Promised Land, the territories of the tribes of Israel, and the expansion of God's kingdom. The idea of a frontier is both physical and spiritual, representing not only geographical boundaries but also the limits of human understanding and the call to expand God's influence.
Biblical References to Frontiers1.
The Promised Land: The most significant frontier in the Bible is the boundary of the Promised Land given to the descendants of Abraham. In
Genesis 15:18, God makes a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates." This delineation sets the frontier of the land that God promised to the Israelites.
2.
Tribal Boundaries: The Book of Joshua details the division of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel, each with its own frontier.
Joshua 13-21 outlines these boundaries, emphasizing the importance of respecting the divinely appointed borders. For example,
Joshua 13:1-7 describes the land yet to be conquered and the specific territories assigned to each tribe.
3.
Spiritual Frontiers: The New Testament expands the concept of frontiers beyond physical borders to include spiritual boundaries. Jesus' Great Commission in
Matthew 28:19-20 calls believers to "go and make disciples of all nations," urging the expansion of the spiritual frontier to the ends of the earth. This command highlights the mission to spread the Gospel beyond the confines of Israel to all peoples.
4.
The Kingdom of God: The frontier of God's kingdom is not limited by geographical borders. In
Luke 17:20-21, Jesus teaches that "the kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will people say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." This passage suggests that the true frontier of God's kingdom is within the hearts of believers.
Theological ImplicationsThe concept of a frontier in the Bible carries significant theological implications. It underscores God's sovereignty in determining the boundaries of nations and peoples, as seen in
Acts 17:26: "From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands." This verse affirms that God is the ultimate authority over all frontiers.
Moreover, the call to expand spiritual frontiers reflects the mission of the Church to reach all nations with the Gospel. The frontier is not merely a physical boundary but a call to engage with the world, bringing the message of salvation to those who have not yet heard it.
Historical ContextIn the historical context of the Bible, frontiers often represented areas of conflict and opportunity. The Israelites faced numerous challenges as they sought to establish their frontiers in the Promised Land, encountering resistance from existing inhabitants. The conquest narratives in the Book of Joshua illustrate the struggles and triumphs associated with expanding these frontiers.
Throughout biblical history, frontiers also served as places of refuge and encounter with God. The wilderness, often seen as a frontier, was where Moses encountered the burning bush (Exodus 3) and where the Israelites wandered for forty years, learning to rely on God's provision.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of a frontier encompasses both physical and spiritual dimensions, reflecting God's sovereignty over creation and His call to expand His kingdom. As believers, the challenge is to recognize and engage with the frontiers in our own lives, both geographically and spiritually, in obedience to God's command to spread His message to all corners of the earth.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A region near a border or beyond settled lands; that part of a country which fronts or faces another country or an unsettled region; the marches; the border, confine, or extreme part of a country, bordering on another country; the border of the settled and cultivated part of a country; as, the frontier of civilization.
2. (n.) An outwork.
3. (a.) Lying on the exterior part; bordering; conterminous; as, a frontier town.
4. (a.) of or relating to a frontier.
5. (v. i.) To constitute or form a frontier; to have a frontier; -- with on.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FRONTIERfron'-ter, frun'ter (katseh): The word occurs once in plural inEzekiel 25:9. the Revised Version, margin has "in every quarter."
Greek
3181. methorion -- border.... border. From meta and horion; bounded alongside, ie Contiguous (neuter plural as
noun,
frontier) -- border. see GREEK meta. see GREEK horion. 3180, 3181.
...3725. horion -- a boundary
... Neuter of a derivative of an apparently primary horos (a bound or limit); a
boundary-line, ie (by implication) afrontier (region) -- border, coast....
Strong's Hebrew
5512a. Sin -- E.frontier city of Egypt... Sin. 5512b . E.
frontier city of Egypt. Transliteration: Sin Short Definition:
Sin. Word Origin of foreign origin Definition E.
frontier city of Eg.
...5512. Ciyn -- E.frontier city of Egypt
... 5511, 5512. Ciyn. 5512a . E.frontier city of Egypt. Transliteration:
Ciyn Phonetic Spelling: (seen) Short Definition: Sin. Sin...
7097. qatseh -- end, extremity
... end, extremity. Transliteration: qatseh Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-tseh') Short Definition:
after. after, border, brim, brink, edge, end, infinite,frontier,...
4136. mul -- front, in front of
... root Definition front, in front of NASB Word Usage before (1), front (7),frontier
(1), left (1), opposite (8), opposite* (2), over against (1), toward* (2)....
Library
Letter Xlvi. (AD 398. )
... customary, as I have heard, for the barbarians to take an oath, swearing by their
false gods, in the presence of the decurion stationed on thefrontier or of...
The Youth of Count Zinzendorf, 1700-1722.
... will take the trouble to consult a map of Europe he will see that that part of the
Kingdom of Saxony known as Upper Lusatia runs down to the Bohemianfrontier....
To the Rev. A. Brandram
... I am now returned principally on account of a rather unfortunate accident which
occurred on thefrontier of La Mancha, the particulars of which I shall give...
The Sun Rising Upon a Dark World
... The northern part of it, the inheritance of Naphtali, was the boundary orfrontier
towards Syria, and had been frequently vexed and afflicted, when the sins if...
Close of the Colonial Era --The German Churches --The Beginnings...
... Two successive "French and Indian" wars kept the longfrontier, at a time when there
was little besidesfrontier to the British colonies, in continual peril of...
The Life, as Amplified by Mediaeval Biographers.
... a central city of that region; his father belonged to the older and more famous
City of Nisibis, not far from Amid but near the Persianfrontier, where he was...
From the Close of the General Conference of 1812 to the Death of...
... reference to our intercourse with our Canadian brethren, "there is no mercy in war,
and hence we must expect much suffering on ourfrontier settlements," and...
Sojourners of the Dispersion
... The Russian Government sends out what are called military colonies, studded along
thefrontier, with the one mission of extending the empire....
The Charm
... respecting the opinion of their neighbours and acquaintances on this point, and
they assured me that in their part of the Spanishfrontier all were of the same...
The Nations of the South-East
... Gilead. Southward it extended towards thefrontier of Moab, if indeed the
borders of the two nations did not at one time coincide....
Thesaurus
Frontier (6 Occurrences)... or extreme part of a country, bordering on another country; the border of the settled
and cultivated part of a country; as, the
frontier of civilization.
...Territory (140 Occurrences)
... the Mediterranean, to the East the Dead Sea, and the Jordan, and to the South 60
miles, North to South, of practically trackless desert, afrontier as secure...
Derbe (4 Occurrences)
... Southeast, and for a time Laranda was thefrontier city looking toward
Cappadocia and Cilicia and Syria via the Cilician Gates....
Border (233 Occurrences)
... margin; verge; brink. 2. (n.) A boundary; afrontier of a state or of the
settled part of a country; afrontier district. 3. (n.) A...
Illyricum (1 Occurrence)
... In other words, Paul may mean that he has preached throughout Macedonia as far as
the Illyrianfrontier, or his words may involve a journey within Illyricum...
Berothah (1 Occurrence)
... the same name. Ezekiel 47:16 places it on the ideal northernfrontier of
Israel, between Damascus and Hamath. According to 2 Samuel...
Berothai (1 Occurrence)
... the same name. Ezekiel 47:16 places it on the ideal northernfrontier of
Israel, between Damascus and Hamath. According to 2 Samuel...
Azekah (7 Occurrences)
... which belongeth to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammin."
In 2 Chronicles 11:9 it is mentioned as one of thefrontier cities which...
Zerah (22 Occurrences)
... for (a) after the defeat it fled toward Egypt, not eastward toward Arabia; (b) the
cities around Gerar (probably Egyptian towns on thefrontier of Palestine...
Amorites (82 Occurrences)
... still extended eastward to the borders of Babylonia, while its southern limits
coincided approximately with what was afterward the northernfrontier of Naphtali...
Resources
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