[Greek] κέντρον (kentron), [Latin] centrum: center, sharp point, sting, prick, goad, pointed stick; 1Cor.15:55,56, Act. 26:14, Rev.9:10
The honey bee becomes helpless and dies when it loses its stinger
Background informtion:
Hellenism: This term, essentially meaning anything which pierces, can refer to an animal claw, bee stinger, porcupine quill, whip, goad (pointing stick), mathematical point (coordinates), a metaphor, authority, and proverbial saying. In a metaphorical sense, this term can refer to authority (tyranny), pain (torment) of the soul, futile resistance, and divine interference. The tragic poets (tragedians) quite often wrote plays about tormented, tragic, and destructive characters.
Kicking against the goad: This is primarily a Greek or Latin rural expression which originates from the practice of goading oxen in the fields. A goad is essentially a pointed wooden stick. Farmers used the pointed end to urge a stubborn beast into motion. Occasionally, the beast would kick at the goad. The more the beast kicked, the more likely the goad would stab into the flesh of the beast’s leg.
Metaphorical uses: Playwright Aeschylus’ Eumenides 155 states, “Reproach, coming to me in a dream, struck me like a charioteer with a goad held tight.” Tragic poet Sophocles’ Philocetes 1039 states, “Since you would never have made this voyage for one so miserable, unless some god-sent goad had driven you after me.” Biographer Plutarch’s Solon 24.3 states, “The same person was not allowed to eat at the town hall often, but if one whose duty it was to eat there refused, he was punished.” Poet Pindar’s Pythion 2.94 states, “Kicking the goad makes the path treacherous.”
Old Testament: This term refers to a goad (stick), a physical sting, a metaphorical sting, destruction, and a weakness. Since the Old Testament culture was primarily an agrarian environment, references to goads predominate. Physical bee stings and figurative references to the “sting” of death occur. These make an allusion to the chastisement from Yahweh. In addition, this can mean a weakness or infirmity. Sayings of wisdom become like harsh goads difficult to accept. O, Death, where is your sting? (Hos.5:14). I am like a moth for Ephraim (Hos.5:12). The goad for the ass (Prov.26:3). The sayings of the wise are like goads (Eccl.12:11). How can he be learned who guides the plow, who thrills in wielding the goad like a lance (Sir.38:25). Since even bees at the time for making honeycombs defend themselves against intruders, as though with an iron dart (4Macc.14:19). Shall I redeem them from death (Hos.13:14).
New Testament: This term can mean sting, stinger, goad, power to kill, and the power to hurt. Sin gives death its power (sting). When sin is overcome, death is robbed of its power. Paul relates Jesus’s words of how Paul was persecuting Him. Paul was kicking against the goad. It interesting to note that this expression did not occur in the Jewish culture. Rather, Paul actually was influenced by the Hellenistic traditions. In Revelations, upon the blowing of the fifth trumpet, scorpions with stingers evokes creatures coming up from the abyss. Scorpions are one the fabled demonic creatures.
Scripture:
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” 1Cor.15:55-56
Death is personified. Death’s sting (power). Christ overcomes this sting.
“We all fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.’” Acts. 26:14
Christ appears before Paul on the road to Damascus. Perhaps, on some level, Christ was already goading (preparing) Paul for his new role. Like a stubborn animal, Paul was resisting Jesus’s plans for him.
Conclusion:
Center, centered, centre, goad, centrum
Aside from animals and wooden sticks, I was quite surprised by the extensive metaphorical and figurative use of this term in Greco-Roman literature. Both Luke and Paul were influenced by Hellenism. I can imagine that the poets, playwrights and historians would have a field day using this term to convey pain and torment. “The gods goaded (forced me) to do that!” I can imagine that Shakespeare would say this in his own flowery language.
Shakespeare:
“If I be waspish, best beware my sting!” -– Taming of the Shrew
“If you prick us, do we not bleed?”— The Merchant of Venice
In the Old Testament culture, it was interesting to discover how death was associated with a sting. A goad would have been very commonly utilized with oxen. Interestingly, however, The Old Testament (Jewish) culture did not use the expression “kicking the goad.”
In a sense, Paul was kicking the goad in his ultimately futile resistance against Jesus and the Christians. Paul was acting like a rabid Pharisee. Perhaps, Jesus was slowly goading, nudging along, and preparing Paul for his new role as an Apostle. It is very interesting to note that Paul says he heard a voice (in Hebrew saying a Greco-Roman expression “kick against the goad.”
When a honey bee stings a person, it leaves more than its stinger. The bee’s massive abdominal rupture (from its stinging someone) kills the bee. Honey bees are the only bees to die after stinging. The bee’s loss of its stinger is its death!
This term plays a very important role in mathematics (middle point of a sphere or circle). This is also the point where all activity is directed to (Ex. shopping center).