[Greek] ὁρίζω (horizō), [Latin] constituere, [Latin] definire, [Latin] definitus, [Latin] statuere, [Latin] praedestinatus, [French] limiter, [French] decider, [Latin] terminare: to mark off, to determine, to bound, to decide, to appoint, to divide, to decree; Lk.22:22, Acts 2:23, Acts 10:42, Acts 11:29, Acts 17:26,31, Rom.1:4, Heb.4:7
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to limit, to fix, to appoint, to mark out, to divide, to separate, to set (a limit), and to differentiate.
Plato’s Gorgias 470b: “Tell me where do you draw the line.”
Euripides’ Hecuba 801: “For by custom it is that we believe in them and set up boundaries of right and wrong for our lives.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 4.51: “The Tyras river flows at the boundary between the Scythian and Neurian countries.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 6.108: So the Plataeans had put themselves under the protection of the Athenians.”
Aeschylus’ Libation Bearers 927: “Yes, for my father’s fate has marked this destiny for you.”
Xenophon’s Memorabilia 4.6.4: Shall we therefore rightly define the pious man who know what is lawful concerning the gods?”
Plato’s Theatetus 190e: “And so anyone who sets out to define false opinion is freely exchanged opinion would be talking nonsense.”
Old Testament: This term is used in a much more limited sense in primarily defining the borders and occupation of Israel. This is what Moses gave to the tribes and their clans…in the Jordan valley: Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, Zaphon (Jos.13:24-27). The western boundary was the Great Sea and its coast (Jos.15:12). The Jordan bounded it on the east (Jos.18:20).
New Testament: This term means to determine, to appoint, to confirm, to set, and to fix. Jesus follows the plan destined for Him to redeem man. Jesus is delivered up by the set plan and knowledge of God. Jesus is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. The disciples determined that each, according to one’s ability, each should send relief to the brothers in Judea. God fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions.
Scripture:
“So the disciples, determined that, according to ability, each should send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea.” Acts 11:29
Luke is stressing the importance of providing charity to those in need.
“This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify Him. Acts 2:23
Jesus follows the Father’s plan destined for Him to redeem man.
“He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and He fixed the ordered seasons and and the boundaries of their regions.” Acts 17:26
These boundaries involve the conditions of time where each human plays in the human drama. Boundaries include customs, laws, habits, and way of life.
Conclusion:
Definite, define, constitute, limit, predestination, statute, decide, termination, terminate, terminator, horizon, horizontal
In Greek Hellenism, it was interesting to discover the more nuanced meanings of this term. One cannot get more nuanced than “drawing the line” or experiencing a “defining moment” in one’s life.
Yet, in the Old Testament, this term is more strictly “defined” by geography and borders.
It is important to note that Luke was essentially writing to the downtrodden and outsiders. Not surprisingly Luke was concerned for those in need. Twelve out of twelve apostles recommend you help others according to your capability. Luke also takes an extremely wide “bird’s eye” view regarding the boundaries of human life.
Update: President Zelenskyy and others are constantly asking the West: “Where do you draw the line in really helping us?”
Putin and the Russians forces have now been accused of war crimes, going beyond the established norms (boundaries) of established warfare. It has been heartbreaking to see what is happening in Ukraine.
The Luhansk and Donetsk regions are between the boundaries of Ukraine and Russia.
Ukraine asks the West to establish a “no fly zone” and requests secured passageways for humanitarian assistance.
This war has forced millions of Ukraine to flee their country.
History will define this crisis as the naked and unprovoked aggression on Ukraine by Russia.
Those who seek to define and create fake information also are talking nonsense.
Biden’s political theater of the absurd and walk-back extravaganza: bound to make your head spin.
“Sanctions will deter”…then… “No one expected sanctions to prevent anything”…then… “Sanctions never deter.”
Will White House staffers now walk back Biden’s walk-back of the White House’s walk-back of Biden’s “Putin must go” remarks (which shouldn’t have been walked back in the first place)???
Social media platforms going beyond the definition of truth and opinion: bound to make your head explode
A person’s personal opinion or fact: may be now considered “offensive” or “hateful”
Hunter’s laptop: this is Russian disinformation (before the election)
Hunter’s laptop: this is not Russian disinformation (after the election)
As of the result of the dogged Ukrainian resistance, the Russian forces are rethinking their objectives of taking over all of Ukraine. In their attempts to “save face” from the Ukraine resistance, Putin and the Russian forces seem to be making a strategic retreat and withdraw back to Eastern Ukraine and the Lukhansk and Donetsk regions. I can only imagine Putin wants to redefine eastern Ukraine.
Next post: retreating and withdrawing