Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7500 Jews and Gentiles  »  7510 Gentiles  »  7512 Gentiles, in NT

Although Jesus Christ initially preached to Israel, his mission was soon extended to the Gentiles. From the outset, the Christian church accepted Gentiles as full members, refusing to make any distinction between Jew and Gentile. Paul, “the apostle to the Gentiles”, laid particular emphasis on their role in the purposes of God.

Gentiles in Jesus Christ's earthly ministry

Jesus Christ's contact with Gentiles

Matthew 8:5-13 pp Luke 7:1-10; Matthew 15:21-28 pp Mark 7:24-30

Jesus Christ's teaching concerning Gentiles

Matthew 21:33-43 pp Mark 12:1-11 pp Luke 20:9-16 Luke 21:20-24

Jesus Christ's instructions to his disciples concerning Gentiles

See also Matthew 10:5-6 Initially the disciples were commanded to preach to Jews, but after his resurrection, Jesus Christ commissioned them to preach the message of the kingdom of God to all nations. Matthew 28:19-20 See also Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47

Peter sent to Gentiles

Acts 10:28 See also Acts 10:9-20; Acts 11:5-14

Acts 10:44-48 See also Acts 11:15; Acts 15:7-8

Paul, apostle to the Gentiles

Galatians 2:7-9 See also Acts 9:15; Acts 22:21; Acts 26:15-23; Romans 1:13-15; Romans 11:13; Romans 15:15-19; Galatians 2:2; Ephesians 3:1; 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 4:17

Rejected by Jews, Paul turns more to the Gentiles

Acts 18:6 See also Acts 13:46; Acts 28:28

Response of the Gentiles to Paul's preaching

Acts 13:48 See also Acts 14:1-2; Acts 15:12; Acts 21:19; 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Difficulties concerning the acceptance of Gentiles into the church

The question of mixing with Gentiles

Acts 11:2-3 See also Acts 11:15-18; Galatians 2:12-13

The question of circumcision

Acts 15:5-31 See also Galatians 2:1-5; Galatians 5:1-6

NT teaching on Gentiles

Gentiles now share the inheritance of God's people Israel

Ephesians 2:13; Revelation 5:9-10 See also Romans 3:29; Romans 11:11-21; Galatians 3:29; Revelation 7:9; Revelation 14:6

There is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles

Galatians 3:28 See also Romans 2:9-11; Ephesians 2:19-20; Colossians 3:11

God calls both Jew and Gentile

John 10:16; Acts 13:47-48 See also Romans 9:24-26; 1 Corinthians 1:24-25; 2 Timothy 4:17

Both Jews and Gentiles are justified by faith

Galatians 3:6-14 See also Romans 4:9-12,16; Galatians 5:6

See also

1115  God, purpose of
3251  Holy Spirit, filling with
5107  Paul
5112  Peter
6676  justification
7020  church, the
7142  people of God, NT
7334  circumcision
7560  Samaritans, the
7610  Council of Jerusalem
7903  baptism
8774  legalism