The God Of The Nations

The English word "gentile" originated from a Latin word, gentilis, which meant a nation (a number of different words have the same root e.g. genesis, generation). "Gentile" is frequently used (along with "nation" or "nations") to translate the Hebrew word, pronounced go-ee, which also meant nation. Over the course of Bible History, "gentile" came to be used, by the Israelites, for non-Israelites (even though the Israelites were a "nation" too). Then, even more specifically, and to the present day, it came to be used to mean a non-Jew (keeping in mind that Jews are just one of the twelve tribes of Israel). In the beginning however, "gentile" simply meant the people of the various nations that grew from families (just as Israel did). For example, from Noah and his family came all of the "gentiles," or "nations" on earth.

"^10:1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood ... ^10:5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations." (Genesis 10:1,5 KJV)

As plainly stated above, "gentiles" existed before Israelites did. Israelites (and other nations as well) began from a "gentile" named Abraham - a very righteous man born in what is today Iraq (see Israel's Iraqi Roots) who became a key ancestor of the Messiah i.e. "the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ" (see also 'Before Abraham Was, I AM').

"^3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:14 KJV)

The "gentile" connection to Christ's ministry (see also The Prophet Of Galilee) was not an afterthought; it was a fulfilling of Prophecy. After the death of King Solomon, centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ, the united kingdom of Israel (see The United Kingdom) divided into two separate kingdoms (see The Division Of Israel) - "Israel" in the north (see The Northern Kingdom) and "Judah" to the south (see The Southern Kingdom). "Israel" fell to the Assyrians by 721 BC (see The Galilee Captivity) and were taken into exile, becoming "the lost ten tribes of Israel." In their place, the Assyrians brought in foreign people to tend the land - a "gentile" people who, by the time of Christ's birth, became known as the "Samaritans" (see The Samaritans Of Israel). When The Messiah began to preach, those people of the "Galilee of the Gentiles" were a part of the fulfillment of a prophecy about His first coming (see also Why Two Comings Of The Christ?):

"^4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison [see How Long Was John's Ministry?], he departed into Galilee; ^4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast [i.e. on the north shore of the Sea Of Galilee, through which The Jordan River flows], in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: ^4:14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet [i.e. Isaiah 9:1-2; see also Translation Of Translations], saying,

^4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; ^4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

^4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [see Are We In Heaven Now?]" (Matthew 4:12-17 KJV)

"Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also"

As plainly stated in the verses quoted above, "gentiles" (i.e. the people of other nations) were included as the receptors of Christ's first coming. The same holds true for Christ's return (keep in mind that the vast majority of humanity are "gentiles").

"^11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: ^11:2 And the spirit of the LORD [see also YHVH, Adonai, Jehovah, LORD] shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; ^11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: ^11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. ^11:5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

^11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. ^11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. ^11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

^11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. ^11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." (Isaiah 11:1-10 KJV)

There were and are unbelieving gentiles, just as there were and are unbelieving Jews. At the time of Christ's Sacrifice, some of the Christ's fellow Jews rejected the Messiah ("betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death"), while some of the gentiles crucified Him ("shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him"). Neither is more, or less, "guilty."

"^20:17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, ^20:18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, ^20:19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again." (Matthew 20:17-19 KJV)

The apostle Paul, before his conversion as the Pharisee Saul, was one of the Jews who did not recognize the Messiah (see Was Paul Among Them?). Later, when his eyes were opened (see Paul's Blindness Lesson), Paul the Jew became the major apostle to the gentiles. Paul's missionary journeys (see Paul's First Missionary Journey, Paul's Second Missionary Journey and Paul's Third Missionary Journey; also Paul's Crash Landing) were because "for so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth." Wherever he travelled, he encountered believing and unbelieving Jews and Gentiles. There was no difference.

"^13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. ^13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

^13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. ^13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

^13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. ^13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

^13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:42-48 KJV)

And why did the former fanatical Christ-hating Pharisee find no difference? "There is no difference, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." It is for that reason that all people must repent and accept the Saviour's Sacrifice.

"^3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: ^3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ^3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ^3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ^3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:22-26 KJV)

^3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: ^3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith." (Romans 3:29-30 KJV)

Fact Finder: During His human lifetime, was Jesus of Nazareth clearly aware of why He was born, what He had to do, and to all of whom He was sent? How did He know? Where did He get the specific information?
See The Messianic Prophecies

This Day In History, January 21

1189: The Third Crusade began with the united military forces of King Henry II of England, King Philip II of France, and the "Holy Roman" Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Also known as the King's Crusade (see The Crusades).

1356: King Edward de Balliol vacated his throne to Edward III of England after his authority over Scotland declined in favor of the supporters of King David II.

1542: The Bill of Attainer was passed by Parliament against Queen Katherine Howard.

1549: The first (of four in total) British Acts of Uniformity were passed by Parliament, requiring the Anglican Church to use the Book of Common Prayer (later called the First Prayer Book).

1604: Tsar Ivan IV defeated the False Dimitri, who claimed to be the true tsar ("tsar" is the Russian version of "caesar").

1790: Joseph Guillotine invented a new beheading machine (called the "guillotine" after its inventor) for "painless" executions.

1793: King Louis XVI of France, who ruled from 1774 to 3 years after the revolution of 1789, was executed for treason. He was decapitated with the newly-invented guillotine.

1924: Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin died of a stroke at age 54.

1936: After the death of his father King George V, Edward VIII became king. He resigned the throne later that year to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced US woman. Edward was succeeded by George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II.

1942: German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (the "Desert Fox") mounted a counter attack against British forces in North Africa.

1959: Hollywood movie maker Cecil de Mille died. He is most famous for his film The Ten Commandments.

1965: The Prime Minister of Persia (known today as Iran; see also Ancient Empires - Persia), Hassan Ali Mansur, was assassinated.

1976: The supersonic Concorde airliner made its first commercial flights. Two of the aircraft flew from London to Bahrain and Paris to Rio de Janeiro.

1977: Almost all Vietnam War draft evaders were pardoned by President Jimmy Carter.

1984: Britain's first "test-tube" triplets (two boys and a girl) were born in London.