Topical Bible: Gentiles: Called: Strangers

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In the biblical context, the term "Gentiles" refers to all nations and peoples who are not part of the Jewish community. Throughout the Scriptures, Gentiles are often referred to as "strangers," highlighting their status as outsiders to the covenant community of Israel. This designation underscores the distinct separation between the Israelites, God's chosen people, and the other nations.

The concept of Gentiles as "strangers" is evident in various passages of the Old Testament. In Exodus 12:43, the LORD instructs Moses and Aaron regarding the Passover: "This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner is to eat of it." Here, the term "foreigner" is synonymous with "stranger," indicating those who are not part of the Israelite community and thus not participants in the covenantal rites.

Leviticus 19:33-34 provides further insight into the treatment of Gentiles as strangers: "When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." This passage reveals a dual aspect of the term "stranger": while Gentiles are outsiders, they are also to be treated with love and respect, reflecting Israel's own history as strangers in Egypt.

The New Testament continues to address the status of Gentiles, particularly in the context of the early Christian church. Ephesians 2:12-13 speaks to the transformation of Gentiles through Christ: "remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Here, the term "foreigners" is used to describe the previous spiritual state of Gentiles, who were once distant from God's promises but are now included through faith in Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul further elaborates on the inclusion of Gentiles in the family of God in Romans 9:24-26: "even us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles? As He says in Hosea: 'I will call them ‘My people’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My beloved’ who is not My beloved,' and, 'It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’" This passage highlights the prophetic fulfillment of Gentiles being grafted into the spiritual lineage of Israel, no longer strangers but children of God.

The designation of Gentiles as "strangers" serves as a reminder of the historical and spiritual journey from exclusion to inclusion, from being outsiders to becoming part of the covenant community through the redemptive work of Christ. This transformation is a testament to the expansive reach of God's grace and the fulfillment of His promise to bless all nations through Abraham's seed.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 14:1
For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall join to the house of Jacob.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 60:10
And the sons of strangers shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you: for in my wrath I smote you, but in my favor have I had mercy on you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The First-Fruits of the Gentiles
... But the gathering of the Gentiles to the light of Israel ... These silent strangers at
the cradle carry on the line of ... Human wisdom, as it is called, is God's gift ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the first-fruits of the gentiles.htm

Hebrews xi. 13-16
... As we might say the God, not of the Gentiles but of the world, so we might say
"the God of ... Now that they called themselves "strangers" in this sense ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxiv hebrews xi 13-16.htm

Jews and Gentiles in "The Land"
... where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts ... the name "Galilee of the Gentiles"
(Matthew 4 ... military officials, and with strangers; the "superscription ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 2 jews and gentiles.htm

Matt. xxii. 1-14.
... Paul also saith, "And that the Gentiles might glorify ... Reverence the love of Him,
who called you, and let ... are equal to the angels, being strangers and pilgrims ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxix matt xxii 1-14.htm

Argument: the Charge of Our Entertainments Being Polluted with ...
... Probability, While It is Plain that Gentiles are Actually ... continues and abides
undiminished, and strangers increase it. ... [1818] [Fronto is called "our Cirtensian ...
/.../felix/the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xxxi argument the charge of.htm

Ephesians ii. 11, 12
... remember, that aforetime ye the Gentiles in the ... Uncircumcision by that which is called
Circumcision in ... from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the ...
/.../homily v ephesians ii 11.htm

In Palestine - Jews and Gentiles in the Land' - their Mutual ...
... required devolved on Scribes' (the so-called komogrammates or ... which were inhabited
chiefly by Gentiles, and had ... posts, which he populated with strangers, as so ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in palestine -.htm

The Epistle to the Laodiceans the Proper Designation is to the ...
... remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called
uncircumcision by ... aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xvii the epistle to the.htm

Acts ii. 14
... at Jerusalem,"] whom the writer above described as strangers. ... the Scriptures; for
instance, "If he called them gods ... all flesh;" that is, upon the Gentiles also ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily v acts ii 14.htm

A Gentle Heroine, a Gentile Convert
... a standing protest against the later narrow exclusiveness which called Gentiles
'dogs,' and ... The women of the village buzzed round the strangers, as they sat in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a gentle heroine a gentile.htm