The term "Gentiles" in the Bible generally refers to nations or peoples who are not of Jewish descent. Throughout the Scriptures, the relationship between Gentiles and the God of Israel is a recurring theme, often highlighting the contrast between the chosen people of Israel and the surrounding nations. One significant aspect of this relationship is the refusal of many Gentiles to acknowledge or know God, despite His revelation through creation and His interactions with Israel.

Biblical Foundation

The Apostle Paul addresses the issue of Gentiles refusing to know God in his epistle to the Romans. In Romans 1:18-21 , Paul writes, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts."

This passage underscores the idea that the knowledge of God is accessible to all humanity through the natural world. However, many Gentiles have chosen to suppress this truth, leading to a rejection of God and a descent into idolatry and immorality.

Historical Context

In the Old Testament, the Gentile nations often stood in opposition to Israel and its God. The Canaanites, Philistines, Egyptians, and Babylonians, among others, worshiped a pantheon of deities and engaged in practices that were abhorrent to the God of Israel. The prophets frequently condemned these nations for their idolatry and moral corruption. For instance, in Isaiah 47:10 , the prophet speaks against Babylon, saying, "You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge have deluded you, for you have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’"

Theological Implications

The refusal of Gentiles to know God is not merely a matter of ignorance but a willful rejection of divine truth. This rejection has theological implications, as it highlights the universal need for redemption and the grace of God extended to all nations through Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 2:11-13 , Paul reminds the Gentile believers of their former state: "Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called 'uncircumcised' by the so-called 'circumcision' that is done in the body by human hands—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 through the blood of Christ."

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The refusal to know God among the Gentiles is often linked to moral and ethical decay. In Romans 1:28-32 , Paul describes the consequences of this rejection: "Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things but also approve of those who practice them."

This passage illustrates the moral decline that accompanies the refusal to acknowledge God, emphasizing the need for divine intervention and the transformative power of the Gospel.

Hope for Redemption

Despite the historical and ongoing refusal of many Gentiles to know God, the Bible also presents a message of hope and redemption. The prophetic vision of the inclusion of Gentiles in God's salvific plan is evident in passages such as Isaiah 49:6 , where God declares, "It is not enough for you to be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth."

The New Testament further affirms this hope, as the Gospel is proclaimed to all nations, inviting Gentiles to turn from their ways and embrace the knowledge of the one true God through Jesus Christ.Romans 1:28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Of the First Covenant Made with Man
... remainder of which Paul saith makes the Gentiles "inexcusable," but ... manner, (Romans
5:19,) because, by refusing such a ... If we once know what it is, there is no ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xxi of the first.htm

Two Ways of Despising God's Feast
... unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. ... against God's merciful gift:
the one is refusing to accept it ... We know that it is only to be received by ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/two ways of despising gods.htm

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity the Christian Calling and Unity.
... of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of ... entering a cloister, making yourself
peculiar, refusing to live ... Who comes to know God or to have a peaceful ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/seventeenth sunday after trinity the.htm

Confessing Christ an Indispensable Duty.
... By the Gentiles the gospel was more kindly received. ... They profess that they know
God, but in ... Others deny Christ by refusing to confess him: "For the refusal is ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xix confessing christ an.htm

Days of Preparation
... very Christ." But many hardened their hearts, refusing to respond ... thee from the people,
and from the Gentiles, unto whom ... God by faith: that I may know Him, and ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 13 days of preparation.htm

1 Cor. viii. 1
... rather infirm, such as did not yet know clearly that ... and the greater part of men
were Gentiles; think, I ... they gained no ground by their refusing to condescend. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xx 1 cor viii.htm

Against the Arians, and Concerning Himself.
... what has Paul in common with the Gentiles, Luke with ... Such are they that know God
and are known of God. ... with his division of one into two, refusing to believe ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxxiii against the arians.htm

Covenanting According to the Purposes of God.
... the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles."[508] In ... therefore, will not rank among
those who, refusing to act ... believe are separated from those that know not nor ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter viii covenanting according to.htm

Impiety of Attributing a visible Form to God. --The Setting up of ...
... to the entire destruction of piety, we know too well ... of saints instead of the idols
of the Gentiles. ... to the ever blessed Trinity: every person refusing to do ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 11 impiety of attributing.htm

Directions How to Hear Sermons
... put him to an open shame, by willfully refusing to attend ... fault which the great Apostle
of the Gentiles condemned in ... desired to do, as well as to know the will ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/directions how to hear sermons.htm

What is a Gentile? | GotQuestions.org

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