Topical Encyclopedia The term "Gentiles" in the Bible generally refers to nations or peoples who are not of Jewish descent. Throughout the Scriptures, Gentiles are often depicted as engaging in practices and beliefs that are contrary to the worship of the one true God, Yahweh. One of the recurring themes associated with Gentiles in the Bible is their inclination towards superstition and idolatry.In the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly warned against adopting the superstitious practices of the surrounding Gentile nations. In Deuteronomy 18:9-12 , God commands the Israelites: "When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you." The New Testament also addresses the superstitious nature of Gentiles. In Acts 17:22-23 , the Apostle Paul, while in Athens, observes the religious practices of the Gentiles and notes their superstitions: "Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, 'Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.'" Paul's observation highlights the Athenians' fear of offending any deity they might have overlooked, leading them to erect an altar to an "unknown god." This reflects a broader tendency among Gentiles to engage in superstitious practices as a means of appeasing various deities and forces they believed controlled their lives. The superstitious practices of the Gentiles often included idolatry, which is condemned throughout the Bible. In Romans 1:21-23 , Paul describes the spiritual decline of the Gentiles: "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. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles." The Bible consistently contrasts the superstitious practices of the Gentiles with the faith and worship that God desires from His people. The Israelites were called to be a light to the nations, demonstrating the truth and power of the one true God. In Isaiah 49:6 , God declares, "I will also make you a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth." The early Christian church faced the challenge of spreading the Gospel to Gentile populations steeped in superstition and idolatry. The apostles and early Christians worked to demonstrate the superiority of faith in Christ over the superstitions of the Gentile world. In 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 , Paul commends the Thessalonian believers for turning away from idols: "For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, our deliverer from the coming wrath." The transformation of Gentiles from superstitious idol worshipers to followers of Christ is a testament to the power of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit in breaking the chains of superstition and leading people to the truth of God's Word. Torrey's Topical Textbook Deuteronomy 18:14For these nations, which you shall possess, listened to observers of times, and to diviners: but as for you, the LORD your God has not suffered you so to do. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Mother of Galerius, a Woman Exceedingly Superstitious, was a ... Refutation of the Gentiles --Continued The Withdrawal of Jesus. Paul's Missionary Labors. On Christian Doctrine In Four Books. Of the Fact that Idolatry Has Been Subverted by the Name of Christ ... Saints' Days, Fasts, and Festivals. Jew and Gentile Overthrow of an Idol Temple, and Abolition of Licentious Practices ... Extracts No. Ix. Resources What are the times of the Gentiles? | GotQuestions.orgWhen did the separation of humanity into Jews and Gentiles occur? | GotQuestions.org Did Jesus come only for the Jews and not the Gentiles? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Gentiles: Blasphemous and Reproachful Gentiles: Called: Uncircumcised Gentiles: Called: Uncircumcision Gentiles: Christ Given As a Light To Gentiles: Comprehend all Nations Except the Jews Gentiles: Constant to Their False Gods Gentiles: Conversion of, Predicted Gentiles: Counsel of, Brought to Nought Gentiles: Excluded from Israel's Privileges Gentiles: First General Introduction of the Gospel To Gentiles: First Special Introduction of the Gospel To Gentiles: Given to Christ As his Inheritance Gentiles: Hated and Despised the Jews Gentiles: Israel Rejected Till the Fulness of Gentiles: Jerusalem Trodden Down By Gentiles: Not Allowed to Enter the Temple Gentiles: Often Ravaged and Defiled the Holy Land and Sanctuary Gentiles: Outer Court of Temple For Gentiles: Prophecies of the Conversion of Gentiles: Refusing to Know God Gentiles: The Gospel not to be Preached To, Till Preached to the Jews Gentiles: The Jews: Despised, As If Dogs Gentiles: The Jews: Dispersed Amongst Gentiles: The Jews: Never Associated With Gentiles: The Jews: Not to Follow the Ways of Gentiles: The Jews: Not to Intermarry With Gentiles: The Jews: Often Corrupted By Gentiles: The Jews: Permitted to Have, As Servants Gentiles: Unclassified Sciptures Relating To Gentiles: United With the Jews Against Christ Related Terms Instrumentality (5 Occurrences) |
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