What Is A Gentile In The New Testament? A Breakdown of Romans 9 & 10
I can promise the reader one thing for sure…… You’re most likely going to be offended by this article.
If I had to put a number on it, I would say less than 1/10 of 1% of Believers know what I am going to convey in this writing. In short, the churches have pulled the wool over the eyes of Christianity today, laying the foundation for the race bating in this nation today by Believers and Non-Believers alike.
So, if you are willing to look at the facts through an open-minded set of eyes, let's jump right in. Consider these words from Yeshua, The Christ.
“Yeshua went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” But He answered and said, “I WAS NOT SENT TO ANYONE EXCEPT THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.” But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Yeshua said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.” Matthew 15:21–28
A couple of facts to consider.
- The Canaanite Woman was most likely Negro.
- Yeshua initially ignored the Woman, but He did not send her away either.
- The Disciples wanted to send her away.
- Yeshua’s retort was a respectful response to the disciple's request, stating a dogmatic teachable moment concerning the nation to which He came in the flesh, to begin with.
- Upon begging further, Yeshua’s explanation was still obstinate, even to the point of calling her a dog.
- The Woman’s faith was strong enough to persist, even in the face of insulting rejection.
- Yeshua’s respect for such faith won her the day and The Woman’s request was granted.
- The exchange between the Canaanite Woman and Yeshua defines a racial wall between Israel and Canaanites of which Yeshua’s ministry is conveyed.
Yeshua, very clearly drew a line in the sand concerning which race of men He was dealing with and sent to…… Israel and only Israel. Everyone else would be considered Gentiles.
Also, lets get this point straight. This race, Yeshua spoke of here in this text is not The Jews. The people that today’s world calls Jews, have nothing to do with the true ancient nation of Jacob/Israel……….. Not the first thing.
But wait, Joey Thompson……. Wasn’t the establishment of modern-day Israel in the Middle East, in 1948, the resurrection of The Jew’s capital, Jerusalem… Thus Israel and The Jews are synonymous? Well, no. Not at all. Take a look at this text.
“In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of EDOM and all the nations who call upon my name,” declares YHWH who does this.” Amos 9:11–12
EDOM is Esau, Jacob’s brother. The fallen booth or tabernacle or temporary dwelling of David was the Middle Eastern city of Jerusalem. YHWH removed His name from that awful blood-soaked bed of rocks many years ago. We know this from His own words…….
“Still YHWH did not turn from the burning of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him. AND YHWH SAID, “I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.” 2Kings 23:26–27
It must be noted here, not only did YHWH remove His name from Jerusalem, long before Christ was born, but He also cast off The Southern House of Judah, just as He did The Northern House of Israel. Shocker….. This means The world no more knows who or where the Jews are than they do the so-called ten lost tribes of Israel. The fact is, the world is totally deceived as to who the Jews are 100% and that same world has no interest at all in who and/or where either House is.
Consider this fact from the New Testament, after the resurrection of Christ and before the giving of YHWH’s Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Consider this text.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound, THE MULTITUDE came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and PROSELYTES, Cretans and Arabians — we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of YHWH.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” Acts 2:5–13
Take a good look at the list of nations in this text. Except for Judea, all of these nations are thought to be “Gentile” nations. Agreed? These men making up THE MULTITUDE of Jews are simply not Gentiles. A non-Israelite Jew who has converted to Judaism would be called Proselytes. The text very clearly states one of the categories of men is Proselytes from Rome, denoting the others are not Proselytes.
We also know this to be true by the following text later on in the chapter.
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know — “ Acts 2:22
Peter speaking here, called these men from all these thought to be Gentile nations…… Men of Israel, not Jews, not Gentiles. These were the very group of people, Yeshua’s ministry was directed to….. The Lost Sheep of The House of Israel.
Later in the first century, when The Apostle Paul was called to suffer what he must (Acts 9:16), he was first sent to the entity the scriptures call “The Jews”, which he was very familiar with, having been a lifelong religious Jew. However, after a period of time, in which he was rejected wholeheartedly by the religious entity called The Jews, Paul’s ministry was redirected to an entity the scripture calls, “The Gentiles”. Much of what The Apostle Paul wrote in his epistles is directed to this group of people, but who are they? And who are the Jews?
The answer to this question from a dumbed-down Christian perspective is:
Jews = All 12 tribes of Israel.
Gentiles = All other races.
Is this true? And didn’t Acts 2:5 state, “Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven”? and thus when Peter stood and addressed these men calling them men of Israel, doesn’t that make the above breakdown correct?
It is here, it must be noted the word translated “Jews” in this text and in fact everywhere in the New Testament, is defined as a geographical Jew, not a racial or religious Jew. A person living in the province or territory of Judah.
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
G2453
Jewess, of Judaea.
From Iouda (in the sense of Ioudas as a country); Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah — Jew(-ess), of Judaea.
The word translated “Gentile” in the New Testament is a horse of a different color….. Excuse the pun. In my opinion, Believers have not thought through the definition Jimmy Strong places upon this word 1484 Ethnos:
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
Gentile, heathen
Probably from etho; a race (AS OF THE SAME HABIT OR CUSTOM), i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan) — Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
Just as the mainstream media and even religious power brokers do today in this nation, so too, Jimmy Strong is guilty of calling Religion / Tradition a race or bloodline of people. This ties religion to a race and vice versa, thus muddying the waters of truth, working to further the diversification of the world as we know it, just in case you're not thinking this thing through, that is another way to define Babylon. 100% confusion.
If you can make everyone the same, bricks instead of uncut stones, you have succeeded in taking down what YHWH has intended for His creation. We are not all created equal.
So…… what about the word Greek, as in:
“For there is no distinction between Jew and GREEK; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;” Romans 10:12
Well again, this word is a geographical demarcation, rooted in the word G1271 Hellas which means:
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
Greece.
Of uncertain affinity; Hellas (or Greece), a country of Europe — Greece.
So, with all this in mind, what do the words, Jew, Gentile, and Greek denote? Race? Religion? or Geography?
What caused the men from all the nations listed in Acts 2 to be known by Luke (the author of Acts) as Jews, men of Israel?
What caused Paul to show a known distinction between Jews and Greeks?
And what role did tradition and custom play in defining these people?
In the case of the men of Acts 2, Peter recognized the men listed from all those “Gentile” nations were men of Israel….. That is to say, The Lost Sheep of The House of Israel. Thus it is a racial statement.
Likewise, Paul, in Romans 9 and 10 for example uses the word Gentiles to describe the same people, just from a different perspective. In Paul’s eyes, Jews are a religious entity. Thus anyone outside of Judaism is what?……. A Gentile. That includes men of the race of Israel, aka, The Lost Sheep of the House of Israel.
“I am speaking the truth in Christ — I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit — that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. THEY ARE ISRAELITES, and to them belong the SONSHIP, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is The Mighty One over all, blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 9:1–5
Now ask any New Testament Scholar what is the subject of Romans chapter 9 and 10. They will tell you, that it is how the gospel has gone to the Gentiles. Yet right off the bat to open chapter 9, we have the subject plainly stated….. Israelites.
“But it is not that the word of YHWH has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of YHWH; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” Romans 9:6–9
Allow me to break this down for you….. It's really simple.
“For they are not all Israel who are of Israel.”
The subject of this sentence is “they”. They are the ones Paul wishes they were converted. Thus Paul is stating here that not all Israel has fulfilled the stated commission of SONSHIP.
nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham;
Same comment…..Just because “they” are actual children doesn’t mean they automatically have fulfilled the covenant of Abraham. In other words, “they” are incomplete.
but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of YHWH; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Once again…. Children of the flesh or direct descendants of Abraham or Israel afford only the right to a calling. It does not mean salvation. Yes, I am emphatically stating only those of Abraham and more exactly, those of Jacob/Israel receive a calling during this time. This in no way eliminates other races from joining the house, enjoying the external dwelling of YHWH’s Spirit, or receiving the blessing of obedience to YHWH’s Covenant Law.
For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.
It was to be through Isaac’s seed such a calling would come through and Paul goes on to make this clear, after digressing ever so slightly for the next 12 verses, Paul gets back to the subject at hand as he states the following:
“What if YHWH, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, NOT ONLY THE JEWS, BUT ALSO THE GENTILES.” Romans 9:22–24
Remember, when Paul uses the word Jews, he is using that word as a religious entity, not a racial one. The subject of Romans 9 is Israel. Thus, to Paul, Gentiles and Israel are synonymous. It's the only conclusion that makes any grammatical sense.
At the very heart and core of this chapter is the common knowledge at the time, which states that Israel was lost, meaning they had lost their identity, after the Assyrian Exile to The Black Sea area, which led to a westward migration through many of the cities, you might know well in scripture.
Ephesus, Smyrna, Philippi, Colossae, Thessalonica, Thyatira, Philadelphia, Laodicea, etc.
All are well-known Gentile cities, just loaded with Anglo-Saxon, Caucasian people who had lost their identity and didn’t even know they were Israel.
Paul quotes Hosea and then Isaiah to make this very point.
“I will call them My people, who were not My people (Lost Israel),
And her beloved, who was not beloved.”
“And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them,
‘You are not My people,’
There they shall be called sons of the living YHWH.” Romans 9:25–26
And…..
“Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea,
The remnant will be saved.
For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness,
Because YHWH will make a short work upon the earth.” Romans 9:27–28
And……
“Unless YHWH of Host had left us a seed,
We would have become like Sodom,
And we would have been made like Gomorrah.” Romans 9:29
Ask yourself……. Does any of these three Old Testament quotations point to non-Israelite Gentiles? No! They all speak of The Lost Sheep of Israel, the very same group of people to whom Yeshua said His ministry was addressed.
But wait….there’s more. Paul goes on to further make the case. Notice this next text.
“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.” Romans 9:30–32
Let's break this one down….
“What shall we say then?
Paul opens with an interrogative, sarcastic statement comparing the following two ways to say the same thing.
That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;
And….
but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.
In the first statement, Paul calls The Lost Sheep of Israel, who are in Gentile nations, listed above, Gentiles. Modern-day terminology, using a modern-day pathway to salvation….. This time via the knowledge of Christ first, coming to the knowledge of The Law after the knowledge of Christ, which is called Faith.
In the second statement, Paul calls the ancient nation of Israel for what history shows they are…. Unfaithful because they did not know Christ. These two groups are the same peoples, described in the context of two different periods in comparison, making the point YHWH has appointed Paul the ministry to The Gentile (Lost Israel within Gentile Nations).
Romans 10 continues this theme….
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to YHWH for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for YHWH, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of YHWH’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of YHWH. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:1–4
Once again, Paul makes the case, Israel’s ancient path toward righteousness was void of the knowledge of Christ, but now, in a post-Passion Week era, Paul enlightens us to the reason for Christ's ministry to begin with. The statement, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”, denotes Christ being the example of how to keep the Law, perfectly, which is obtainable for The Believer as well (Matthew 5:48). The word that is translated “end of” in this text means, “The Goal”, thus the text could and in fact should be translated, “Christ is the goal of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”.
It also must be noted that the one sentence supports other text in The New Testament that teaches Believers that obedience is tied directly to a proper belief in Christ and vice versa. In other words, if The Believer is going to confess he or she believes in Christ, then he or she will overserve YHWH’s Covenant Law.
Thus YHWH’s Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:5–6) is literally The Coming of Christ and the end of the matter was to be, when Israel discovered such a righteousness, they too would become converted, via the power of YHWH’s Spirit, and turn from their Pagan (Gentile) customs back to YHWH their King.
The next section of Romans 10 lays the foundation for one of the greatest strikes against the Christian doctrine of the abolishment of YHWH’s law. Let’s break it down.
“For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” Romans 10:5–7
The context of verses 1–4 tells you, Paul is speaking here in verse 5 concerning a type of righteousness void of the indwelling of YHWH’s Spirit which comes with the knowledge of Christ and Him Crucified. Who then will descend from heaven or ascend from the deep to explain YHWH’s law to us and to be an example for us? Is it not Christ? Yes, The Messiah, the One spoke of in countless Old Testament passages.
“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua and believe in your heart that YHWH has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:8–10
A good understanding of scripture is defined by Isaiah. Here a little, there a little. Line upon line, line upon line. Precept upon precept. What may not be evident in the above quoted text is, verse 8 is a direct quotation from Deuteronomy 30:14.
“But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.” Deuteronomy 30:14
Notice the slight change Paul makes here. Let's compare the two closing sentences to these two verses.
“(that is, the word of faith which we preach).” Romans 10:8
“that you may do (observe) it.” Deuteronomy 30:14
I hope you can see, once again, faith (belief) is tried directly to obedience to YHWH’s Covenant Law. Look again at Romans 10:8–10. Can you see how Paul lays the foundation for understanding this confession of faith? Speak the words, the Lord Yeshua, and believe in your heart that YHWH has raised Him from the dead, and you shall be saved. Obedience is the vitality of such a process and once again….. the subject is Israel.
Paul continues….
“For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes (obeys his law) on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls upon the name of YHWH shall be saved.” Romans 10:12–13
The phrase, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek”, has to be addressed, for it is the mantra of the false conception called universalism, today. Universalism states that YHWH is trying to save everyone on earth, right now, in this dispensation of time, and if by the time Christ returns, everyone has not accepted Him, then hellfire has to be dealt with. This is totally false. Universalism is a lie to invoke fear, while at the same time pushing forward YHWH’s step-by-step plan of salvation, causing disorder in that plan.
It is here, we have to consider who Paul is writing to….. Jews, dwelling in Rome. Jews of Judaism, no less. Thus everyone else, including The Lost Sheep of The House of Israel, living in the Greek territories of the cities we listed above, are Gentiles or Greeks.
The word “distinction” is root defined as a reason to withdraw and separate from. That is to say, the text could read, “For there is no reason to separate between Jew and Greek for reason of fellowship.” This is a hand-in-glove fit with the Acts 15 conference debating whether or not the gospel could go to The Gentiles. Remember. It was James who stood up, after much debate stating that the Gentiles could in fact meet with The Jews in fellowship each Sabbath, as they come to hear Moses preached…. In essence to make up their minds concerning The Law. Thus it is all about fellowship, not salvation or even being baptized, unto the receiving of YHWH’s Spirit indwelling.
Thus, there were several levels of work being completed here. On one level, YHWH was sending Paul to The Lost Sheep of The House of Israel furthering what YHWH started 1400 years earlier. On another level, Paul is being sent to non-Israelite Gentiles, beginning their walk via the introduction to Christ, being introduced eventually to Covenant Law.
This brings us to the last sentence of the text quoted above, which says, “whoever calls upon the name of YHWH shall be saved.”
Question……What does the word “name” mean?
Answer……. Reputation. The reputation of YHWH. His great works and awesome deeds, both in scripture and in one’s own life. People get wrapped around the axil if you don’t say the name of YHWH correctly, self-righteously insinuating, they know how it is to be said….. Missing the point. Calling upon the name means to recount, memorialize, remember, tell of, teach, preach, and explain YHWH’s reputation and has nothing at all to do with the actual speaking of His sacred Name, which no man knows (Revelation 19:12).
And another point to make here. The word “saved” has nothing at all to do with salvation. It literally means to be healed. It is the beginning of the race to be run, the starting line….. Not the finish line of salvation. So once again, Paul masterfully tells the story of the start of the Non-Israelite Gentile’s walk.
Finally, Paul wraps up his explanation of The Gospel going to Israel, dwelling in Gentile nations to The Jews dwelling in Rome by further lending an explanation why it is important to have fellowship every Sabbath, as mentioned above. Paul states the following:
“How then shall they (Gentiles) call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” Romans 10:14–15
Thus Paul’s admonishment to The Jews dwelling in Rome was to begin to accept Gentiles (Greeks) from every corner of the plane of the earth because it was YHWH’s perfect will that the Good News of the Coming Kingdom of YHWH was to be heard and learned by all races, but especially The Lost Sheep of The House of Israel.
However, you can read the rest of the chapter and know that even though it was YHWH's will for such a gospel to go to The Gentiles, both Israel and non-Israel, it too mostly fell on deaf ears, just as it has done for so many years since.