Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

The Bible gives selected examples of Gentile individuals who accepted Israel's God before Jesus' birth, including some who became ancestors of Jesus according to the lineage of both Joseph and Mary (as given in Matthew 1 and Luke 3). These would include:

Rahab of Jericho (the mother of Boaz, who became the great-grandfather of King David) (Joshua 2; Matthew 1:5). She assisted the Israelites in conquering Jericho during their settlement of Canaan (the Promised Land), after hearing of the miraculous events associated with Israel's exodus from Egypt, and the subsequent defeat of other kings by Israel in its progress toward Canaan.

Ruth (a woman from Moab who married Boaz and became the great-grandmother of King David) (Ruth 1; Matthew 1:5) She accepted God as a result of her relationship with her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi, after Naomi's two sons (including Ruth's first husband, Mahlon) died, leaving Ruth a widow, and Naomi with neither a husband or sons; 

Naaman (a soldier of Aram (Syria) who was healed of his leprosy by Elisha the prophet in 2 Kings 5, and who (although he did not become an Israelite) subsequently vowed to worship no God except the God of Israel. He had originally learned of Elisha as a result of the recommendation of a young Jewish girl whom the Arameans had taken away following a raid on Israel, and who had become a servant to Naaman's wife.

June 16 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Darrell McKnight Minister/Musician, Central Carolina Sch. of Preaching

Abraham was a gentile himself. Abraham is the father of believing Gentiles the uncircumcised because he believed and was justified before the right of circumcision the mark of the Jews was instituted. As a matter of biblical fact Abraham himself came from a pagan society! By this reason Abraham was not an Israelite. Which also means he was not a Jew. Roman4:9-12. So the answer to your question is yes.

June 17 2016 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Philip Farris

These verses would technically describe the Gentiles who believe in Christ after he came, but, the process of faith in the promise of God would be the same whether BC or AD.

Rom. 9:6 ¶ Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Rom. 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Rom. 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Gal. 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal. 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Heb. 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb. 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

December 14 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report