Interpretations of Ethnos and Goyim

The word "Gentile" in the Bible is not found in the original languages of the Bible texts. It has been translated from Hebrew and Greek words that mean "nations" or "clans" or "peoples." This involves interpretation. How are we to understand "Gentiles?"

Consider again the following passages from Acts 10, when Peter goes into the house of Cornelius and there are many persons there. He says;

"You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean."

This is a perfect example of how the Jewish oral tradition law was exactly contrary to God's law and ways. And Peter and his Jewish friends had to be taught this and shown this in special ways, like we read about here in Acts 10 and other places. I gather that "anyone of another nation" is what has come to be known as "Gentile." Sometimes the people of the other nations were unbelievers, but others, such as Cornelius and his family were believers and called God-fearers, or those who fear God. Such can be found described in many places in the OT, especially the Psalms.

During the 1st century, which was a transition time, everyone had to be told the good news of Jesus the Christ of God. The old covenant was here overlapping with Christ's new covenant. The old had passed away definitively when Christ died, rose again, and ascended. But it was also passing away progressively as the apostles and disciples spread the new covenant gospel to all nations. Just as Jesus had said, they had not finished going through the cities of Israel when the end finally came. (Matthew 10:23).

DR