Gentiles

Gentiles (from the Latin gentes, "nations") is the term used in Scripture for all non-Jewish peoples — the nations outside the covenant of Israel. The mission to the Gentiles is central to the New Testament, fulfilling the promise to Abraham that through his offspring "all nations" would be blessed (Genesis 12:3; CCC 762).

Gentiles in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, the Gentiles are the "nations" — often portrayed as outside God's saving covenant with Israel, sometimes as enemies, sometimes as future recipients of God's salvation. Isaiah foretells a day when "all nations will stream to" God's mountain (Isaiah 2:2). The Psalms call all nations to worship the Lord (Psalm 117:1). The promise to Abraham — "all nations shall be blessed in you" — anticipates the universal scope of salvation (CCC 60).

Gentiles and the Mission of Christ

Jesus's ministry was primarily to Israel, but several significant encounters point toward the Gentile mission: the Magi from the East at the Nativity, the healing of the Roman centurion's servant, the Samaritan woman, and the Syrophoenician woman. After the Resurrection, Jesus explicitly commissioned the universal mission: "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19; CCC 849).

The Gentile Mission and Paul

Paul became the preeminent apostle to the Gentiles — understanding his mission as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy that the light of the Messiah would reach "to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6; Acts 13:47). The question of how Gentile converts related to the Jewish Law was the defining controversy of the early Church, resolved at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15; CCC 595).

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Gentiles grafted into Israel or does Israel become irrelevant? Paul's image in Romans 9–11 is of Gentiles being grafted into Israel — the wild olive branch grafted onto the cultivated olive tree. The Gentile Church does not replace Israel; it is incorporated into the one covenant people of God, which now includes both Jew and Gentile in Christ (Romans 11:17–24; CCC 60).