Did Early Christians See Gentiles as God’s People?
Early Christians taught that Gentiles could be brought into God’s people through Christ. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Lactantius all tie this to Acts, Romans, and the prophets. The teaching is broad and consistent, though some cards are direct and others are supporting or biblical background.
116 early-church witnesses · 211 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about gentiles and the People of God?
Early Christian writers said Gentiles were brought into God’s people through Christ, while Israel’s Scriptures had already pointed to this wider family. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, and Lactantius all connect the church with God’s call of the Gentiles and with texts like Acts 15, Romans 9–11, and the prophets. The main pattern is broad and consistent: God is not only the God of the Jews, and the nations can become his people by faith.
Some passages are more direct than others, and a few are only background or typology, but the overall witness is clear and strong. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christians taught that Gentiles could be gathered into one people for God’s name.
- Acts 15, Romans 9–11, and the prophets are the main Bible texts behind this teaching.
- Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Lactantius all use this theme in different ways.
- Some cards are direct teaching, while others are supporting Bible background or typology.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians teach that God took a people from the Gentiles?
The core witnesses explicitly say that God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for his name. They connect that statement to apostolic teaching and treat it as a central proof of Gentile inclusion.
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Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews Direct teaching
...s seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. He also declared that from Rebekah's womb two peoples and two nations were about to come forth: plainly those of the Jews, that is, Israel, and those of the Gentiles, that is, ours. So each was called a people and a nation, so that no one might dare, because of the name itself, to claim the privilege of grace for himself. For God ordained that two peoples and two nations would come from the womb of one woman. Grace did not make a distinction in the naming, but in the order of birth. The one that came out first from the womb was to be made subject to the smaller, that is, the one that came later. For this is what God said to Rebekah: "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be divided from your bowels; and people shall overcome people, and the greater shall serve the less." Accordingly, since the people or nation of the Jews is earlier in time, and greater through the grace of first favor in the Law, while ours is understood to be less in the ages of time, because it gained the knowledge of divine mercy in the last age of the world, then without doubt, by the decree of the divine word, the earlier and greater peopl
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
...aith. When certain men came down from Judea to Antioch—where the Lord’s disciples were first called Christians because of their faith in Christ—and tried to convince those who believed in the Lord to be circumcised and follow other aspects of the law, Paul and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the apostles, and the whole Church gathered together. Peter addressed them: “Men, brothers, you know that from long ago God chose me so that the Gentiles would hear the Gospel from me and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us; and made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. So why are you testing God by placing a burden on the disciples that neither our ancestors nor we could bear? We believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will be saved just like they are.” After him, James spoke: “Men, brothers, Simon has explained how God planned to take from the Gentiles a people for His name. The prophets' words agree with this, as it is written, ‘After this, I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will restore its ruins so that the rest of humanity
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching
... own counselor, to come down from heaven, so that He might transfer the holy religion of God to the Gentiles, that is, to those who did not know God, and might teach them righteousness, which the faithless people had cast aside. And long before this, He had threatened that He would do it, as the prophet Malachi shows in Malachi 1:10-11, saying: “I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord, and I will not accept an offering from your hands; for from the rising of the sun even to its setting, my name will be great among the Gentiles.” David also says in the seventeenth Psalm: “You will make me the head of the heathen; a people whom I have not known shall serve me.” Isaiah also speaks this way: “I come to gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see my glory; and I will send among them a sign, and I will send those who escape from them to the nations that are far away, which have not heard my fame; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.” Therefore, when God wished to send to the earth one who would measure His temple, He was unwilling to send him with heavenly power and glory. He did this so that the people who had been ungrateful toward God might be led in
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
From the words of Peter, spoken in Caesarea to Cornelius the centurion and the Gentiles with him, to whom the word of God was first preached, we can understand what the apostles preached, the nature of their message, and their understanding of God. Cornelius was described as a "devout man, one who feared God with all his house, giving much to charity and praying to God always." Around the ninth hour of the day, he saw an angel of God, who told him, "Your alms have come up as a memorial before God. Therefore, send for Simon, who is called Peter." When Peter saw the vision, where a voice from heaven said to him, "What God has cleansed, do not call common," it served to teach him that the same God who, through the law, distinguished between clean and unclean, had purified the Gentiles through the blood of His Son—He whom Cornelius also worshipped. Peter, upon arriving, said, "I truly understand that God shows no favoritism: but in every nation, the one who fears Him and works righteousness is acceptable to Him." He clearly indicated that the God whom Cornelius had previously feared and heard of through the law and the prophets, and for whom he gave alms, is indeed God. However, Cornel
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching
as the prophets said, ‘And many nations shall betake themselves to the Lord in that day for a people: and they shall dwell in the midst of all the earth.’ But we are not only a people, but also a holy people, as we have shown already.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Direct teaching
...in which they were deceived? Yes, seeing ourselves and realizing that the Christians from among the Gentiles are both more numerous and more genuine than those from among the Jews and Samaritans? For all other human races are called Gentiles by the Spirit of prophecy, but the Jewish and Samaritan races are called the tribe of Israel and the house of Jacob. The prophecy predicted that there would be more believers from the Gentiles than from the Jews and Samaritans, and it goes like this: “Rejoice, O barren, you who do not bear; break forth and shout, you who do not travail, because many more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.” For all the Gentiles were “desolate” of the true God, serving the works of their hands; but the Jews and Samaritans, having the word of God delivered by the prophets and always expecting the Christ, did not recognize Him when He came, except for a few, whom the Spirit of prophecy by Isaiah predicted would be saved. He spoke from their perspective: “Except the Lord had left us a seed, we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.” Sodom and Gomorrah are related by Moses to have been cities of ungodly men, which God burned with fir
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
Simeon has declared how God at first visited to take out a people from the Gentiles for His name.
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness
For James says in the Acts of the Apostles: Men and brethren, hearken: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name.
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Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews Supporting witness
and of the Gentiles, that is ours. Each, then, was called a people and a nation;
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Mathetes, Epistle to Diognetus Direct teaching
and He, being despised by the people [of the Jews], was, when preached by the Apostles, believed on by the Gentiles.
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness
...n the Acts of the Apostles, “Men and brothers, listen: Simon has declared how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written, ‘After this I will return, and I will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. And I will build again its ruins, and I will raise it up anew, so that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,’ says the Lord, who does these things.” Acts 15:13-17. Therefore also the rest of men, that is, some of the Jews and all the Gentiles upon whom the name of the Lord is called, may and indeed must seek the Lord, because that very invocation of the name gives them the opportunity, or even lays on them the necessity, of seeking the Lord. And with these they set forth the Holy Scriptures—whether all of them or only some of them—so that they may discuss the truth more boldly than with the Gentiles upon whom the name of the Lord Jesus, the Son of the living God, has not been invoked, just as it also has not been invoked upon the Jews who receive only the Old Testament Scriptures. And so men of both these kinds, that is, Je
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Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Supporting witness
and having removed the ungrateful people from their inheritance, He would assemble to Himself a more faithful people from foreign nations.
More related quotations from this section 12 shown
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Acts 15:14 Direct teaching
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
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Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism Supporting witness
that the residue of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called upon them, says the Lord, who does these things.
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Acts 13:48 Supporting witness
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
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Acts 15:7 Supporting witness
And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
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Romans 9:25 Supporting witness
As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
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Acts 11:1 Supporting witness
Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
... spoke with new tongues, as that Spirit suggested to us, Acts 2:4. And we preached to both Jews and Gentiles that He is the Christ of God, determined by Him to be the Judge of the living and the dead, Acts 10:42. Moses bore witness to Him and said, "The Lord received fire from the Lord, and rained it down," Genesis 19:24. Jacob saw Him as a man and said, "I have seen God face to face, and my soul is preserved." Abraham received Him as a guest, and acknowledged Him to be the Judge and his Lord. Moses saw Him in the bush. Concerning Him he spoke in Deuteronomy: "The Lord your God will raise up to you a Prophet from your brothers, like me; you shall hear Him in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul that will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among his people," Deuteronomy 18:15. Joshua the son of Nun saw Him as the captain of the Lord's host, in armor, for their help against Jericho. He fell down before Him and worshiped, as a servant does to his master, Joshua 5:14. Samuel knew Him as the Anointed of God, 1 Samuel 12:3, and from that came the name "anointed" for the priests and the kings. David knew Him, and sang a hymn concerning Him, "A
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Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews Supporting witness
Philippians 3:5 For this fact — that Gentiles are admissible to God's Law — is enough to prevent Israel from priding himself on the notion that the Gentiles are accounted as a little drop of a bucket, or else as dust out of a threshing-floor: although we have God Himself as an adequate engager and faithful promiser, in that He promised to Abraham that in his seed should be blessed all nations of the earth;
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness
but many of the Israelites not having yielded to His teaching, those from the Gentiles were called....And these points, as we suppose, have been concealed in the histories.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
7. From the words of Peter, therefore, which he addressed in Cæsarea to Cornelius the centurion, and those Gentiles with him, to whom the word of God was first preached, we can understand what the apostles used to preach, the nature of their preaching, and their idea with regard to God.
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness
and as many of the Israelites did not accept His teaching, those who belonged to the Gentiles were called.
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Anonymous, Connection to Acts 15:7 Supporting witness
And God, who knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did unto us."
Did the early Church say Gentiles became part of the same people in Christ?
The sources present Gentiles as part of the same saving work in Christ: fellow heirs, members of the same body, and recipients of the promise. Several writers say the Gospel went to the Gentiles and formed a people drawn from the nations.
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching
For He is not the God of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
Yes, also of the Gentiles: if indeed He is one God, Romans 3:29-30 exclaims the noble apostle.
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
but when He says that they as Gentiles rejoice with His people, He calls them Gentiles to reproach you.
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Romans 3:29 Direct teaching
Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
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Romans 9:24 Supporting witness
even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Which Old Testament passages did early Christians use for Gentile inclusion?
Early Christian writers repeatedly appealed to the prophets and Psalms to argue that the Gentiles would come to God, be called his people, and rejoice with his people. The Bible cards in this set provide the main Bible passages they were citing.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
For by Him You have brought home the Gentiles to Yourself for a peculiar people, the true Israel beloved of God, and seeing God.
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Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Direct teaching
...and, and will strengthen You; and I have given You for a covenant to the people, for a light to the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, and to bring forth from chains those that are bound, and those that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.” You understand, then, from where we have been redeemed. And again, the prophet says, “Behold, I have appointed You as a light to the nations, that You might be for salvation even to the ends of the earth, says the Lord God who redeems you.” And again, the prophet says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the humble: He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; to announce the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of recompense; to comfort all that mourn.”
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness
...d are contrary to all men." 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15 A prophet, then, is not without honor among the Gentiles. For either they do not know him at all, or, after they have learned and received him as a prophet, they honor him. And such are those who are of the Church. Prophets suffer dishonor, first, when they are persecuted, according to historical fact, by the people, and second, when their prophecy is not believed by the people. For if they had believed Moses and the prophets, they would have believed Christ, who showed that when men believed Moses and the prophets, belief in Christ logically followed, and that when men did not believe Christ they did not believe Moses. John 5:46 Moreover, just as by transgressing the law the one who sins is said to dishonor God, so by not believing what is prophesied, the prophet is dishonored by the man who does not believe the prophecies. And as far as the literal truth is concerned, it is useful to recount what Jeremiah suffered among the people, in connection with which he said, "And I said, I will not speak, nor will I call on the name of the Lord." Jeremiah 20:9 And again, elsewhere, "I was continually being mocked." Jeremiah 20:7 And ho
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Methodius, Oration on the Psalms Supporting witness
Today the foal is made ready, the irrational exemplar of the Gentiles, who before were irrational, to signify the subjection of the people of the Gentiles;
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Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness
...ed by Christ among the living, and if all believers are sons of Abraham, Romans 4:11, since all the Gentiles are blessed with faithful Abraham, who is appointed by God to be a father of the Gentiles, can we hesitate to admit that those living persons made acquaintance with the learning of living men, and were taught by Christ, who was born before the daystar, before He became flesh? And for this cause they lived, because they had part in Him who said, "I am the life," and, as the heirs of so great promises, received the vision not only of angels but of God in Christ. For they saw, perhaps, the image of the invisible God, since he who has seen the Son has seen the Father. And so they are recorded to have known God, and to have heard God's words worthily, and therefore to have seen God and heard Him. Now I consider that those who are fully and truly sons of Abraham are sons of his actions, spiritually understood, and of the knowledge that was made manifest to him. What he knew and what he did appears again in those who are his sons, as the Scripture teaches those who have ears to hear, John 8:39, "If you were the children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham." And if it i
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
and the Lord will purify the land of His people.’ And by these words He declares that we, the nations, rejoice with His people, —to wit, Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the prophets, and, in short, all of that people who are well-pleasing to God, according to what has been already agreed on between us.
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Ephesians 3:6 Direct teaching
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
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Romans 15:9 Supporting witness
and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”
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Zechariah 2:11 Direct teaching
And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
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Ephesians 2:11 Supporting witness
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—
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Exodus 19:6 Background
and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
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1 Peter 2:10 Supporting witness
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
More related quotations from this section 18 shown
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
...t was struck. But now, because the people of God are gathered from all languages and live among all nations, and are oppressed by those who rule over them, it must happen that all nations, that is, the whole world, are struck with heavenly punishments, so that the righteous people, who worship God, may be set free. And just as signs were given then, by which the coming destruction was shown to the Egyptians, so in the last time wonderful signs will take place throughout all the elements of the world, by which all nations may understand the destruction that is about to come.
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Anonymous, Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian Supporting witness
...that of a menstruous woman. I have poured out my anger on them, and I have scattered them among the nations. I have judged them according to their sins, because they have defiled my holy name. And because it was said of them, ‘This is the people of the Lord,’ I spared them for the sake of my holy name, which the house of Israel despised among the nations.” Ezekiel 36:17-23. And along with this He says, “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord: I do not spare you, O house of Israel, but I will spare you for the sake of my holy name, which you have defiled among the nations. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I am sanctified in you.” Also the Lord says to the same people: “Son of man, say to the house of Israel, Why have you spoken, saying, ‘We are wasting away in our sins, and how shall we be able to be saved?’ Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘I do not desire the death of the sinner, but I desire that the sinner should turn from his evil way and live. Therefore turn back from your evil way. Why do you give yourselves over to death, O house of Israel?’” Ezekiel 33:10-11. So also Isaiah the prophet says: “I will not be angry with you forever, nor
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Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews Supporting witness
... by faith in Christ—still they have plainly been fulfilled, since in all these places there lives a people belonging to the name of Christ. For who could have ruled over all nations except Christ, God's Son, who was always announced as the one who would reign over all forever? For if Solomon reigned, it was only within the borders of Judea; the boundaries of his kingdom are marked from Beersheba to Dan. If Darius ruled over the Babylonians and Parthians, he did not have power over all nations. If Pharaoh, or whoever succeeded him in his inherited kingdom, ruled over the Egyptians, he possessed the rule of his kingdom only in that land. If Nebuchadnezzar ruled with his lesser kings, the boundaries of his kingdom were from India to Ethiopia. If Alexander the Macedonian ruled, he did not hold more than all Asia and other regions after he had fully conquered them. If the Germans rule, to this day they are not allowed to cross their own borders. The Britons are shut in by the circle of their own ocean. The nations of the Moors, and the barbarian people of the Gætulians, are blocked in by the Romans, so that they may not go beyond the borders of their own regions. What shall I say of
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
But now, because the people of God are collected out of all languages, and dwell among all nations, and are oppressed by those bearing rule over them, it must come to pass that all nations, that is, the whole world, be beaten with heavenly stripes, that the righteous people, who are worshippers of God, may be set free.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
as also Moses declared: “When the Most High divided the nations, as He scattered the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the nations after the number of the angels of God;” but that people which believes in God is not now under the power of angels, but under the Lord’s [rule].
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Supporting witness
For he will call together all the people to himself, out of every country of the dispersion, making them his own, as though they were his own children, and promising to restore their country, and establish again their kingdom and nation, in order that he may be worshipped by them as God, as the prophet says: He will collect his whole kingdom, from the rising of the sun even to its setting: they whom he summons and they whom he does not summon shall march with him.
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Supporting witness
For they will preach 1, 260 days clothed in sackcloth, proclaiming repentance to the people and to all the nations.
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Methodius, Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna Supporting witness
a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness
...een his thighs, until He comes to whom it has been promised; and He shall be the expectation of the nations." Genesis 49:10 Moses speaks of Him when he says, "Provide another whom You may send." Exodus 4:13 He is again spoken of by the same Moses when he testifies, saying, "God will raise up for you a Prophet from your brothers; listen to Him as if to me." Deuteronomy 18:15 It is He also whom he speaks of when he says, "You shall see your life hanging in doubt night and day, and you shall not believe Him." Deuteronomy 28:66 Isaiah also points to Him: "There shall come forth a rod from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall grow up from his root." Isaiah 11:1 The same prophet also says, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son." Isaiah 7:13 He refers to Him when he lists the healings that would come from Him, saying, "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear. Then the lame man shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall speak plainly." Isaiah 35:3-6 He also speaks of Him when he sets forth the power of His patience, saying, "His voice shall not be heard in the streets; a bruised reed He shall not destroy, and smoking flax
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Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to Acts 13:48 Supporting witness
And those that were of a stony heart have become the children of Abraham, the friend of God; and in his seed all those have been blessed who were ordained to eternal life in Christ.
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Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Typology
...dren, and she conceived. Moreover, Rebekah went to inquire of the Lord; and the Lord told her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will come from your body; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” You should understand who Isaac and Rebekah were and about whom He declared that this people would be greater than the other. In another prophecy, Jacob speaks more clearly to his son Joseph, saying, “Behold, the Lord has not deprived me of your presence; bring your sons to me so that I may bless them.” Joseph brought Manasseh and Ephraim, wanting Manasseh to be blessed because he was the elder. With this intention, Joseph led him to the right hand of his father Jacob. But Jacob, seeing in spirit the type of people to arise later, changed the direction of his hands and placed his right hand on Ephraim's head, the second and younger, and blessed him. Joseph said to Jacob, “Move your right hand to Manasseh's head, for he is my first-born son.” And Jacob said, “I know, my son, I know; but the elder will serve the younger, although he, too, will be blessed.” You see on whom he laid his hands, that this people should be first and heir of
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Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Typology
...d be between Christ and the sons of Jacob, which is said to be completed in the Gospel? For Jacob's people struggled against this man. And in that struggle Jacob's people was found to be the more powerful, because against Christ it gained the victory of its iniquity. At that time, because of the crime that it committed, hesitating and giving way, it began most sorely to halt in the walk of its own faith and salvation. And although it was found the stronger in respect to the condemnation of Christ, it still needs His mercy. It still needs His blessing. But, moreover, the man who wrestled with Jacob says, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." And if Israel is the man who sees God, the Lord was beautifully showing that it was not only a man who was then wrestling with Jacob, but God also. Certainly Jacob saw God, with whom he wrestled, although he was holding the man in his own struggle. And so that there might still be no hesitation, He Himself gave the interpretation by saying, "Because you have prevailed with God, and are powerful with men." For this reason the same Jacob, already perceiving the force of the Mystery and grasping the authorit
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Zechariah 8:23 Background
Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background
...nd bless Your inheritance, which You have obtained with the precious blood of Your Christ, and have called a royal priesthood, and a holy nation." After this let the sacrifice follow, the people standing and praying silently. And when the oblation has been made, let each rank by itself partake of the Lord's body and precious blood in order, and approach with reverence and holy fear, as to the body of their king. Let the women approach with their heads covered, as is proper to the order of women. But let the door be watched, lest any unbeliever, or anyone not yet initiated, come in.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background
For the people were formerly called the people of God, Exodus 19:5-6 and an holy nation.
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Minucius Felix, Octavius Background
We distinguish peoples and nations; to God this whole world is one family.
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Background
A certain nation is declared by holy Scripture to have been chosen by God upon the earth, which nation has received several names: for sometimes the whole of it is termed Israel, and sometimes Jacob;
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Cyprian, Connection to Song of Solomon 6:9 Background
But that the Church is one, the Holy Spirit declares in the Song of Songs, saying, in the person of Christ, "My dove, my undefiled, is one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her."
Common Questions
Did early Christians believe Gentiles could become part of God’s people?
Yes. Early Christian writers said Gentiles were brought in through Christ and could belong to God’s people by faith.
Which Bible passages did they use for this idea?
They often used Acts 15:14, Romans 9:24-25, Romans 11:25, Ephesians 3:6, and prophetic texts like Zechariah 2:11.
Did they think God was only the God of Israel?
No. Origen and others say God is also the God of the Gentiles, not Jews only.
Source Index for Gentiles and the People of God
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 211 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 116
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 95
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.