What other scriptures emphasize God's desire for all nations to know Him? A global vision in Solomon’s prayer 1 Kings 8:41-43 places a foreign worshiper at the Jerusalem temple and has Solomon plead, “for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, may You hear from heaven… so that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You” (vv. 42-43). Scripture repeats that longing from Genesis to Revelation. Promises rooted in the Law and the Patriarchs • Genesis 12:3 – “all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” • Exodus 9:16 – God raised up Pharaoh “that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” • Deuteronomy 32:43 (cf. Romans 15:10) – the nations are invited to rejoice with God’s people. Psalms that sing the same heart • Psalm 67:2 – “that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.” • Psalm 96:3 – “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all peoples.” • Psalm 117:1-2 – the shortest psalm calls, “Praise the LORD, all you nations!” • Psalm 98:3 – “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” Prophets who kept the nations in view • Isaiah 2:2-3 – “all nations will stream” to learn His ways. • Isaiah 11:9 – “the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD.” • Isaiah 42:6; 49:6 – Messiah is appointed “a light to the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.” • Habakkuk 2:14 – “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD.” • Jonah – God spares Nineveh, showing compassion beyond Israel. • Malachi 1:11 – “My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets.” Jesus brings the mission into focus • Matthew 12:21 – “In His name the nations will put their hope.” • Matthew 24:14 – the gospel preached “in all the world as a testimony to all nations.” • Matthew 28:19 – “go and make disciples of all nations.” • Luke 2:32 – Christ is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles.” • John 3:16 – God loved “the world.” • John 10:16 – “other sheep that are not of this fold… one flock, one shepherd.” Acts records the expansion • Acts 1:8 – witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” • Acts 10:34-35 – God “shows no partiality… anyone who fears Him… is acceptable.” • Acts 13:47 – light for the Gentiles, salvation “to the ends of the earth.” • Acts 15:14-17 – God is “taking from the Gentiles a people for His name,” fulfilling Amos 9. Epistles explain the theology • Romans 1:5 – grace “to call all those among the Gentiles.” • Romans 10:12-13 – “no difference between Jew and Greek.” • Galatians 3:8 – Scripture foretold the gospel: “All nations will be blessed through you.” • Ephesians 2:13-18; 3:6 – the dividing wall is gone; Gentiles are “fellow heirs.” • 1 Timothy 2:3-4 – God “wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” • 2 Peter 3:9 – He is “not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.” Revelation shows the finish line • Revelation 5:9 – by His blood Christ “purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” • Revelation 7:9 – a multitude “from every nation and tribe and people and tongue” stands before the throne. • Revelation 14:6 – an “eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.” From the first promise to Abraham through the final vision of worship around the throne, Scripture consistently, literally, and accurately declares God’s passion for every nation to know Him. |
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