Definition and Context
In the context of the Bible, "converts" refers to individuals who have turned from their previous beliefs or lifestyles to embrace faith in the God of Israel, as revealed in the Old and New Testaments. This transformation often involves a profound change of heart and mind, leading to a new way of life in accordance with biblical teachings.

Old Testament
The concept of conversion is present in the Old Testament, where non-Israelites are sometimes depicted as turning to the God of Israel. One notable example is Ruth, a Moabite woman who declares her allegiance to the God of Israel, saying, "Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God" (Ruth 1:16). The Old Testament also includes provisions for foreigners who wish to join the Israelite community, as seen in Exodus 12:48, where it is stated that a foreigner who wants to celebrate the Passover must be circumcised and then may participate as a native of the land.

New Testament
The New Testament expands the concept of conversion, emphasizing the transformative power of the Gospel for all people, Jew and Gentile alike. Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 commands His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations," highlighting the universal call to conversion. The Book of Acts provides numerous accounts of conversion, such as the account of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-39 and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9:1-19.

The Apostle Paul, a key figure in the spread of Christianity, frequently addresses the theme of conversion in his epistles. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 , he writes, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" This verse underscores the radical change that conversion brings to an individual's life.

Theological Significance
Conversion is a central theme in Christian theology, representing a turning away from sin and a turning toward God. It involves repentance, faith, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:3 emphasizes the necessity of being "born again" to see the kingdom of God, illustrating the spiritual rebirth that accompanies conversion.

Practical Implications
For converts, the process of conversion often involves a public declaration of faith, typically through baptism, as seen in Acts 2:38 , where Peter instructs, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." Converts are also encouraged to grow in their faith through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and participation in the life of the church.

Challenges and Encouragement
Converts may face challenges, including persecution or estrangement from their previous communities. However, the New Testament offers encouragement, as seen in 1 Peter 4:16 : "But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name." The community of believers is called to support and nurture converts, helping them to mature in their faith and become active members of the body of Christ.536. aparche -- the beginning of a sacrifice, ie the first fruit
... Short Definition: the first-fruits Definition: the first-fruits, the earliest crop
of the year, hence also met., for example, of the earliest converts in a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/536.htm - 6k

5040. teknion -- a little child
... little child. Diminutive of teknon; an infant, ie (plural figuratively) darlings
(Christian converts) -- little children. see GREEK teknon. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5040.htm - 6k

Instructions to Converts.
... LECTURE XX. INSTRUCTIONS TO CONVERTS. Text ... the. INSTRUCTION OF YOUNG CONVERTS.
To-night I propose to continue the subject by noticing,. ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xx instructions to converts.htm

Instructions to Converts.
... LECTURE XIX. INSTRUCTIONS TO CONVERTS. Text."Feed my lambs."John
21:15. YOU, who read your Bibles, recollect the connection ...
/.../lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xix instructions to converts.htm

Martin Converts a Robber to the Faith.
... Sulpitius Severus On the Life of St. Martin. Chapter V. Martin converts
a Robber to the Faith. From that time quitting military ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter v martin converts a.htm

The First Native Converts and Christian Schools
... LIFE OF WILLIAM CAREY, DD CHAPTER VI THE FIRST NATIVE CONVERTS AND CHRISTIAN
SCHOOLS. 1800-1810 A carpenter the first Bengali convert ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter vi the first native.htm

God Undoubtedly Converts, Without the External Preaching of the ...
... ARTICLE XVIII God undoubtedly converts, without the external preaching of the Gospel,
great numbers of persons to the saving knowledge of Christ, among those ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/article xviii god undoubtedly converts.htm

Love of Preachers and their Converts.
... Homily XII. Chapter II."Love of Preachers and Their Converts. "I know,
indeed, that you are distressed at being told to do this ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter ii love of preachers and.htm

A Little Child Converts an Infidel.
... A Little Child Converts an Infidel. I remember hearing of a Sabbath-school teacher
who had led every one of her children to Christ. She was a faithful teacher. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/a little child converts an.htm

A Little Boy Converts his Mother.
... A Little Boy Converts his Mother. I remember when on the North Side I tried
to reach a family time and again and failed. One night ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/a little boy converts his.htm

Twenty-Sixth Day for the Holy Spirit on Young Converts
... TWENTY-SIXTH DAY For the Holy Spirit on Young Converts. WHAT TO PRAY."For
the Holy Spirit on Young Converts ="Peter and John prayed ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/twenty-sixth day for the holy.htm

The Jew, Then, Continues his Address to Converts from his Own ...
... Chapter IV. The Jew, then, continues his address to converts from his
own nation thus? The Jew, then, continues his address to ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter iv the jew then.htm

Converts (9 Occurrences)
...Converts (9 Occurrences). ... Others are visitors from Rome--being either Jews or converts
from heathenism--and others are Cretans or Arabians. (WEY). ...
/c/converts.htm - 8k

Thessalonica (8 Occurrences)
... he preached the gospel, basing his message upon the types and prophecies of the
Old Testament Scriptures (Acts 17:2, 3). Some of the Jews became converts and a ...
/t/thessalonica.htm - 25k

Magus
... He therefore came forward as one of the new converts, and was baptized. ... And when
they had laid their hands upon the converts, the Spirit was given to them. ...
/m/magus.htm - 23k

Proselyte (2 Occurrences)
... for a convert to Judaism. There were such converts from early times (Isaiah
56:3; Nehemiah 10:28; Esther 8:17). The law of Moses ...
/p/proselyte.htm - 26k

Philemon (2 Occurrences)
... "It exhibits the apostle in a new light. He throws off as far as possible his
apostolic dignity and his fatherly authority over his converts. ...
/p/philemon.htm - 17k

Timothy (28 Occurrences)
... 1:1 1 Timothy 1:2, 18; 1 Timothy 6:20 2 Timothy 1:2 Philemon 1:1 Hebrews 13:23;
the King James Version, Timotheus): 1. One of Paul's Converts: Timothy was one ...
/t/timothy.htm - 38k

Romans (8 Occurrences)
... This at least suggests the abundant possibility that the converts and friends belonging
to the "household" who, a very few years later, perhaps not more than ...
/r/romans.htm - 44k

Apostles'
... exactness. The original germ of it is to be sought for in the baptismal
confession made by converts in the reception of that rite. ...
/a/apostles'.htm - 20k

Titus (15 Occurrences)
... ti'-tus (Titos (2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 7:6, 13; 8:6, 16, 23; 12:18 Galatians
1:2:1, 3 2 Timothy 4:10 Titus 1:4)): 1. One of Paul's Converts: A Greek ...
/t/titus.htm - 29k

Philippians (2 Occurrences)
... It is remarkable that the Macedonian converts were, as a class, very poor (2
Corinthians 8:2); and the parallel facts, their poverty and their open-handed ...
/p/philippians.htm - 42k

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