The term "heathen" traditionally refers to those who do not adhere to the Abrahamic faiths, particularly those outside the Judeo-Christian tradition. Despite their lack of direct revelation through Scripture, the Bible provides evidence that God's goodness extends to the heathen, manifesting through creation, conscience, and providence.

Creation as Evidence of God's Goodness

The natural world serves as a testament to God's goodness and power, accessible to all humanity, including the heathen. Psalm 19:1-4 declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." This passage illustrates that the beauty and order of creation are a universal language, revealing God's attributes to all people, regardless of their religious background.

Conscience as Evidence of God's Goodness

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, emphasizes that God's moral law is inscribed on the hearts of all people, including the heathen. Romans 2:14-15 states, "Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them." This internal moral compass is evidence of God's goodness, providing a sense of right and wrong that guides human behavior universally.

Providence as Evidence of God's Goodness

God's providential care extends to all nations and peoples, demonstrating His goodness through the provision of life's necessities. In Acts 14:16-17 , Paul and Barnabas address the people of Lystra, saying, "In past generations, He let all nations go their own way. Yet He has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." This passage highlights that God's benevolence is evident in the sustenance and joy He provides, even to those who do not acknowledge Him.

God's Desire for All to Know Him

While the heathen may not have direct access to the special revelation found in Scripture, God's goodness is evident in His desire for all people to come to know Him. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 affirms, "This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." This desire underscores God's universal love and goodness, extending His grace and truth to all humanity.

Conclusion

The evidence of God's goodness to the heathen is woven throughout the fabric of creation, conscience, and providence. These elements serve as a testament to His character, revealing His attributes and extending His grace to all people, regardless of their religious affiliation.Acts 14:17
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

In Scripture, the True God Opposed, Exclusively, to all the Gods ...
... and rejects all the gods of the heathen, because religion ... he shows, by a great variety
of evidence, that the ... [77] But as all, without exception, have in the ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 10 in scripture the.htm

Though in Almost Every Age There have Indeed Been in the Heathen ...
... died with them, not having any sufficient evidence or authority ... have had no superior
in the heathen world; even ... erred from the right way, and have offended God ...
/.../vi proposition vi though in.htm

Natural Evil, or Suffering, and Especially the Suffering of ...
... or tradition from ancient revelation, led the heathen to conceive ... as in a peculiar
manner an evidence of divine ... had taken his life, would this have proved him ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/chapter ii natural evil or.htm

Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity Paul's Thanks and Prayers for ...
... 7. The heathen everywhere, despite their ignorance of God and his grace, condemned
to the utmost the evil of ... But alas, we have the evidence of our own eyes ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty second sunday after trinity.htm

The Supreme Author of all Things must be Infinitely Good, Just ...
... present world only, which Plutarch and other heathen writers have ... of all his attributes,
yet men, who have never attended to the evidence of reason ...
/.../xii proposition xii the supreme.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... a Christian, and do likewise, lest the heathen rise and ... partake of the heavenly gift,
the divine "evidence of things ... both to God and men, might ye have been at ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 30 upon our lords.htm

The Knowledge of God Conspicuous in the Creation, and Continual ...
... man having within himself undoubted evidence of the ... hanging on their mothers' breasts
have tongues eloquent ... at the dictation of experience, heathen poets call ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 the knowledge of.htm

Recapitulation of Former Exhortations. ...
... to it, I will make manifest to you from its own evidence. ... And whether we should have
to carry on our contest and combat against the heathen, or against the ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily vii recapitulation of former.htm

Introductory Notice to Lactantius.
... religion, shows the vanity of the heathen philosophy, and ... it is characterized, and
which have gained for ... His writings everywhere give evidence of his varied ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/introductory notice to lactantius.htm

Inspiration of Scripture. --Gospel Difficulties. --The Word of God ...
... the evidence with the care that evidence deserves, but ... we find in the writings of
the heathen sages,--the ... Creator with mankind, Man never would have raised the ...
/.../inspiration and interpretation/sermon iii inspiration of scripture gospel.htm

What is a heathen? | GotQuestions.org

Who was William Carey? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to use vain repetitions in prayer? | GotQuestions.org

Heathen: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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