Topical Bible: The Heathen: The Gospel Received By

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The term "heathen" traditionally refers to those who are non-Jewish or outside the covenant community of Israel, often synonymous with Gentiles or pagans. In the biblical context, the reception of the Gospel by the heathen is a significant theme, highlighting the universal scope of God's salvation plan through Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Foreshadowing

The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies and indications that God's salvation would extend beyond Israel to the Gentiles. In Genesis 12:3, God promises Abraham, "And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." This covenantal promise sets the stage for the inclusion of the heathen in God's redemptive plan. Similarly, Isaiah 49:6 declares, "I will also make you a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth."

The Ministry of Jesus

Jesus' ministry, while primarily focused on the "lost sheep of Israel" (Matthew 15:24), also included significant interactions with Gentiles, foreshadowing the broader mission of the Church. In Matthew 8:10-11, Jesus commends the faith of a Roman centurion, stating, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will dine with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."

The Great Commission

The Great Commission, as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20, explicitly commands the disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations." This directive underscores the mandate to bring the Gospel to the heathen, affirming that the message of salvation through Christ is for all people, regardless of ethnic or cultural background.

The Acts of the Apostles

The Book of Acts documents the early Church's efforts to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. A pivotal moment occurs in Acts 10, where Peter receives a vision that leads him to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Peter declares, "I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right" (Acts 10:34-35). The Holy Spirit's outpouring on Cornelius and his household confirms God's acceptance of the Gentiles.

Paul's Missionary Journeys

The Apostle Paul, known as the "Apostle to the Gentiles," played a crucial role in the spread of the Gospel to the heathen. In Romans 1:16, Paul writes, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek." Throughout his missionary journeys, Paul consistently preached to both Jews and Gentiles, establishing churches across the Roman Empire.

Theological Implications

The reception of the Gospel by the heathen is a testament to the inclusivity of God's grace. Ephesians 2:13-14 states, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility." This passage emphasizes the breaking down of barriers between Jew and Gentile, uniting all believers in Christ.

Conclusion

The reception of the Gospel by the heathen is a central theme in the New Testament, reflecting the fulfillment of God's promise to bless all nations through Abraham. The early Church's mission to the Gentiles, spearheaded by figures like Peter and Paul, demonstrates the transformative power of the Gospel and its ability to transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries. Through Christ, the heathen are no longer outsiders but are welcomed into the family of God, heirs to the promises of salvation and eternal life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 11:1
And the apostles and brothers that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 13:48
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 15:3,23
And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy to all the brothers.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Cry of the Heathen
... Methinks, I will stand here as a heathen this morning ... ignorance, fly away before
the sunlight of your gospel. It is not for yourselves you have received it, but ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the cry of the heathen.htm

The Gospel Message in Antioch
... sent forth as missionaries to the heathen world, these ... to the Gentiles the glad tidings
of the gospel. ... Paul and Barnabas had already received their commission ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 16 the gospel message.htm

The Second Epistle to the Thessalonians an Absurd Erasure of ...
... Now, to inflict punishment on the heathen, who very ... is revealed nowhere else than
in the Gospel, and therefore ... 5933] "Because," he says, "they received not the ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xvi the second epistle to.htm

The Angel of the Everlasting Gospel.
... for, "the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith ... in
Asia and Africa, that have never received the gospel since, either under ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the angel of the everlasting.htm

The Progress of the Gospel
... so that the part of the world which received the name of ... right to ask, Why has the
Gospel of Christ spread no farther among the heathen?' The Providence ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxxii the progress of.htm

Preaching among the Heathen
... the apostles led the minds of the heathen to a ... of God, Paul and Barnabas preached
the gospel in Lystra. ... eyes were fastened on him and who received and believed ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 18 preaching among the.htm

The General Spread of the Gospel
... Second Series Sermon 63 The General Spread of the Gospel. ... He will give his Son "the
Heathen for his inheritance, and ... truth as it is in Jesus, and received it in ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 63 the general spread.htm

The Progress of the Gospel from the Death of Christ to the Death ...
... of the Greek-speaking Jews, and the gospel soon made ... 2] The followers of Jesus at
this time received a new ... Well then might the heathen multitude agree with one ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter iv the progress of.htm

Simon the Sorcerer
... It does not matter though you have received Christian ordinances as Simon ... And here,
on its earliest conflict with heathen magic, the gospel proclaims by ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/simon the sorcerer.htm

Guilt of Neglecting the Heathen.
... Each generation of Christians has in turn received the vast responsibility ... in the
nature of the case, for a heathen unacquainted with the Gospel to be saved ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter iii guilt of neglecting.htm