The basic attitudes of first-century Jews toward the Gentiles were diverse. According to J. Julius Scott, the evidence suggests a general disdain by Jews toward the Gentiles (335). However, exceptions to the general attitude did exist with an acceptance of certain non-Jews who maintained a respect for the law or whom Jews wanted to convert (Scott, 336; 338). The general contempt for the Gentiles was primarily due to the Gentile’s idolatry, low morality, and unclean status (Scott, 337). However, persecution by the Hellenistic leaders also increased the scorn of the Jews toward the Gentiles. Scot McKnight summarizes the attitudes of the Jews toward the Gentiles by suggesting the Jews realized God created all humanity, and accordingly, certain amicable connections existed between the two groups (Scott, 339). Alternatively, McKnight acknowledges the Jews separatist attitude as the chosen people of God, criticism of the Gentiles pagan religion, and natural reaction against the unjust treatment of the Gentiles (Scott, 339).
At times, certain Gentiles desired to align with the Jewish religion. Proselytes were Gentiles who “fully converted to Judaism” (Scott, 342). Alternatively, God-fearers were Gentiles who believed in God, but were not fully converted proselytes, thus the Jews curbed their involvement (Scott, 346-347). The Jews required God-fearers to abstain from “idolatry, immorality, and ceremonial defilement” (Scott, 347). The requirements for proselytes most certainly included similar guidelines, but they may have gone further. Specifically, an assumption exists that Jews required the circumcision of males, the offering of sacrifices, and baptism (Scott, 343). Although it appears that some Gentiles did submit to circumcision, offerings, and baptism, to suggest these acts were required for admission into the Jewish community goes beyond the evidence (Scott, 343-346).
The attitudes of the Jewish people during the Intertestamental Period toward the Gentiles parallel some of the same attitudes modern day Christians hold toward non-Christians. Specifically, some Christians hold a general contempt toward individuals who do not maintain a certain standard of morality or who disagree with orthodox Christian beliefs. In addition, similar to some of the Jewish people of the Intertestamental Period, Christians, at times, extend acceptance only when non-Christians abide by a certain standard of conduct or there is a sense that conversion is imminent. Unfortunately, these attitudes tend to focus attention in the wrong direction. Christians can learn from the Jewish people to hold very tightly to one’s convictions while holding loosely to the necessity to control or manipulate others to comply with Christian standards as a prerequisite to extending the medicine of the gospel of grace. In other words, Christians do well not to “think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience…knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:4 [NASB]).
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- Scott, J. Julius. Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1995.