Proselyte: Difference between revisions

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The [[New Testament]] makes mention of proselytes in [[synagogue]]s.<ref>{{bibleverse||Acts|10:2-7|}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|13:42-50|}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|17:4|}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|18:7|}}; {{bibleverse||Luke|7:5|}}</ref> The name ''proselyte'' occurs in the New Testament only in Matthew and Acts.<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|23:15|}}; {{bibleverse||Acts|2:10|}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|6:5|}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|13:43|}}</ref> The name by which they are commonly designated is that of "devout men", or men "fearing God", or "worshipping God", "fearers of Heaven" or "[[God-fearer]]s".<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Attridge |editor1-first=Harold W. |editor2-last=Hata |editor2-first=Gohei |author=Louis H. Feldman |author-link=Louis Feldman |date=1992 |title=Eusebius, Christianity, and Judaism |chapter="Sympathizers" with Judaism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jVyzbHAJ_hAC&pg=PA389 |location=[[Detroit]] |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |pages=389–395 |isbn=0-8143-2361-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Feldman |editor1-first=Louis H. |editor2-last=Reinhold |editor2-first=Meyer |editor1-link=Louis Feldman |date=1996 |title=Jewish Life and Thought among Greeks and Romans |chapter="Sympathizers" (God-fearers) |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_kvhzxTf6QoC&pg=PA137 |location=[[Edinburgh]] |publisher=[[T&T Clark]] |pages=137–145 |isbn=0-567-08525-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Marcus |first=Ralph |name-list-style=amp |year=1952 |title=The Sebomenoi in Josephus |jstor=4465081 |journal=Jewish Social Studies |volume=14 |issue=3 |publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] |pages=247–250 |quote=We know from Pagan, Christian and Jewish sources that during the [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]] and [[Roman Republic|early Roman periods]] some Gentiles were so strongly attracted to Judaism that they became [[Conversion to Judaism|converts]] and undertook to observe [[Law of Moses|Jewish laws and customs]] in the same manner as did the Jews themselves. [...] It is also commonly assumed that there were some Gentiles who did not go so far as to become converts but indicated their belief in [[God in Judaism|monotheism]] and gave up the [[Paganism|worship of Pagan gods]]. How far they went in openly dissociating themselves from Paganism and in associating themselves with Judaism we do not know. These Gentile sympathizers are commonly thought to be referred by the terms ''sebomenoi'' or ''phoboumenoi ton theon'' and ''metuentes'' in Greek and Latin sources, and ''yir᾿ê shamayim'' "fearers of Heaven" (i.e. God-fearers) in some early Rabbinic passages.}}</ref><ref name=Bromiley>{{Cquote|''Proselytes ad God-fearers.''-Many scholars see a parallel between the "God-fearers" in [[rabbinic literature]] and the "God-fearers" in the [[New Testament|NT]]. In rabbinic literature the ''[[Ger toshav|ger toshab]]'' was a Gentile who observed the [[Noahide laws|Noachian commandments]] but was not considered a convert to Judaism because he did not agree to [[circumcision]]. [...] some scholars have made the mistake of calling the ''ger toshab'' a "proselyte" or "semiproselyte." But the ''ger toshab'' was really a resident alien in Israel. Some scholars have claimed that the term "those who fear God" (''yir᾿ei Elohim''/''Shamayim'') was used in rabbinic literature to denote Gentiles who were on the fringe of the synagogue. They were not converts to Judaism, although they were attracted to the Jewish religion and [[Law of Moses|observed part of the law]].|author=[[Geoffrey W. Bromiley]]|source=''The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia'' (1986, Fully Revised Edition), p. 1010, Vol. 3, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids: Michigan, {{ISBN|0-8028-3783-2}}.}}</ref>
The [[New Testament]] makes mention of proselytes in [[synagogue]]s.<ref>{{bibleverse||Acts|10:2-7|}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|13:42-50|}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|17:4|}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|18:7|}}; {{bibleverse||Luke|7:5|}}</ref> The name ''proselyte'' occurs in the New Testament only in Matthew and Acts.<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|23:15|}}; {{bibleverse||Acts|2:10|}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|6:5|}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|13:43|}}</ref> The name by which they are commonly designated is that of "devout men", or men "fearing God", or "worshipping God", "fearers of Heaven" or "[[God-fearer]]s".<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Attridge |editor1-first=Harold W. |editor2-last=Hata |editor2-first=Gohei |author=Louis H. Feldman |author-link=Louis Feldman |date=1992 |title=Eusebius, Christianity, and Judaism |chapter="Sympathizers" with Judaism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jVyzbHAJ_hAC&pg=PA389 |location=[[Detroit]] |publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]] |pages=389–395 |isbn=0-8143-2361-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Feldman |editor1-first=Louis H. |editor2-last=Reinhold |editor2-first=Meyer |editor1-link=Louis Feldman |date=1996 |title=Jewish Life and Thought among Greeks and Romans |chapter="Sympathizers" (God-fearers) |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_kvhzxTf6QoC&pg=PA137 |location=[[Edinburgh]] |publisher=[[T&T Clark]] |pages=137–145 |isbn=0-567-08525-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Marcus |first=Ralph |name-list-style=amp |year=1952 |title=The Sebomenoi in Josephus |jstor=4465081 |journal=Jewish Social Studies |volume=14 |issue=3 |publisher=[[Indiana University Press]] |pages=247–250 |quote=We know from Pagan, Christian and Jewish sources that during the [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]] and [[Roman Republic|early Roman periods]] some Gentiles were so strongly attracted to Judaism that they became [[Conversion to Judaism|converts]] and undertook to observe [[Law of Moses|Jewish laws and customs]] in the same manner as did the Jews themselves. [...] It is also commonly assumed that there were some Gentiles who did not go so far as to become converts but indicated their belief in [[God in Judaism|monotheism]] and gave up the [[Paganism|worship of Pagan gods]]. How far they went in openly dissociating themselves from Paganism and in associating themselves with Judaism we do not know. These Gentile sympathizers are commonly thought to be referred by the terms ''sebomenoi'' or ''phoboumenoi ton theon'' and ''metuentes'' in Greek and Latin sources, and ''yir᾿ê shamayim'' "fearers of Heaven" (i.e. God-fearers) in some early Rabbinic passages.}}</ref><ref name=Bromiley>{{Cquote|''Proselytes ad God-fearers.''-Many scholars see a parallel between the "God-fearers" in [[rabbinic literature]] and the "God-fearers" in the [[New Testament|NT]]. In rabbinic literature the ''[[Ger toshav|ger toshab]]'' was a Gentile who observed the [[Noahide laws|Noachian commandments]] but was not considered a convert to Judaism because he did not agree to [[circumcision]]. [...] some scholars have made the mistake of calling the ''ger toshab'' a "proselyte" or "semiproselyte." But the ''ger toshab'' was really a resident alien in Israel. Some scholars have claimed that the term "those who fear God" (''yir᾿ei Elohim''/''Shamayim'') was used in rabbinic literature to denote Gentiles who were on the fringe of the synagogue. They were not converts to Judaism, although they were attracted to the Jewish religion and [[Law of Moses|observed part of the law]].|author=[[Geoffrey W. Bromiley]]|source=''The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia'' (1986, Fully Revised Edition), p. 1010, Vol. 3, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids: Michigan, {{ISBN|0-8028-3783-2}}.}}</ref>


On the historical meaning of the Greek word, in chapter 2 of the apocryphal [[Gospel of Nicodemus]], roughly dated between 150 to 400, [[Annas]] and [[Caiaphas]] define "proselyte" for [[Pilate]]:
On the historical meaning of the Greek word, in chapter 2 of the apocryphal [[Gospel of Nicodemus]], roughly dated between 150 and 400, [[Annas]] and [[Caiaphas]] define "proselyte" for [[Pilate]]:
{{blockquote|And Pilate, summoning the Jews, says to them: You know that my wife is a worshipper of God, and prefers to adhere to the Jewish religion along with you. ... Annas and Caiaphas say to Pilate: All the multitude of us cry out that he [Jesus] was born of fornication, and are not believed; these [who disagree] are proselytes, and his disciples. And Pilate, calling Annas and Caiaphas, says to them: What are proselytes? They say to him: They are by birth children of the Greeks, and have now become Jews.|Roberts Translation<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://earlychristianwritings.com/text/gospelnicodemus-roberts.html|title=Gospel of Nicodemus: Acts of Pilate (ANF text)|website=earlychristianwritings.com}}</ref>}}
{{blockquote|And Pilate, summoning the Jews, says to them: You know that my wife is a worshipper of God, and prefers to adhere to the Jewish religion along with you. ... Annas and Caiaphas say to Pilate: All the multitude of us cry out that he [Jesus] was born of fornication, and are not believed; these [who disagree] are proselytes, and his disciples. And Pilate, calling Annas and Caiaphas, says to them: What are proselytes? They say to him: They are by birth children of the Greeks, and have now become Jews.|Roberts Translation<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://earlychristianwritings.com/text/gospelnicodemus-roberts.html|title=Gospel of Nicodemus: Acts of Pilate (ANF text)|website=earlychristianwritings.com}}</ref>}}


Latest revision as of 17:09, 27 June 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Template:Bible related

The biblical term "proselyte" is an anglicization of Template:Langx, as used in the Septuagint for "stranger", i.e. a "newcomer to Israel";[1] a "sojourner in the land",[2] and in the Novum Testamentum Graece[3] for a first-century convert to Judaism. It is a translation of Template:Langx or ger toshav.[3] "Proselyte" also has the more general meaning in English of a new convert to any particular religion or doctrine.

History of the proselyte in Israel

The Law of Moses made specific regulations regarding the admission into Israel's community of such as were not born Israelites.[4]

The New Testament makes mention of proselytes in synagogues.[5] The name proselyte occurs in the New Testament only in Matthew and Acts.[6] The name by which they are commonly designated is that of "devout men", or men "fearing God", or "worshipping God", "fearers of Heaven" or "God-fearers".[7][8][9][10]

On the historical meaning of the Greek word, in chapter 2 of the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, roughly dated between 150 and 400, Annas and Caiaphas define "proselyte" for Pilate:

<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

And Pilate, summoning the Jews, says to them: You know that my wife is a worshipper of God, and prefers to adhere to the Jewish religion along with you. ... Annas and Caiaphas say to Pilate: All the multitude of us cry out that he [Jesus] was born of fornication, and are not believed; these [who disagree] are proselytes, and his disciples. And Pilate, calling Annas and Caiaphas, says to them: What are proselytes? They say to him: They are by birth children of the Greeks, and have now become Jews.

— Template:Comma separated entries

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In Judaism

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". There are two kinds of proselytes in Rabbinic Judaism: ger tzedek (righteous proselytes, proselytes of righteousness, religious proselyte, devout proselyte) and ger toshav (resident proselyte, proselytes of the gate, limited proselyte, half-proselyte).

A "righteous proselyte" is a gentile who has converted to Judaism, is bound to all the doctrines and precepts of Judaism, and is thus a Jew. The proselyte immerses in a mikveh to effect the conversion formally; a male proselyte must also be circumcised before the immersion can occur (mila leshem giur)

A "gate proselyte"[12] is a resident alien who lives in the Land of Israel and follows some Jewish customs.[10] They are not required to be circumcised nor to comply with the whole of the Torah. They are bound only to conform to the Seven Laws of Noah[10] (do not worship idols, do not blaspheme God's name, do not murder, do not commit fornication (immoral sexual acts), do not steal, do not tear the limb from a living animal, and do not fail to establish rule of law) to be assured of a place in the world to come.

In early Christianity

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The "religious proselytes" spoken of in early Christianity such as Acts 13:43 were likely righteous proselytes rather than gate proselytes.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". There is some debate however as to whether God-fearers (Phoboumenoi)[13] and/or Worshippers (Sebomenoi),[14] who were baptized but not circumcised, fall into the righteous or gate category. The New Testament uses the word four times, exclusively referring to converts to Judaism, and never referring to conversion to Christianity.[15]

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Sister project

Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".
  3. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse"., etc.
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b c Template:Main other
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ bible verse Exodus 20:9-10, Deut 5:13-14, Deut 14:20-29 Deut 16:10-14, Deut 24:13-14, Deut 26:11-12, Deut 31:11-12
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".,Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".,Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".,Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".,Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".,Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Script error: No such module "Bibleverse"., Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".,Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".,Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".,Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".,Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".,Script error: No such module "Bibleverse".; Josephus Ant. 14.7.2
  15. ↑ Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich, trans. Geoffrey Bromiley, volume VI p742.
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