GENTILES. - A term that in the Latin New Testament (Vulgate: gentes, gentiles, Graeci) designates all the non-Jewish peoples, participants in the customs and culture of Greece (Ἔλληνας) of the Greco-Roman world. In opposition to the Israelite people (ὑπός Ἰσραήλ), the sole possessors of monotheism and of true worship, gentile is equivalent to "pagan," idolater: Io, 7, 35; Act. 11, 20; 18, 17, etc. It is a synonym of ethnic (v.).

The Jews considered them impure and sinners (Mt. 18, 17; Gal. 2, 15). Their idolatry was culpable, given the knowledge of God that men can draw from the universe; therefore the Lord had abandoned them to their depraved mind (Rom. 1:18-32), judging them moreover according to the natural law engraved in their hearts (Rom. 2:12, 14 ff.). Jesus redeemed them, removing every distinction of race (Eph. 2:14); Paul dedicated his prodigious apostolate to them (Acts 9:15).

Bibliography3 works

BIBL.: W. Grimm, Lexicon graecum, 3rd ed., Jena 1888, p. 142; F. Zarell, Lexicon graecum Nov. Test., 2nd ed., Paris 1931, col. 417; J. Lagrange, Epitre aux Romains, ibid. 1931, pp. 21-41, 47-51, 60-80.

Francesco Spadafora

@incollection{ec6_gentili, author = {Spadafora, Francesco}, title = {Gentili}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {VI}, pages = {37--38}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1951}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/gentili} }

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Gentiles

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