GENTILES. - A term in the Latin New Testament (Vulgate: gentes, gentiles, Graeci) designating all non-Jewish peoples who shared in the customs and Greek culture ("Ἕλληνες") of the Greco-Roman world. In contrast to the Israelite people (λαός 'Ισραήλ), the sole possessors of monotheism and true worship, "gentile" is equivalent to "pagan," idolater: John 7:35; Acts 11:20; 18:17, etc. It is synonymous with ethnic (q.v.).
The Jews considered them impure and sinful (Matt. 18:17; Gal. 2:15). Their idolatry was culpable, given the knowledge of God that men can derive from the universe; therefore the Lord abandoned them to their depraved sense (Rom. 1:18-32), judging them also according to the natural law written in their hearts (Rom. 2:12, 14 ff.). Jesus redeemed them, removing every distinction of race (Eph. 2:14); Paul devoted his prodigious apostolate to them (Acts 9:15).
