The Bible and Jesus made references to Gentiles. As I understood it, Gentiles referred to non-Jews. But if we are all descendants of Noah, who was a Jew, shouldn't that made us all Jews?
I thought Adam was the first Jew. If Abraham was a Jew, shouldn't Noah be a Jew too? If I'm a Chinese, one of my ancestors must be a Chinese.
The Bible and Jesus made references to Gentiles. As I understood it, Gentiles referred to non-Jews. But if we are all descendants of Noah, who was a Jew, shouldn't that made us all Jews?
I thought Adam was the first Jew. If Abraham was a Jew, shouldn't Noah be a Jew too? If I'm a Chinese, one of my ancestors must be a Chinese.
Now, you're getting me confused. Noah was the first Jew, now is Abraham.
I understood that Abraham is the patriarch of Jews. But I don't think he was the first Jew. It's similar to Joseph Kennedy is the patriarch of the Kennedy's clan but he was not the first Kennedy ever.
Did God just arbitrarily give Abraham and his descendants the tile of "Jew"? I take it that his nephew, Lot, was not a Jew but God was merciful enough to save him and his daughters.
Abraham was the first Hebrew. Hebrew means "to cross over". Literally Abraham crossed over a river, spiritually he crossed over from believing in many gods to believing in the One True God.
The descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are known as Israelites from when God changed Jacobs name from Jacob which means "supplanter" to "Israel" which means "one who contends with God".
The Jewish people are from the tribe of Judah, one of Jacob/Israel's sons, there were originally 12 tribes. If you read the Old Testament you will see that God scattered the tribes into all the world after they served other gods, firstly through Babylon. He said he would bring back a remnant who would worship him. This was the tribe of Judah. From then on the descendants of Abraham who have survived have been known as Jews because they were the predominant tribe that was left, although a few of other tribes remained, the Apostle Paul says that he is from the Tribe of Benjamin.
When God chose the people of Israel to set them apart for himself they became Holy to him.
All other people on the earth are known as "Goyim" in Hebrew, gentiles in English.
Hope this explains a little
Judaism was introduced by Moses. Before that, you might consider it to be "proto-Judaism."