How did Gentiles find God back then?

[JohnB445]

In the Era of the Patriarchs, King David, and in the Early days of Jesus?

1. Era of the Patriarchs, how would a gentile find God if he lived in ancient Greece?
2. Same with in the time of King David
3. How would a gentile know about Jesus in the early days where they were out of reach of the Apostolic ministry or died before the ministry reached them?

For 1, and 2 I would conclude that if a gentile really wanted to seek God, God would help them travel to Isreal. However, if they didn't and died before Jesus came they will be saved regardless because Jesus died for the sins of the whole world.

3. I'm not sure, maybe God won't hold them accountable if they had no chance or even knew about Jesus

Common Era (Present Time), Would this probably apply today like the tribes that haven't heard the gospel?

 

[Dave-W]

If they had no contract with the Jews- no chance to hear about the God of Israel.

And their fate is not addressed in the Bible so we do not know one way or the other. If God thought it was important to our walk, He would have said something.

All we can do is obey and preach/teach/be examples of the gospel to those around us.

 

[Monna]

God loved everybody back then as much He loves them now.
I submit that the question "how did Gentiles find God back then?" is the wrong question. Because they didn't, nor did the Jews.

The question assumes that it is people who find God. The Scriptures are quite clear that "no one seeks after God" and that the initiative is ALWAYS taken by God. In Psalm 53, just as the Father in the parable of the 'prodigal' son (luke 15), HE is looking for us. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." (John 6:44)

Psalm 53: 2-3
God looks down from heaven on humans
to see if anyone is wise,
to see if anyone seeks God.
But all have turned away.
Everyone is corrupt.
No one does good—
not even one person!

Read Romans 1, where Paul makes it very clear that there is and always was a huge amount of evidence of God around, in terrestrial nature as well as in "the heavens." Therefore "they have no excuse" but they didn't acknowledge God for whom He is, nor were they thankful, - let alone seek Him out.

But, God sought out men and women you can be sure. We just might be very surprised who we meet in the kingdom of God from those days. Remember Melchisedek ... who suddenly pops into the story, without any additional info? How many others like him might there be? Elijah thought he was alone in Ahab's kingdom, but God told him HE had 7000 who had not bowed down to Baal. He had them, they did not have him.

 

[St_Worm2]

In the Era of the Patriarchs, King David, and in the Early days of Jesus?

1. Era of the Patriarchs, how would a gentile find God if he lived in ancient Greece?
2. Same with in the time of King David
3. How would a gentile know about Jesus in the early days where they were out of reach of the Apostolic ministry or died before the ministry reached them?

For 1, and 2 I would conclude that if a gentile really wanted to seek God, God would help them travel to Isreal. However, if they didn't and died before Jesus came they will be saved regardless because Jesus died for the sins of the whole world.

3. I'm not sure, maybe God won't hold them accountable if they had no chance or even knew about Jesus

Common Era (Present Time), Would this probably apply today like the tribes that haven't heard the gospel?

Hi John, read Romans 2:12-16. It explains what happens to those who were not believers (those who did not look forward in faith to the Messiah to be saved), be they Jews who had the Law of Moses, or be they Gentiles, who may have had no other "law" than the one that is written on all of our hearts by God from birth.

Yours and His,
David
p.s. - as for how Gentiles found the living God from the time of Abraham onward, God tells Israel that:

Isaiah 43
10 "You are my witnesses", declares the Lord,
"And my servant whom I have chosen,
In order that you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
And there will be none after Me".​

 

[St_Worm2]

...if they didn't and died before Jesus came they will be saved regardless because Jesus died for the sins of the whole world.

3. I'm not sure, maybe God won't hold them accountable if they had no chance or even knew about Jesus

Hi John, Jesus died for all who "believe" .. e.g. Mark 16:16, John 3:16, John 5:24, Romans 10:9-10, 1 John 5:13.

If someone does not know Jesus as their Savior .. John 14:6, Acts of the Apostles 4:10-12, then they will be judged by God at the Great White Throne on the basis of what they do know and understand, even if that is nothing more than the law written on their hearts (at least this seems to be what will happen to them .. again, see Romans 2:12-16).

If what you are postulating above is true, that all who do 'not' know Jesus will be saved by default (IOW, will be saved simply because they don't know Him), then the BEST thing possible BY FAR for all of us would be to have NEVER heard a thing about Him, wouldn't it

There is also the Biblical problem with that idea as well, of course .. cf Matthew 7:22-23 & John 17:3.

--David

 

[St_Worm2]

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[The Gryphon]

Reappearance of Biblical “Ger”, Torah-Believing Non-Jew, Signals Coming Redemption
By Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler
Click to view article> Reappearance of Biblical “Ger”, Torah-Believing Non-Jew, Signals Coming Redemption