Righteous Gentiles in the Bible
Quick Summary
Who are the righteous Gentiles in the Bible? Rahab, Ruth, Naaman, and the Roman Centurion are among the clearest examples. Though outside the covenant people of Israel, they display remarkable faith, reverence, and trust in the God of Israel. Their inclusion in the biblical story shows that God's grace and favor were never limited to ethnicity or geography. These individuals become not just participants but heralds of God's larger redemptive plan.
Introduction: Who Are the Righteous Gentiles?
In both the Old and New Testaments, certain non-Israelites stand out as examples of extraordinary faith. They are sometimes referred to as "righteous Gentiles" or "God-fearers." These figures did not grow up within the bounds of covenantal Israel, but through acts of trust, humility, and devotion, they aligned themselves with the purposes of God. Their stories disrupt any neat division between "insider" and "outsider," offering a glimpse into the universal scope of God’s mercy.
These Gentiles don’t simply receive kindness—they become agents of faith, often surpassing the Israelites in spiritual sensitivity. In a Bible that is often concerned with covenant, lineage, and chosenness, the stories of Rahab, Ruth, Naaman, and the Centurion remind us that righteousness is not inherited, but chosen.
Rahab: Faith in the Face of Judgment (Joshua 2; Hebrews 11:31)
Rahab is introduced in Joshua 2 as a prostitute in Jericho, a city doomed to fall before the Israelites. Yet she is more than a background character. When Israelite spies enter the city, Rahab hides them and expresses a startling confession: "The Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below" (Joshua 2:11, NRSV).
This woman, likely marginalized even in her own city, recognizes the authority of Israel's God before many Israelites do. She acts to preserve the spies, negotiates protection for her household, and ties a scarlet cord in her window as a sign of salvation (Joshua 2:18-21). Later, in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25, Rahab is honored for her faith and righteousness.
Rahab’s faith is active. She trusts not just in the concept of God but in God's redemptive power. Though a Gentile and a sinner, she becomes part of the covenantal story—and later, a direct ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).
Ruth: Loyalty as Covenant (Ruth 1–4; Matthew 1:5)
The Moabites were historically excluded from Israel’s worshiping community (Deuteronomy 23:3), and yet Ruth, a Moabite woman, becomes a symbol of covenantal loyalty and divine inclusion. Her story begins with personal tragedy—a foreign widow in a foreign land—but it turns when she chooses to remain with her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi.
Ruth's iconic pledge, "Your people shall be my people, and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16, NRSV), reveals not just familial loyalty but spiritual conversion. She gleans in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi, and ultimately becomes part of the lineage of King David.
The book of Ruth celebrates kindness (chesed), and Ruth’s actions embody it. She is praised as a "woman of worth" (Ruth 3:11). Her inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) highlights the radical inclusivity of God's redemptive plan.
Naaman: Healing and Humility (2 Kings 5)
Naaman is a military commander of Aram, a Gentile nation and frequent enemy of Israel. Yet he is described in 2 Kings 5 as a "great man" who suffers from leprosy. His path to healing is not marked by prestige but by obedience and humility.
Directed by a captive Israelite servant girl to seek out the prophet Elisha, Naaman travels to Israel. When told to wash in the Jordan River seven times, he initially resists the simplicity and perceived indignity of the act. But when he submits, his skin is restored.
More importantly, Naaman’s heart is changed. He confesses, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel" (2 Kings 5:15, NRSV). His transformation is not just physical but theological. He asks to take Israelite soil back home, symbolizing his allegiance to the Lord.
Naaman’s story mirrors the path of many believers: resistance, followed by surrender, and then transformation. His journey reminds readers that God's grace is not bound by national borders or cultural pedigree.
The Roman Centurion: Faith that Amazes Jesus (Matthew 8:5–13; Luke 7:1–10)
In the New Testament, the Roman centurion who seeks healing for his servant is another example of a righteous Gentile. Despite his military rank and Roman background, he approaches Jesus with humility: "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof" (Matthew 8:8).
He understands authority and applies it spiritually. Just as he gives commands and they are obeyed, he believes Jesus can heal with a mere word. Jesus marvels at this: "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith" (Matthew 8:10, NRSV).
This is high praise. Jesus then proclaims that "many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 8:11). The centurion’s story is not just about healing but about the expanding kingdom of God, one in which Gentiles of great faith are welcomed.
Righteous Gentiles and the Gospel Vision
These four figures – Rahab, Ruth, Naaman, and the Roman centurion – each highlight an aspect of what it means to be righteous in the eyes of God. Rahab shows courage, Ruth loyalty, Naaman obedience, and the Centurion humility.
Together, their stories point to the wideness of God's mercy. They are not side characters; they are theological signposts. Their inclusion in Scripture challenges readers to think beyond the boundaries of tribe, nation, or background. They show that the kingdom of God is open to all who seek, trust, and obey.
In many ways, their stories anticipate the message of Paul: that in Christ, "there is no longer Jew or Greek" (Galatians 3:28). These righteous Gentiles were the early echoes of a truth that would become central in the gospel.
Works Consulted
Bruce, F. F. The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? InterVarsity Press, 1984.
Levine, Amy-Jill, and Brettler, Marc Zvi. The Jewish Annotated New Testament. Oxford University Press, 2011.
FAQ
What does the Bible mean by "righteous Gentile"?
While not a formal biblical term, "righteous Gentile" generally refers to a non-Israelite who demonstrates faith in the God of Israel and acts in accordance with God's will.
How is Rahab a righteous Gentile?
Rahab protected Israelite spies, declared faith in Israel's God, and was spared during the conquest of Jericho. She's commended in Hebrews 11 and James 2 for her faith and actions.
Why is Ruth significant as a Gentile?
Ruth, a Moabite, chose to remain with Naomi and adopted Israel’s God as her own. Her loyalty and faith led to her inclusion in the genealogy of David and Jesus.
Is Naaman considered a convert to Judaism?
Not formally, but he expressed devotion to the God of Israel, refused to worship other gods, and took Israelite soil back with him—a symbolic gesture of allegiance.
Did Jesus praise Gentiles?
Yes. Jesus praised the Roman centurion's faith and predicted that many Gentiles would enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:10-11).
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