Jesus: "Don't tell the gentiles!"

[richardm]

I seem to recall reading something along the lines of "when St. Paul started popularising Christianity he was happy to spread the word to the Gentiles, something Jesus had specifically said not to do".

Now, I can't find the original article, and I can't find any passage in the bible that appears to support the contention (although I must admit I haven't looked that hard!).

Can anyone help?

 

[LW]

Now, I can't find the original article, and I can't find any passage in the bible that appears to support the contention (although I must admit I haven't looked that hard!).

Matthew 10:5-14:

5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.

11“Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

The same chapter contains also this prophesy:

23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

I wonder which cities of Israel are still unvisited by missionaries...

 

[geni]

Re: Re: Jesus: "Don't tell the gentiles!"

Matthew 10:5-14:


The same chapter contains also this prophesy:

I wonder which cities of Israel are still unvisited by missionaries...

The ones that haven't been built yet?

 

[richardm]

Many thanks

 

[Bikewer]

Though it's a bit fuzzy, I seem to recall from Lost Christianities that some proto-orthodox sects felt they should keep things to themselves...


To me, this is one of Christianity's weaknesses. If "salvation" is conditional on hearing the "good news" and accepting Jesus as one's saviour, then there should have been a better method of getting the information out.

No one much heard of Christianity at all for the first couple of hundred years, and the religion didn't form an orthodoxy till 400 AD (or CE...). Widespread invasion of Europe by 1000 AD or so, but essentially none elsewhere.
Remote and/or politically controlled areas of the world are still ignorant of Jesus and Christianity. How many millions of people have died in utter ignorance of their promised salvation?

 

[spectacle]

most of the early christians were converted gentile/pagans. think about it, judaism wasnt a very large religion ever. most early christians were not against getting gentiles into the movement, the big issue was whether or not they had to become jewish first. as for what jesus said about them joining, well that depends which book you quote. in luke/acts its clear that jesus died for everyone, in matthew jesus does not care about gentiles or even jews that deny him.

 

[username]

Re: Re: Jesus: "Don't tell the gentiles!"

I wonder which cities of Israel are still unvisited by missionaries... [/B]

Ah, but cities=whole world. And we have yet to send missionaries to the whole world. Oh wait...

Maybe Jebus meant...(space left open for 1inchrist or lifegazer or some other nutjob to fill in the blank)

 

[Skeptical Greg]

Here is another..

Matt 15

22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Apologetics will dance all over this example of bigotry by Jesus, as if verse 28 somehow negates everthing that came before.