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How many gentiles did Jesus convert to his religion?

Bear Wild

Well-Known Member
Jesus is the symbol for Christianity but despite reading the new and old testament's over and over again I can not find out how many gentiles he converted to his religion. The other question is would the religion Jesus would have converted them to have been the Jewish religion or to a new religion worshiping him?
 

Duke_Leto

Active Member
Probably none. The gospels record that he spent his life in Judea.

As to your second question, at the time they would have been considered a sect of Judaism.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Didnt they travel to different continent (cant think of the term) Asia, etc to convert people (the apostles)? Acts, I believe they were converting people.
 

lukethethird

unknown member
42, and to your second question, the gentiles proved to be more gullible so a new religion that worshiped Him is the correct answer, unless I am wrong about that.
 

Bear Wild

Well-Known Member
42, and to your second question, the gentiles proved to be more gullible so a new religion that worshiped Him is the correct answer, unless I am wrong about that.
42? That is interesting where did you find that information? Did he convert them to the Jewish religion?
 

lukethethird

unknown member
42 is the safe answer for any unknown number, it might have originated in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe.
 

74x12

Well-Known Member
Jesus is the symbol for Christianity but despite reading the new and old testament's over and over again I can not find out how many gentiles he converted to his religion. The other question is would the religion Jesus would have converted them to have been the Jewish religion or to a new religion worshiping him?
Jesus did seem to win many gentiles but He held off on actually converting them to Judaism. Instead, He wanted them to wait until after the passion. There is a good reason He did this.

When Jesus went to Syria many crowds followed Him and He healed them all. But now we see people hating on the Syrian people and it's a shame because Jesus loved them a lot.

And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. (Matthew 4:24)​

When Jesus went to the country of the Gergesenes; He delivered a man with many demons who was quite possibly a gentile. The country of the Gergesenes was actually an area that had been colonised by Greeks. They built 10 cities there and so the name of that region was "decapolis" or translated from Greek; it is 10 cities.

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. (Matthew 8:28)​

Note, that Jesus did not let this man follow Him after He was delivered from the demons. Instead, Jesus told him to go home to his home city and tell everyone about what God had done for him. So, Jesus apparently did not demand that he convert to Judaism.

Jesus also went to the Samaritans and many of them believed in Him.

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:42)​

Later, some Greeks heard about Jesus and wanted to see Him, but it is not recorded that Jesus spoke to them. Only He said that "a corn of wheat" abides alone unless it falls in the ground and dies. By this Jesus was signifying that the gentiles would be saved through His death.

And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (Excerpt John 12)​

In conclusion Jesus message to the gentiles He met everywhere was not to convert to Judaism. Rather it was for them to wait until after the "passion" was fulfilled. That is the death, burial and resurrection. Then they would be saved by the gospel.

As it was promised of the Messiah:

And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6)​
 
The Lord Jesus has saved a vast number of both Jews and Gentiles that no man can number. And He is still converting the souls of men today. We know it is so, because when His saving work on earth is done, He will make an end of this heaven and earth and make them anew for His people to dwell in, a land wherein dwells righteousness.
 

pearl

Well-Known Member
Jesus is the symbol for Christianity but despite reading the new and old testament's over and over again I can not find out how many gentiles he converted to his religion.

I think Jesus' intention was to renew his own religion, with his own people, not looking to convert gentiles who were not included in his mission.
 

paarsurrey

Veteran Member
Jesus is the symbol for Christianity but despite reading the new and old testament's over and over again I can not find out how many gentiles he converted to his religion. The other question is would the religion Jesus would have converted them to have been the Jewish religion or to a new religion worshiping him?

Jesus converted no gentiles to Christianity, but Jesus was a Jew and he converted many to the Law of Moses or Judaism, and only that was his mission. Jesus was not a Christian and he converted none to the so called Pauline-"Christianity", please.

Regards
 

Bear Wild

Well-Known Member
Jesus converted no gentiles to Christianity, but Jesus was a Jew and he converted many to the Law of Moses or Judaism, and only that was his mission. Jesus was not a Christian and he converted none to the so called Pauline-"Christianity", please.

Regards
I would agree with you comment. To me it was Saul/Paul who created Christianity using Jesus as the symbol. I cannot find in any source that Jesus wanted to create a religion focused on him that would be a separate religion from Judaism. It seems that Paul found more followers that were gentiles than those from the Jewish faith and in a sense created Christianity.
 

KingSolomon

Member
Jesus is the symbol for Christianity but despite reading the new and old testament's over and over again I can not find out how many gentiles he converted to his religion. The other question is would the religion Jesus would have converted them to have been the Jewish religion or to a new religion worshiping him?

Matthew 23:15
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.


Apparently brother J did not have much love for converting nonJews. The reason for that possibility is that he was a Galilean and the people of Galilee did not like nonJews in contradistinction to the Pharisees who DID want to convert gentiles. His sect promoted teaching ignorant Jews about the Kingdom of Heaven since he believed that the Jewish nation would usher in that Kingdom when the messianic age began.

Matthew 10: 6, 7
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’…


Matthew 15:26
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. But Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”


How much clearer does one have to make it? But if brother J were to have converted gentiles, he'd have converted them to his brand of Jewish religion because when he was alive, that's the only religion he knew and he felt faithful to the TORAH.
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
Jesus is the symbol for Christianity but despite reading the new and old testament's over and over again I can not find out how many gentiles he converted to his religion.
There's literally no way of knowing, especially since such accounts are highly subjective to begin with.
 

The Anointed

Well-Known Member
Jesus is the symbol for Christianity but despite reading the new and old testament's over and over again I can not find out how many gentiles he converted to his religion. The other question is would the religion Jesus would have converted them to have been the Jewish religion or to a new religion worshiping him?

In answer to your first question; "How many Gentiles did Jesus convert to his religion," all you have to do is count the number of Christians in the world today, then deduct the number of Jews, who are but one tribe of Israel and who were converted to Christianity, plus all who were converted to Christianity from the 10 lost tribe of Israel, who are the lost sheep that Jesus spoke of, then add up what you have left and there is your answer.

As to your second question; "Jesus claimed that no one was GOOD, not even himself, but only our heavenly Father, who is the only one deserving of our worship."
 

Bear Wild

Well-Known Member
Jesus did seem to win many gentiles but He held off on actually converting them to Judaism. Instead, He wanted them to wait until after the passion. There is a good reason He did this.

When Jesus went to Syria many crowds followed Him and He healed them all. But now we see people hating on the Syrian people and it's a shame because Jesus loved them a lot.

And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. (Matthew 4:24)​

When Jesus went to the country of the Gergesenes; He delivered a man with many demons who was quite possibly a gentile. The country of the Gergesenes was actually an area that had been colonised by Greeks. They built 10 cities there and so the name of that region was "decapolis" or translated from Greek; it is 10 cities.

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. (Matthew 8:28)​

Note, that Jesus did not let this man follow Him after He was delivered from the demons. Instead, Jesus told him to go home to his home city and tell everyone about what God had done for him. So, Jesus apparently did not demand that he convert to Judaism.

Jesus also went to the Samaritans and many of them believed in Him.

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:42)​

Later, some Greeks heard about Jesus and wanted to see Him, but it is not recorded that Jesus spoke to them. Only He said that "a corn of wheat" abides alone unless it falls in the ground and dies. By this Jesus was signifying that the gentiles would be saved through His death.

And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (Excerpt John 12)​

In conclusion Jesus message to the gentiles He met everywhere was not to convert to Judaism. Rather it was for them to wait until after the "passion" was fulfilled. That is the death, burial and resurrection. Then they would be saved by the gospel.

As it was promised of the Messiah:

And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6)​

Did he tell them to wait until the passion was fulfilled. And wouldn't his message be to become Jewish since that was his religion? Your are quoting Isaiah not Jesus. Did Jesus say that he would be the light to the Gentiles. You need to be careful mixing passages.
 

Bear Wild

Well-Known Member
In answer to your first question; "How many Gentiles did Jesus convert to his religion," all you have to do is count the number of Christians in the world today, then deduct the number of Jews, who are but one tribe of Israel and who were converted to Christianity, plus all who were converted to Christianity from the 10 lost tribe of Israel, who are the lost sheep that Jesus spoke of, then add up what you have left and there is your answer.

As to your second question; "Jesus claimed that no one was GOOD, not even himself, but only our heavenly Father, who is the only one deserving of our worship."

No that conversion was not by Jesus but by those who created the Christian religion. If Jesus wanted to convert gentiles it seems he would have done it as a demonstration of how he viewed gentiles. But then wouldn't he have converted them to the Jewish faith?
 

74x12

Well-Known Member
Did he tell them to wait until the passion was fulfilled. And wouldn't his message be to become Jewish since that was his religion? Your are quoting Isaiah not Jesus. Did Jesus say that he would be the light to the Gentiles. You need to be careful mixing passages.
Why would He have them convert to Judaism? Read Acts chapter 15

Jesus Messiah fulfills the prophecies of Isaiah including being a Light to the gentiles.
See Luke 2:27-32
 

The Anointed

Well-Known Member
No that conversion was not by Jesus but by those who created the Christian religion. If Jesus wanted to convert gentiles it seems he would have done it as a demonstration of how he viewed gentiles. But then wouldn't he have converted them to the Jewish faith?

Matthew 28: 19; "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Baptising in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, is not a regulation of the Jewish faith, but a regulation of the new church of Jesus Christ and the millions of his disciples all around the earth, who have been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
I would agree with you comment. To me it was Saul/Paul who created Christianity using Jesus as the symbol.

What makes you say this? It is true that Paul wrote more that is recorded in Christian scripture than any of the 12....but then not many of the 12 ever wrote scripture anyway. Something to consider.....Paul was not taught second hand by the other apostles...he was taught by Jesus Christ directly like the other apostles were. He was used extensively to preach to the Gentiles but it was Peter who was sent to the first Gentile to accept Christ who was not a proselyte.

I cannot find in any source that Jesus wanted to create a religion focused on him that would be a separate religion from Judaism. It seems that Paul found more followers that were gentiles than those from the Jewish faith and in a sense created Christianity.

In the big picture we see ancient Israel regularly taking excursions into false religious practices...Baal worship, idols and even child sacrifice ....so it was no surprise that God sent his prophets to his wayward nation, who it seems could never stay on track spiritually speaking. They constantly broke the terms of their covenant. God never broke his terms to produce their Messiah.

Jesus gave a parable to explain the situation as God saw it....

"A man planted a vineyard and leased it to cultivators, and he traveled abroad for a considerable time. 10 In due season he sent a slave to the cultivators so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. The cultivators, however, sent him away empty-handed, after beating him. 11 But again he sent another slave. That one also they beat and humiliated and sent away empty-handed. 12 Yet again he sent a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. 13 At this the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my son, the beloved. They will likely respect this one.’ 14 When the cultivators caught sight of him, they reasoned with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him so that the inheritance may become ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill these cultivators and will give the vineyard to others.”

On hearing this, they said: “Never may that happen!” 17 But he looked straight at them and said: “What, then, does this mean where it is written: ‘The stone that the builders rejected, this has become the chief cornerstone’? 18 Everyone falling on that stone will be shattered. As for anyone on whom it falls, it will crush him.”
(Luke 20:9-18)

The 'cultivators' (Jews) treated the servants of the master (his prophets) with contempt, beat them up and sent them away empty handed. Finally when he sent his son, (Jesus Christ )he expected them to show some respect for this one, but they plotted to kill him and take the inheritance for themselves. What was the owner of the vineyard going to do with these evildoers? He was going to give them a taste of their own medicine.

Confirming this Jesus said of his countrymen...his spiritual brothers and sisters...."Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent to her—how often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you did not want it. 38 Look! Your house is abandoned to you. 39 For I say to you, you will by no means see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in Jehovah’s name!’" (Matthew 23:37-39)

Jesus came to show the "lost sheep" how to regain the pure worship they had lost thanks to the evil infiltration of human tradition, deliberate misinterpretation of scripture and open disobedience to God's commands. The worship initiated by God at Mount Sinai where the whole nation pledged to obey their God, was thrown aside, and Jesus came to reinstate it by shepherding the "lost sheep" into a new, clean pen with plenty to nourish them. It wasn't a new religion but a cleansing of the old and the institution of a new covenant that they already knew was coming. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

This is how I see the big picture with regard to Jesus creating a new religion.
 
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