Q: Is it correct to say that all Gentiles who receive [salvation] are spiritual Jews? —Elaine
A: Gentile Christians don’t become “spiritual Jews.” The term “Jew” or “Jewish” is a cultural/ethnic term, not a spiritual one. Although some Jews are spiritually the “seed of Abraham” (Galatians 3:1-7, 29), being Jewish has to do with whether one keeps Jewish traditions or has Jewish ancestry, not one’s relationship to God.
The term “Jew” (Yehudi), is derived from the kingdom of Judah (Yehuda), the southern Israelite kingdom that retained its independence for approximately 135 years after Assyria conquered the northern kingdom and took its leading citizens into captivity.
During the intertestamental period (the time period between the writing of the Old and New Testaments), many Gentiles accepted the faith of Israel and became Jews. (See Shlomo Sand, The Invention of the Jewish People.)
When the gospel was given and the church established by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18), however, both Jewish and Gentile believers became members of one body (Romans 11:11-24; Ephesians 2:13-17; 3:6). —Dan Vander Lugt
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mike wittmer on November 7, 2013 at 1:01 pm
Thank you, Dan. I had never made that connection between the term “Jew” and “Judah.” It’s not as obvious in English! I like your answer that Christians don’t become Jews but together we form a new body in Christ.