Who are the Gentiles that the Bible speaks about?
Let’s look at a verse that speaks of Gentiles. Romans 9:24 says, “Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” The Greek work for Gentile is “ethnos.” It is where we get the word “ethnic” and means a race, a tribe, a nation, or people. As you can see from the verse we just read the Gentiles were separate from the Jews. When scripture uses the word ‘Gentile’ it is referring to a nation or people other than the Jewish people. It is used in reference to ‘other nations.’
The Apostle Paul, although a Jew, was the apostle to the Gentiles. Let’s read what Paul says in Romans 11:13 which says, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.” Notice that the epistles that Paul wrote were to Gentile churches, such as the church in Corinth, or the church in Galatia.
Sometimes in the scriptures, the Greek word, “ethnos” is translated “nation” as in Matthew 24:9 which says, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” Simply put, anyone that is not Jewish is a Gentile.