What is a heathen?

The Hebrew word goi is also translated 'Gentiles,' and 'people,' and very often 'nations:' it is used in contrast to Israel irrespective of those designated being civilised or not. All the nations were idolaters, but this is not implied in the word goi, nor in the ἔθνος of the N.T., which is more frequently translated 'nations' and 'Gentiles.' In Matt. 18:17 ἐθνικός has a peculiar application: if an offending brother will not bear the church, the injunction is "let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican," that is, as an outsider, the heathen being outside the privileges of Israel, as one to be avoided: cf. Rom. 16:17; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14.

The reader will further find — that we have translated "nations" (nationen) instead of "heathen" (Heiden), and for this reason, that the latter designation, used in our days as the term for unconverted idolaters, is not always its representative. Undoubtedly, in former times, all not Jews were idolaters; for men had turned away from God. The grace which has visited the nations has, however, changed all; and although, in contrast to the Jews, they have not ceased to be "nations," they are now no longer "heathen." This is the reason why we chose "nations" as a general designation, although this word is an imported one. We could not say "peoples" (völker), because the Jews were "the people" (volk). In the passages in which τὰ ἔθνη signifies a class and not the peoples, we have translated the word by the expression "those of the nations."

The word translated, "heathen" is the one that frequently occurs in the Old Testament to indicate the various nations of the earth apart from Israel. A more literal translation renders the opening words thus, "Why are the nations in tumultuous agitation, and why do the peoples meditate a vain thing?" With this simple explanation the words become luminous, and express exactly what any one of us might wish to enquire concerning the agitated nations of today.

Many of our readers are no doubt aware that the words translated "Gentiles," whether in the Old Testament or in the New, simply denote "nations." Any distinctive use of these words must therefore have commenced when God had selected one nation, Israel, from among the rest, to be peculiarly His own. Israel thus became the one nation, owned, protected, and blest of the Lord; while all others began to be designated "the nations" or "Gentiles," as distinct from the one thus favoured and chosen of God. All that is written in the Old Testament, whether of Israel or "the Gentiles," may be referred to as illustrative of this remark.

A name commonly used in scripture to denote any and every nation except Israel. At times, when Israel as a people is referred to, the same words are used for them. Thus

goi, γοι, ἔθνος, is translated 'nation,' and refers to the Jewish nation. Deut. 26:5; Luke 7:5; John 11:48. In the plural the same words refer to the nations generally in distinction from Israel, and are translated 'nations,' 'Gentiles,' and 'heathen.' Deut. 18:9; Deut. 32:43; Isa. 60:3; Isa. 62:2; Joel 2:19; Acts 11:1, 18; Acts:13:19; Acts 28:28; etc.

In the N.T. ἔθνος is twice rendered 'people': Acts 8:9, referring to the Samaritans, who could not well be called a nation, and who differed from the Gentiles; and Rom. 10:19, which is a quotation from Deut. 32:21. In the plural it is commonly translated 'Gentiles' as a proper name, and 'nation' or 'nations' as an appellative; in a few instances 'heathen,' but it would be better 'nations.'

We must remember that there were no original heathen, but that men got into that condition, because they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, as Romans 1:28 tells us.

"The heathen," (ver. 8) means, as in other places, the various Gentile nations who had not the knowledge of God as Israel had. When the Lord Jesus ascends the throne, then indeed will it be said, "God reigns over the heathen." The nations will have been subdued by judgment, but not only this, there will also be found those of the nations who have gladly received Him. In the New Translation the first part of verse 9 reads thus: "The willing-hearted of the peoples have gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham." This makes the matter pretty clear.

*It may be interesting to some to state that there are four words used in the Old Testament for people and peoples — one always in the singular, either "the people" or "my people" for Israel; another in the plural to indicate the heathen or nations who are in contrast with Israel as the people of God — Israel is once so designated to mark its guilt in Psalm 43:1; another for the peoples and nations in general on the earth, the various races of mankind; and lastly one for "the nations, viewed, I think, in connection with Israel restored, and taken into relationship with Jehovah." (See The Synopsis, by J. N. Darby, vol. ii.).

*It may be interesting to some to state that there are four words used in the Old Testament for people and peoples — one always in the singular, either "the people" or "my people" for Israel; another in the plural to indicate the heathen or nations who are in contrast with Israel as the people of God — Israel is once so designated to mark its guilt in Psalm 43:1; another for the peoples and nations in general on the earth, the various races of mankind; and lastly one for "the nations, viewed, I think, in connection with Israel restored, and taken into relationship with Jehovah." (See The Synopsis, by J. N. Darby, vol. ii.).