A “heathen” is someone who does not worship the God of the Bible. The word itself comes from the Old English word “hæðen,” meaning someone who lives on the heath or open country. In the Bible, the Hebrew word “goyim” and the Greek word “ethnos” are often translated as “heathen” or “Gentiles,” referring to people who did not worship Yahweh, the God of Israel.
In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel was set apart to worship Yahweh exclusively. The neighboring nations were polytheistic, worshiping multiple gods. As a monotheistic people, the Israelites viewed polytheistic religions as idolatrous and sinful. God commanded Israel in Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Since the surrounding nations did not worship Yahweh, the Israelites considered them “heathen.”
The prophet Jeremiah criticized Israel’s neighbors for worshiping gods that “are not gods” (Jeremiah 2:11). The Psalms declare that “all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols” (Psalm 96:5). The Israelites were forbidden to intermarry with the heathen nations, because doing so would lead God’s people into idolatry (see Ezra 9:1-2). So in the Old Testament context, “heathen” referred to Gentile polytheists who did not worship the true God.
In the New Testament, the concept of “heathen” takes on new meaning. The Gospel is to be preached to “all nations” (Matthew 28:19), including the Gentiles. Acts 10 tells the story of the Roman centurion Cornelius coming to faith in Christ. Referring to Gentiles like Cornelius, Peter says, “God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean” (Acts 10:28). The dividing wall between Jew and Gentile is broken down (Ephesians 2:14). Followers of Jesus are now defined not by ethnicity but by faith (see Galatians 3:7).
However, the New Testament continues to use the term “heathen” for those who do not worship God. In Matthew 18:17, Jesus refers to an unrepentant sinner as a “pagan” or Gentile. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:1 about sexual immorality that even “pagans” do not tolerate. The Ephesians are reminded that formerly they “were Gentiles in the flesh” who lived in sensuality and idolatry (Ephesians 2:11, 4:17). Paul observes in 1 Thessalonians 4:5 that the pagans are “not acquainted with God.”
So while the wall between Jews and Gentiles is removed in Christ, the distinction remains between those who worship God and those who do not. Followers of Jesus are called to go into all the world, preaching the Gospel and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The heathen are still marked by their idolatry and immorality, but now have the opportunity to repent and believe in the true God through faith in Christ.
In summary, the biblical perspective on heathens is that they are those who do not know God and practice idolatry. In the Old Testament, the heathen nations did not worship Yahweh. In the New Testament, the heathen are still marked by their sin and false gods. But the message of salvation in Jesus Christ is now offered to all peoples, including heathen Gentiles. The goal of Christian missions is to make disciples of Christ throughout the heathen world.
Old Testament Background on Heathens
The Old Testament makes a sharp distinction between the Israelites who worshipped Yahweh, and the neighboring nations who worshipped false gods.
1. The nations surrounding Israel were polytheistic and idolatrous. They worshipped Canaanite gods like Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech, and Chemosh (Judges 2:11-13; 1 Kings 11:5). Pagan religions often involved child sacrifice, temple prostitution, and fertility rituals (Leviticus 18:21; 1 Kings 14:24).
2. God strictly forbade Israel from following the religious practices of the heathen nations. The Israelites were to destroy the Canaanite altars and idols when they entered the Promised Land (Exodus 34:13). God commanded, “You must not worship the Lord your God in their way” (Deuteronomy 12:4).
3. The Israelites were warned against intermarriage with the heathen, lest they turn God’s people toward idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:3-4; Ezra 9:2). God instructed Israel to completely avoid the wicked practices of the pagans (Leviticus 18:24-30).
4. The prophets often rebuked Israel for adopting the ways of the heathen. The Israelites worshipped Canaanite gods (Judges 2:12), practiced divination and sorcery (2 Kings 17:17), and built pagan altars on high places (1 Kings 14:23). Jeremiah accused Israel of having a “heathen’s lust” for foreign gods (Jeremiah 2:23-25).
5. God judged the heathen nations for their many sins. Their idolatry and immorality resulted in divine punishment (Jeremiah 5:29). God scattered the nations at Babel for their rebellion (Genesis 11:8). Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their wickedness (Genesis 18:20). Israel was God’s instrument to punish the pagan Canaanites (Deuteronomy 20:16-18).
6. The psalms and prophets declare that the heathen gods are worthless idols, but Yahweh is the one true God who rules over all nations (Psalm 96:5; Isaiah 37:19; Daniel 2:47). Though the nations rage, God sits enthroned over them (Psalm 2:1-6).
So in the Old Testament, “heathen” referred to Gentiles who worshipped false gods and engaged in immoral pagan practices. By contrast, Israel was set apart as God’s covenant people to worship Yahweh exclusively as the one true God.
New Testament Perspective on Heathens
While maintaining a distinction between followers of Christ and the idolatrous heathen, the New Testament breaks down barriers to extend salvation to the Gentile nations.
1. Jesus ministered in Gentile regions like Tyre and Sidon, commending the faith of non-Jewish people (Matthew 15:21-28; Luke 7:1-9). Christ came to save people from all nations (Luke 2:32; John 10:16).
2. The Great Commission commands making disciples of all nations – the “heathen” Gentiles (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). The apostles preached the Gospel to Greeks and Romans throughout the Empire (Acts 14:1, 16:6-40, 17:16-34).
3. Gentiles like Cornelius received the Spirit and were baptized upon believing, as the Church expanded beyond Judaism (Acts 10). In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free (Galatians 3:28).
4. However, the New Testament still warned against reverting to heathenism. Peter and Paul condemned Gentile vices like lust, drunkenness, idolatry and debauchery (1 Peter 4:3; Ephesians 4:17-19; 1 Corinthians 5:1).
5. Scripture urges believers not to partner with unbelievers, but to come out from heathen culture and be set apart (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Christians are to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11).
6. Missions in Acts focused on urban centers full of heathen temples like Lystra, Athens and Ephesus (Acts 14:8-18; 17:16-34; 19:23-41). Paul declared that God overlooks pagan ignorance but now commands all to repent (Acts 17:30).
7. Revelation describes end times judgment on the immoral, idolatrous culture called “Babylon” (Revelation 17-18). But people from every nation will worship before God’s throne (Revelation 7:9).
So the New Testament maintains a distinction between the holy and the heathen, while extending salvation to all peoples. Followers of Jesus are called to be light in the darkness by reaching the lost yet remaining unpolluted by the world.
Heathen Practices Condemned in Scripture
The Bible condemns certain heathen practices as idolatrous, immoral and antithetical to the worship of the one true God.
– Idolatry – worshiping images representing false gods (Isaiah 44:9-20; 1 Corinthians 10:14)
– Human sacrifice – murdering children as offerings to idols (Leviticus 18:21; 2 Kings 17:31)
– Occultism – divination, sorcery, witchcraft, necromancy (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Galatians 5:20)
– Temple prostitution – sexual immorality connected to pagan fertility religion (1 Kings 14:24; Acts 15:20)
– Sexual immorality – perverted practices like homosexuality, bestiality, adultery (Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 5:1)
– Drunkenness and debauchery – wild, lewd parties tied to pagan festivals (Romans 13:13; 1 Peter 4:3-4)
– Violence – cruel practices like child sacrifice and mutilation (Deuteronomy 12:31; Psalms 106:35)
– False philosophy – man-made myths and empty deception (Colossians 2:8)
– Greed and materialism – living for wealth and pleasure (Ephesians 4:17-19; 1 Timothy 6:9-10)
In contrast, true worship of God is characterized by holiness, sexual purity, love, humility, and care for the vulnerable. Christians must reject the sins of the heathen and live according to God’s standards.
How Should Christians Relate to Heathens?
1. Share the Gospel – The Great Commission calls us to make disciples of all nations, including heathen Gentiles (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8).
2. Call to repentance – Like Paul in Athens, we must call pagan unbelievers to turn from false gods and repent (Acts 17:16-34).
3. Avoid compromise – Do not partner with unbelievers or adopt their sinful practices (2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:7-12).
4. Be separate – Come out from heathen culture and be set apart in holiness as God’s people (2 Corinthians 6:17).
5. Be wise, not naive – Be aware of pagan deception and shine light into darkness (Matthew 10:16; Ephesians 5:6-17).
6. Care for the vulnerable – Always defend the oppressed, weak, poor (Jeremiah 22:3; Galatians 2:10).
7. Love unbelievers – Though separated from sin, we must love heathens as our mission field (Matthew 5:44; Jude 22-23).
8. Trust fully in God – No matter how dark heathen culture becomes, our sovereign God reigns (Psalm 2; Revelation 21:1-8).
Key Bible Verses
Here are some key Bible passages about heathens:
– “Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves melted gods; I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:4)
– “Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods.” (Deuteronomy 7:3-4)
– “For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.” (Psalm 96:5)
– “Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon turn my hand against their foes.” (Psalm 81:13-14)
– “Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘You must not eat any fat of an ox, a sheep or a goat. The fat of an animal found dead or torn by wild animals may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it.” (Leviticus 7:23-24)
– “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” (Hebrews 8:13)
– “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 3:10)
– “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19)
– “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
– “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
Examples of Heathens Converting to Christianity
Here are some biblical examples of heathens leaving their false gods to follow the true God:
– The Ethiopian Eunuch – This royal official from a distant land was worshipping in Jerusalem but did not know God. After hearing the Gospel from Philip, he believed in Jesus Christ and was baptized (Acts 8:26-39).
– Cornelius – A Roman centurion, he was a devout Gentile seeking God. Peter shared the Gospel with Cornelius and his household, who believed and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10).
– Lydia – She was a Gentile merchant and worshipper of God in Philippi. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message about Jesus, and she was baptized (Acts 16:13-15).
– Dionysius the Areopagite – When Paul preached the Gospel in Athens, Dionysius was among those who converted to faith in Christ, forsaking the Greek gods (Acts 17:34).
– Pagans in Ephesus – Hearing the word of the Lord, many who had practiced sorcery repented of their occult arts and publicly burned their magic books (Acts 19:17-20).
– Nebuchadnezzar – The Babylonian king praised the God of Daniel for His supreme power, renouncing pagan gods and astrology (Daniel 2:46-47; 4:34-37).
– Ruth – As a Moabite widow, she left behind her pagan roots to embrace the God of Israel after encountering the faithful witness of Naomi (Book of Ruth).
– Roman Emperor Constantine – Raised as a pagan worshipper of the sun, Constantine converted to Christianity and eventually made it the Empire’s official religion.
– Augustine – After following astrology and the pagan philosophies of Manichaeism and Neoplatonism, Augustine converted to Christ in 386 and became a great theologian.
How Christians Should Relate to Their Pagan Pasts
For believers who were formerly heathens, here are some principles from Scripture on relating to your pagan past:
1. Thankfulness – Be grateful you were saved out of your ignorant unbelief and brought into relationship with God (Galatians 4:8-9; Colossians 1:13-14).
2. Humility – Remember you were lost and dead in your sin like all unbelievers (Ephesians 2:1-5). Boast only in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).
3. Caution – Do not return to your former ways or idolatry like a dog to its vomit (2 Peter 2:20-22). Flee from sin (1 Corinthians 6:18; 10:14).
4. Separation – Cut ties and come out completely from the unfruitful works of darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:3-14).
5. Holiness – Pursue sanctification, growing in righteousness and purity as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8).
6. Grace – Show grace and patience toward pagans you encounter, as God showed you mercy (Titus 3:3-7; Jude 22-23).
7. Witness – Share your testimony of God’s redeeming work. Be bold to share the Gospel with other lost souls (Acts 26:1-23; 1 Peter 3:15).
8. Discernment – Use spiritual wisdom to identify and reject any false ideas that linger from your pagan background (1 John 4:1-3).
9. Perseverance – Continue growing in your new faith and walk with Christ (Colossians 1:21-23). The old life has passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17).