Richard Carrier - Think for Yourself 5

### **God-Fearers in Judaism: Ancient Converts on the Fringes**

In the late Second Temple period and early rabbinic era, **"God-Fearers"** (Greek: *Theosebeis* / Hebrew: *Yirei Shamayim*, "Fearers of Heaven") were non-Jews who admired and partially observed Judaism without undergoing full conversion. They occupied a unique space between paganism and Jewish identity.

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### **1. Who Were the God-Fearers?**
- **Gentiles attracted to Judaism** but unwilling to take on full Torah obligations (circumcision, kosher laws, etc.).
- **Associated with synagogues** in the Hellenistic and Roman world (Acts 10:2, 13:16).
- **Observed some Jewish practices**:
- Keeping the Sabbath
- Avoiding idolatry
- Giving charity to Jewish communities
- Sometimes following dietary restrictions

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### **2. Biblical & Historical Evidence**
#### **A. Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) Precedents**
- **"Ger Toshav" (Resident Alien)** – A non-Israelite living among Jews who followed basic Noahide laws (Exodus 12:48-49, Leviticus 24:22).
- **Naaman the Syrian** (2 Kings 5:17-18) – A foreign general who worshipped God but still had pagan duties.

#### **B. New Testament References**
- **Cornelius (Acts 10)** – A Roman centurion called a "God-Fearer" who prayed and gave alms but was not circumcised.
- **Lydia (Acts 16:14)** – A Gentile woman who worshipped God and joined Paul’s mission.

#### **C. Roman & Jewish Sources**
- **Josephus** mentions Gentiles supporting Jerusalem’s Temple.
- **Synagogue inscriptions** (e.g., Aphrodisias, 3rd century CE) list "God-Fearers" as donors.

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### **3. Rabbinic Judaism’s View**
- **Noahide Laws** – The rabbis formalized the concept of righteous Gentiles who follow the **Seven Laws of Noah** (Sanhedrin 56a).
- **Partial Observance Controversy** – Some sages (like Rabbi Eliezer) discouraged half-conversion, while others tolerated it.
- **Not Full Converts** – Unlike *gerim* (converts), God-Fearers were not bound by all 613 mitzvot.

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### **4. Decline & Legacy**
- **Christianity absorbed many God-Fearers** – Early Christian evangelists (like Paul) targeted them as they were already sympathetic to monotheism.
- **Later Jewish history** – The concept evolved into the **"Noahide"** category, recognized in Maimonides’ laws.

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### **Modern Parallels?**
- **Noahide Movement** – Some non-Jews today adopt Noahide laws under Orthodox Jewish guidance.
- **"Judaically-Inclined" Gentiles** – Many people study Kabbalah or Jewish ethics without converting.

Would you like deeper analysis on a specific aspect (e.g., Acts’ portrayal vs. rabbinic texts)?