I’m currently doing a sermon series that is a little different than my normal approach. I’ve called it Pastor’s Perspective. During the month of August I collected written questions from the congregation. In this sermon series I am doing my best to answer the questions I received.
After collecting the questions, I came to the conclusion that some of them may be better answered in written form than through a full sermon. Consequently, some of the questions will be addressed here rather than in the form of a sermon.

On August 4th, 2024, I was handed this question about the biblical patriarch, Abraham. Here’s the question in its original form. “Question (actual opinion maybe). Is Abraham a Jew? Or Gentile? Before his grandson was named as Israel to start the Jewish nation.” I’m pretty sure this was prompted by the sermon series I was preaching at the time. It was an exposition of Romans 9-11 and had a lot to do with God’s continued faithfulness to Israel in light of the gospel being accepted by so many Gentiles.

After the devastation of the flood in the time of Noah, the world was repopulated through his three sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth and their wives (Genesis 10). The biblical account traces this development through their genealogies (Gen 10:2, 6, 21).

Abraham (originally named Abram) was a descendant of Shem (Gen 11:26). The terms “Semite” and “Semitic” refer to descendants of Shem, Noah’s son. We are sadly familiar with the term “anti-semitism” today, which, in its current usage refers specifically to the Jews. Yet the Jews are actually a subset of the descendants of Shem.

As the biblical record unfolds, the narrative is narrowed down to God’s dealings with Abraham (Gen 12:1-3). Abraham came from Ur of the Chaldeans, which was located in what is known today as the country of Iraq (Gen 11:31). Abraham, along with his father, wife, and nephew traveled from Ur to Haran, where the family settled (Gen 11:31).

Then God revealed Himself to Abraham, calling him to leave his father’s household behind (Gen 12:1). In this context, God made promises to Abraham. “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Gen 12:2-3). These are sweeping promises that carry implications all the way through the New Testament (Gal 3:8).

Eventually Abraham had a son, named Isaac. Though Abraham had other children who were blessed, the covenanted promises of God would flow through Isaac’s descendants (Gen 21:12). For the purposes of God’s promises, the children of Isaac were considered Abraham’s descendants. God also revealed Himself to Isaac (Gen 26:24-25).

Isaac eventually had a son, named Jacob. Jacob was later named Israel (Gen 32:28). The name means one who strives with God. The nation of Israel is named for this man and was developed through his twelve sons and their offspring.

Now, reference to “Jews” was not made until later in the Old Testament (2 Ki 16:6; 18:26, 28; 25:25; 2 Chron 32:18; Est 2:5; 3:6; Jer 32:12; 38:19; 52:28). The term originally referred to citizens of the southern kingdom, known as Judah. The kingdom of Israel was divided for a long while. Ten tribes made up the northern kingdom, called Israel. Two tribes, including the tribe of Judah, made up the southern kingdom. The term “Jew,” however, eventually became a title given to anyone associated with the original twelve tribes of Israel. This was especially true for those who returned from the Babylonian exile. They all became known as Jews.

So was Abraham a Jew? Perhaps this question is like asking if George Washington was a citizen of the United States. Any American would be quick to say yes. Yet, technically, the United States did not exist as a nation for much of his life.

Abraham is clearly viewed as the father of the Jewish people. He is the prototype of the Jews. Many modern Jews proudly relate their ancestry back to him. In biblical history Yahweh often reveals Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exod 3:6). So, I think it’s safe to say Abraham was a Jew, although the term was not used during his life.

Christians are also related to Abraham. God’s dynamic dealings with Abraham go beyond a people and a land, though they certainly include these things. They also include a heritage of faith. It can be seen, for example, in the original promise made to Abraham. “And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Gen 12:3). The blessing promised to Abraham would extend, somehow, to all peoples. The apostle Paul reflects on this promise in his letter to the Galatians. “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘all the nations will be blessed in you’” (Gal 3:8).

We must not forget that Jesus was a Jewish descendant of Abraham (Matt 1:1). As the gospel continues to go to all the people of the world, the Abrahamic promise is being fulfilled. All the families of the earth are being blessed through the message of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 15:6 speaks of Abraham trusting in the promise of God. His trust is accepted as right standing with God. Similarly, when we place our faith in Jesus, believing that He died for our sins and rose from the grave, we are forgiven and accepted by God as His people. Most of us Christians are not Jews in a physical sense. But we are related to Abraham through a common faith in God.

“Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham… So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer” (Gal 3:6-7, 9).

Abraham is certainly the physical father of the Jewish people. He is also the spiritual father of all who rightly and truly place their faith in Christ. I pray that you have done this!
Pastor George