Stand_watie,
And who precisely bestowed the honor to those deemed "righteous gentiles" in these Old Testament passages..
From my reading, G-d.
- and who bestowed the honor from the end of the OT period through 1963?
I've no idea.
This raises another question though; if a "non-jew" can be declared a "righteous gentile" - what is the opposite? Since all "non-jews" are expected to abide and be subject to the Noahide law, what are those considered on the outside?
The Bible is certainly rich with examples. Try I Kings.
If you are going to quote scripture defining "righteous gentiles", what does your law and tradition say about those who are not, and do not subject thelselves to the Noahide law?
I would be hard pressed to put it down without taking a great deal of time and bandwidth. I suppose the first 16 verses of the 2nd Chapter of Romans is as good a synopsis as any.
G-d's Righteous Judgment
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that G-d's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape G-d's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that G-d's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of G-d's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
G-d "will repay everyone according to what they have done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For G-d does not show favoritism.
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in G-d's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law). They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) This will take place on the day when G-d judges everyone's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
