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G4339 · Greek · New Testament
προσήλυτος
proselutos
Noun, masculine
proselyte, convert to Judaism, newcomer

Definition

Proselutos (προσήλυτος) means a proselyte — a Gentile who had converted to Judaism, accepting circumcision (for men), Torah observance, and full identification with the Jewish people and their God. The word derives from proserchomai (to come toward/approach) and describes one who has 'come over' to another faith and people. It appears in Matthew 23, Acts 2, 6, and 13.

Usage & Theological Significance

Proselutos in Matthew 23:15 is the target of the Pharisees' evangelistic zeal — yet Jesus says they 'travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.' The issue is not conversion but what they are converted to. In Acts 2, proselytes were among the Pentecost crowd. In Acts 13, Paul preaches to both Jews and proselytes — pointing to Christ as the fulfillment of what the proselyte was seeking.

Key Bible Verses

Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert [proselutos].
Acts 2:10 ...visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism [proselutos])...
Acts 6:5 They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism [proselutos].
Acts 13:43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism [proselutos] followed Paul and Barnabas.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile... for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Word Study

The proselyte was someone who 'came toward' (proserchomai) the God of Israel from outside. The New Covenant removes the barrier: in Christ, there is no longer the need for the proselyte category. Gentiles are not 'converted to Judaism' but grafted into Israel's root (Romans 11) through faith in Israel's Messiah. The proselutos institution was a shadow of the universal gospel.

Related Words

External Resources

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