Proselyte is the anglicized form of the Greek word prosēlutos (Koine Greek: προσήλυτος, lit. 'stranger' or 'newcomer'). In the Septuagint, the classical Greek translation of the Tanakh, the term refers to someone born outside of the Jewish community who relocates to the Land of Israel and adopts, either fully or partially, the observance of mitzvot (Hebrew: מִצְווֹת, lit. 'commandments') and practice of Judaism.[1][2][3][4] The term is itself a translation of ger toshav (גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב, 'resident alien'), a rabbinic designation found in the Mishnah and Talmud for a non‑Jewish resident who accepts certain commandments and protections of the Jewish community; it is distinct from a full convert (גֵּר צֶדֶק).[5][6][7] The term also has the more general meaning in English of a new convert to any particular religion or doctrine.

History of the proselyte in Israel

The Law of Moses made specific regulations regarding the admission into Israel's community of such as were not born Israelites.[8]

The New Testament makes mention of proselytes in synagogues.[9] The name proselyte occurs in the New Testament only in Matthew and Acts.[10] The name by which they are commonly designated is that of "devout men", or men "fearing God", or "worshipping God", "fearers of Heaven" or "God-fearers".[11][12][13][14]

On the historical meaning of the Greek word, in chapter 2 of the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, roughly dated between 150 and 400, Annas and Caiaphas define "proselyte" for Pilate: