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Why did Paul describe Gentile believers as Abraham’s descendants?

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József Molnár: The March of Abraham — Abraham *The March of Abraham*, painting by József Molnár, 19th century; in the Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest.

St. Paul the Apostle described Gentile believers as descendants of Abraham to shift the basis of religious identity from physical ancestry and ethnicity to faith and doctrine.1

In his letters to the Galatians and Romans, Paul argued against the requirement that Gentile converts undergo circumcision or follow Jewish law to be considered part of God's people. By referencing Genesis 15:6, which states that Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," Paul established that Abraham’s status was rooted in his faith.21

Consequently, Paul concluded that those who share this faith in Jesus Christ are the true spiritual descendants of Abraham and heirs to the divine promise. This theological framework allowed Paul to argue that religious inclusion was no longer limited to those of Jewish lineage, but was open to all who believe.12