People who want to be included

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It is easy to assume a sort of xenophobia among the first-century Jews who sought to exclude gentiles from the “promise in Christ through the gospel.” Paul sets himself up as the good, inclusive apostle, the one who is “to bring to the gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ.” In reading through his letters, it can seem like he is advocating for inclusion of the outsiders over the hateful intolerance of the insiders.