The Stranger in the Bible: The Needy and the Brother

The article explores the Bible’s relationship to immigrants and people perceived by society as foreigners. topic is addressed against backdrop of ongoing society-wide discussions about helping who have been forced leave their homes a result February 2022 Russian aggression in Ukraine: outlining how Bible addresses issue acceptance coexistence with refugees intended primarily contribution debate Christian forum. It shows that Old Testament society, long they were willing accept required way life, treated these kindly forbade any disadvantage them local society. Israelites, it recalled, themselves guests Egypt, so foreigners Israel should remind own identity suffering but also God-delivered people. In New Testament, this attitude elaborated new theologically anchored universalism: stranger spoken figurative sense, practice, barriers between are overcome. stranger, here an unknown person, traveller, one persons need, him, fulfils gospel Jesus meets God. Although some circles Early Church tended oppose values customs outside world, never resigned ideal practically lived brotherly love, which newly included unknown. paper proves love for foreigners, regardless origin or circumstances, organically rooted ideals.