Naaman the Syrian

Likewise Naaman the Syrian was (no doubt) a good and a godly man, and had a religious and a reverent opinion of God. And although he was a Gentile and belonged not to the kingdom of Moses, which then flourished: yet notwithstanding his flesh was cleansed, and the God of Israel was revealed to him, and he received the Holy Ghost. For thus he says: Now I know assuredly that there is no other God in all the world but in Israel. He does nothing at all, he keeps not the law, he is not circumcised: but only he prays that so much of that earth might be given to him, as two mules should be able to carry away. Moreover, it appears that faith was not idle in him. For so he speaks to the Prophet Elisha: Your servant will henceforth neither offer burnt sacrifice, nor offering to any other God saving the Lord. But in this thing the Lord be merciful to your servant, that when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I do bow down (I say) in the house of Rimmon, the Lord be merciful to your servant in this point. To whom the prophet says, Go in peace. So was he justified. The Jew hearing this, frets for anger, and says: What? should the Gentile be justified without the keeping of the law? Should he be compared with us which are circumcised?

Naaman the Syrian was likewise, without question, a good and godly man who held a reverent and sincere view of God. Even though he was a Gentile and had no part in the kingdom of Moses, which was still flourishing at the time, his body was cleansed, the God of Israel was revealed to him, and he received the Holy Spirit. For he himself said: 'Now I know for certain that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel' (2 Kings 5:15). He does nothing at all — he keeps not the law, he is not circumcised. He asks only that as much earth might be given him as two mules could carry away. And it is clear that faith was active in him. For he said to the prophet Elisha: 'Your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord. But may the Lord pardon your servant for this one thing: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon — when I bow in the house of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant for this.' And the prophet said to him, 'Go in peace.' And so he was justified. The Jew hearing this would burn with anger and say: 'What? Should the Gentile be justified without keeping the law? Should he be placed on equal footing with us who are circumcised?'