[Jhn 10:15-16 KJV] 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.
Jesus laid down his life for the sheep, The sheep are his people, Israel.
Jesus says he has other sheep not of this fold. Who are the sheep not of this fold? Who is the fold Jesus speaks of?
The most common answer is Gentiles.
I think there is a better answer.
[Psa 78:52 KJV] 52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
[Isa 40:11 KJV] 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.
The verses above show that Israel are called sheep and Jesus is their shepherd.
[Jer 23:3 KJV] 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
[Mic 2:12 KJV] 12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of [the multitude of] men.
[Jer 31:10 KJV] 10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare [it] in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd [doth] his flock.
[Eze 34:12 KJV] 12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep [that are] scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
The above verses say that the sheep are scattered. They were scattered into other countries outside of Israel. These are the sheep Jesus is talking about as being not of the fold and that he will bring in John 10:16. The sheep in the fold in Israel will be united with the sheep that have been scattered to make one fold with Jesus their shepherd.
Gentiles are never called sheep.
[Act 20:28-29 KJV] 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
One could say that Paul calls the church a flock; Paul was sent to the Gentiles, so therefore Gentiles would also be sheep.
This is the only place where Paul uses this term; Paul never calls the body of Christ sheep.
Paul was speaking to elders of the church. Paul told them to take heed unto yourselves, the elders, and to all the flock. Yourselves and the flock are two separate groups. There was still the little flock, the remnant of Israel at that time which helped in Paul's ministry (Acts 9:26-27). The elders were to take heed of wolves who would not spare the flock (Matthew 7:15 10:16) which may be a warning for the remnant facing the tribulation in the future. The remnant would have to beware of false brethren and false prophets.
[Act 20:30 KJV] 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Note the word also. That means something is being said of them as well as someone else.
Once again Paul is addressing "your own selves" as opposed to the "flock" and saying that of them also there shall arise perverse men just as is the case for the flock of believing Israel
Jesus laid down his life for the sheep, The sheep are his people, Israel.
Jesus says he has other sheep not of this fold. Who are the sheep not of this fold? Who is the fold Jesus speaks of?
The most common answer is Gentiles.
I think there is a better answer.
[Psa 78:52 KJV] 52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
[Isa 40:11 KJV] 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.
The verses above show that Israel are called sheep and Jesus is their shepherd.
[Jer 23:3 KJV] 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
[Mic 2:12 KJV] 12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of [the multitude of] men.
[Jer 31:10 KJV] 10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare [it] in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd [doth] his flock.
[Eze 34:12 KJV] 12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep [that are] scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
The above verses say that the sheep are scattered. They were scattered into other countries outside of Israel. These are the sheep Jesus is talking about as being not of the fold and that he will bring in John 10:16. The sheep in the fold in Israel will be united with the sheep that have been scattered to make one fold with Jesus their shepherd.
Gentiles are never called sheep.
[Act 20:28-29 KJV] 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
One could say that Paul calls the church a flock; Paul was sent to the Gentiles, so therefore Gentiles would also be sheep.
This is the only place where Paul uses this term; Paul never calls the body of Christ sheep.
Paul was speaking to elders of the church. Paul told them to take heed unto yourselves, the elders, and to all the flock. Yourselves and the flock are two separate groups. There was still the little flock, the remnant of Israel at that time which helped in Paul's ministry (Acts 9:26-27). The elders were to take heed of wolves who would not spare the flock (Matthew 7:15 10:16) which may be a warning for the remnant facing the tribulation in the future. The remnant would have to beware of false brethren and false prophets.
[Act 20:30 KJV] 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Note the word also. That means something is being said of them as well as someone else.
Once again Paul is addressing "your own selves" as opposed to the "flock" and saying that of them also there shall arise perverse men just as is the case for the flock of believing Israel
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