Does The Bible talk about inter-racial topics?

Answer 1

The Bible does not say as great deal about this subject since skin color or race are effectively irrelevant in the biblical scheme of things for a number of reasons. What the Bible does say however, is profound and relevant and destroys any justification for racism on a number of fronts.

Following the biblical scheme of earth history in Genesis a number of general comments can be made. Firstly, the Bible regards all people currently on the earth as having descended from one single human couple. Thus, in this sense all people are related. Secondly, after the great flood of Noah's day, the eight humans who remained contained the genetic stock from which the world as we know it today, with its different people groups is descended.

The modern science of genetics has demonstrated how the superficial differences we see in human populations can arise from people who contain the necessary genetic information. Genetics has also demonstrated the biblical contention that all humans on the planet are basically related and are very similar genetically. This is why a person of dark skin color can sometimes be a better organ donor 'match' for a 'white' person than someone of their own skin color and vice-versa. The Bible's contention is that we are all basically the same is borne out in fact.

This same idea is brought out in Paul's speech on Mars Hill at Athens, here quoted in context:

24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

The statement 'of one blood' is the definitive biblical statement on race in terms of creation in the purely physical human sense. As stated, this is borne out by modern genetics. This statement is further reinforced when the Bible talks about the 'new creation', those who have come to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord ans Savior, that is, the Christians, when Paul says: 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus

This does not of course mean that such differences do not physically exist, but that they are effectively eliminated in Christian terms by the oneness that all believers share.

Answer 2

Ps:22:27: All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

Acts:17:26-28: And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Acts:10:28: And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Rom:5:18: Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Acts:10:34: Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Rom:2:11: For there is no respect of persons with God.

Eph:6:9: And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Jms:2:9: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Deut:1:17: Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

Acts:8: 26-40:

26: And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27: And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28: Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29: Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30: And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31: And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32: The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

33: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34: And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35: Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36: And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37: And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38: And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39: And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

40: But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Rv:22:2: In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Ps:96:7: Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

Acts:3:25: Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Rv:1:7: Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Rv:7:9: After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Rv:11:9: And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Rv:13:7: And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

1Chron:16:28: Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

Answer 3

It doesn't.

In fact it doesn't give any physical appearance of Jesus at all.

However, we can get some idea from his profession and his race. As a Jew he would have been olive-skinned, with a prominent Jewish nose and other facial features - and would probably have had a beard as facial hair was customary of orthodox Jews in those times as it is today.

Also he would have been, as a carpenter, strong and stocky in build.

However, other than this we know nothing of his actual appearance.
The bible doesnt give any physical apperiance of Jesus

Answer 4

In Genisis 11 at the tower of Babel it talks about everyone being of one language and living in one centralized location. But because of pride God gave everyone their own languages. "Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth." This is where everyone that could understand each other after the confounding of language scattered thoroughout the earth and became their own race and the different languages came into existence.

Answer 5

One of the most memorable quotes of Paul regarding race comes from his letter to the Galatians

Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Here Paul makes it clear that if we are to be truly Christian we must regard all people as equal, whatever their race, sex or social standing. In other words there should be no place for snobbery, sexism or racism within the Christian community if one is to be truly Christian.

Additional comments:

Also, at Acts 10:34-35 the apostle Peter says: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him." (NASB) (Romans 2:13)

Answer 6

There is NO Respecter of Person with Messiah Yeshua(Jesus). Acts 10L34, that's what Peter's vision was all about, As Acts 10:11 about the sheet that people get mixed up with food, but verse 28 gives the answer, Jews and Gentiles One People One Bride-Romans 11 and One Set of Rules. For those who think you should not mix marriage, let me remind the of Aaron and Miriam (Moses' sister & brother) how they complained because Moses married a Ethiopian woman (can't get any blacker than that) and God struck her with leprosy- Num.12:10. See here: Numbers 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. Messianic Rabbi Tom

Answer 7

Acts:17:26: And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Answer 8

The Scripture doesn't concentrate upon the color of a person's skin. Rather is looks to the moral/ethical characteristics of a person and people's behaviors.

It should be obvious to any human being - even those never reading the Bible before - just by looking and observing this world bursting with life, the Creature loves colors, shapes, sizes and other variations in His Creation. It amazed King David as it continues to amaze so many in their lifetimes.

Answer 9

Yes, the human race. It wasn't until the Tower of Babel and the differing languages people had that it was used to describe peoples by language. It wasn't until circa 17th century that the term race began to refer to their physical traits.

Answer 10

Yes it does, presumably. The first mention, at least in terms of ethnic groups and nationalities, was the Tower of Babel.

In Exodus, when Jacob and his sons moved to Egypt, the Bible mentions that the Egyptians and the Israelites ate at separate tables because they found each other to be abominable.

A few references of hatred due to skin color are scattered throughout the Bible. Whether that was in reference to race or class is unclear. Obviously, the middle class and nobility didn't respect the working peasants, and if you work outside in the hot sun long enough, you will be dark, regardless of race.

Jesus told the story about the Samaritan. It is unclear how differently they appeared from the Israelites. But Jesus used that story because the Samaritans were then known as a brutal people who had defeated Jerusalem at one point and did horrible things to them such as rape. Yet this one Samaritan was different and helped an Israelite when other Israelites refused. So Jesus made the point that being a good neighbor is independent of nationality, race, etc., and is evident by behavior, not group. Even though Israelites tended to get along better with other Israelites and saw Samaritans as hateful and their opponents, this showed that not all Israelites treated other Israelites well and that not ever Samaritan acted as a vicious enemy.

There were a number of implied or sideways references to race. For instance, the Bible mentions encounters with Ethiopians and things that were specific to their culture, along with possible social ramifications. For instance, when the Ethiopian guy asked about being baptized, it is unclear whether he mentioned that because he saw water nearby, or if he asked because he thought God would reject him, perhaps based on what he was told.