4

Was Jesus black?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked July 01 2013 Mini Anonymous (via GotQuestions)

Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.

27
Shea S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries
There are some groups, usually affiliated with some form of the "Black Hebrew" movement, who vehemently argue that Jesus was black/African in skin color/appearance. While this goes directly against...

July 01 2013 7 responses Vote Up Share Report


7
Andy  3 photo Andy Mangus I am a Christian since October 1979 & devoted truth seeker.
"What color was His(Jesus') skin?" Was His skin black?..or red in hew..or medium brown or even 'olive' in color tone? I would like to look at this question from a slightly different point of view or outlook. What really matters is what did He have on the inside..what did He 'look like' on the INSIDE. Within this same approach is 'how' I feel we should look like on the inside. If with a 'pure of heart' nature that "has been cleansed of all unrighteousness, washed as 'white as snow' and 'delightful and joyful in His spirit! So, that with this "washed by the precious blood of the Lamb" approach to everyday life, maybe, juuusst..maybe!..others will see Jesus in ME! (or you.)

"Seek ye the Lord in all that ye do, say or think, trusting in Him with all your heart and He shall direct your pathways all the days of your life." "Let your light so shine that others see Jesus in you". --Andy--

April 25 2016 1 response Vote Up Share Report


6
Stringio Vin Smith Concert Pianist. Piano Tuner. Talk Show Host. Novelist.
"Does it really matter that we know the color of Jesus' skin-whether He was black, yellow, brown, or white? Though this may be a controversial issue for some, the truth is that we simply don't know what the color of Jesus' skin was."

In the context of the above answer, the truth is, no, it doesn't matter at all what color Jesus' skin was...

Here is what matters somewhere within the subtext of the question: At many times in history, Christianity has been quite dominated by the white race--and the missionaries of that movement have been--at times-- exceedingly racist. I remember feeling revulsion when I discovered that the Presbyterian Church (I was Presbyterian at the time--among the three denominations I have belonged to) outlawed the native tongue of the Makah Indian Tribe at the beginning of the twentieth century. I was contracted then to teach music to the tribe--specifically, piano. It was finally recognized that the dying language needed to be revived. They used a methodology known as Structural Linguistics to attempt to resurrect the language. 

One of the things that really upset me was the racist-inspired images of Jesus that hung in that church--and literally thousands of other Christian churches in the land. The well-known image was that of what could easily be described as a Swedish Jesus! Definitely a Nordic Jesus! Nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus did not look anything like such an image.

It should occur to us that the reaction of "Black Hebrew" proponents is a reaction to white racism. Plain and simple...

February 26 2015 2 responses Vote Up Share Report


5
Img0000 Tony Medley
The colour of the Saviour's skin matters not. It is the blood that is important. Men from every tribe and nation are from the same blood source; i.e. from Adam and Eve. This blood source was corrupted when they sinned. Jesus' blood was totally pure, as He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. It is this that is important for it washes clean the sins of all those who repent, irrepective of the colour of their skin.
Tony Medley.

June 21 2015 1 response Vote Up Share Report


5
Data Tony Flores Tony Flores a servant of Jesus Christ
Jesus was a Jew. I believe that Jesus was a mixture of all races as we know them today. He lived in a country that most of the people were brown because of the harsh sun and desert conditions. Even though we try to pin down what race he was, it doesn't matter. What matters is that we all were created in the image of God. There is but one color of the spirit and the body was made to live physically on this earth. If you are concern about the color of the skin, then you don't know Jesus and His teachings of the Spirit.

The Spirit is what will live forever in either Heaven or Hell and will be whom God will judge. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that interacts with your Spirit. If you are concern with the outer shell of your Spirit, God made it and it is a Sin to judge it by anyone. If people judge you by your physical body, then they are not in Christ, look at your self and see where you are and if you cannot tolerate Black and Yellow, Red and White or anything in between then your free Wll has a problem and you have to deal with it before it is too late. There is no such thing as one race superior or inferior to another. God is the one and only Judge.

February 25 2016 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


4
Mini Derrol PORTER Emancipated by the Liberating King
I would just like to say to all who have struggled with battles involving race and skin color, that heartbreakingly race relations still hurt many, like Jew-Gentile divide did in Jesus' time on earth.

A brown, black, white or any other skin color of the earthly Jesus must give way to not color, but the "coming again" Jesus.

Matthew 17:2 and Revelation 1:12-18 describe Jesus in His earthly transfigured appearance, and His appearance in the heavenly vision to John.

I worship and love the God-Man not the Man-God. Please, as brothers and sisters, let us prayerfully come together in the spreading of the gospel that breaks down color, ethnicity, race and religious walls and brings God's children into a spiritual union that unites and doesn't divide.

June 27 2019 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


2
Mini Kenneth Heck
The scriptures don't tell us what Jesus' skin color was, but we may have an indirect hint because Jesus was of the line of David. David himself was called "ruddy" (1 Sam 16:12) meaning red hair and/or a reddish skin color. So, Jesus may have had the same genetic characteristics. Of course, the outer appearance is insignificant compared to the inner spiritual nature; but since Christ is the coming king, any marked deviation from the genetics of David might serve as an unnecessary impediment to the Jews fully accepting his claim to the throne of David (Luke 1:32).

February 27 2015 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


Add your Answer

All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED.
Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines.

What makes a good answer? ▼

A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone.

  1. Adhere to the eBible Statement of Faith.
  2. Your answer should be complete and stand-alone.
  3. Include supporting arguments, and scripture references if possible. Seek to answer the "why".
  4. Adhere to a proper tone and spirit of love and understanding.
  5. For more info see The Complete Guide to eBible
Header
  1. 4000 characters remaining