Post by Zadkiel on Jul 6, 2016 11:10:11 GMT
The scholarly consensus is actually that Jesus was, like most first-century Jews, probably a dark-skinned man.
The myth of a white Jesus is one with deep roots throughout Christian history. As early as the Middle Ages and particularly during the Renaissance, popular Western artists depicted Jesus as a white man, often with blue eyes and blondish hair. Perhaps fueled by some Biblical verses correlating lightness with purity and righteousness; and darkness with sin and evil, these images sought to craft a sterile Son of God.
The only problem was that the representations were historically inaccurate.
Modern Western Christians have carried these images over into their own depictions of Jesus. Pick up a one of those bright blue "Bible Story" books in a Sunday School classroom and you'll find white Jesus waiting for you, rosy cheeks and all. Or you could survey the light-skinned Jesus in any number of modern TV or film portrayals, including History Channel's hit series The Bible.
Interestingly, the Bible is far less descriptive on the matter of Jesus' skin color than we are. Christian scriptures say very little about Jesus' physical appearance. They do not comment on his nose, eye colour, skin pigmentation or hair. The glaring exception is Isaiah 53:2, which prophesies that the messiah won't be much to look at, another fact that places the Bible at odds with "the well-groomed surfer-dude Jesus" that's often put forth.
Does it really matter that Jesus was not white?
Yes, actually.
As some historians and theologians have posited, the silence of the Scriptures on the issue of Jesus' skin colour is critical to Christianity's broad appeal with people of various ethnicities. In a world where race often divides communities and even churches, the Biblical depictions of God's Son positions him as one that can bridge those divides.
The myth of a white Jesus is one with deep roots throughout Christian history. As early as the Middle Ages and particularly during the Renaissance, popular Western artists depicted Jesus as a white man, often with blue eyes and blondish hair. Perhaps fueled by some Biblical verses correlating lightness with purity and righteousness; and darkness with sin and evil, these images sought to craft a sterile Son of God.
The only problem was that the representations were historically inaccurate.
Modern Western Christians have carried these images over into their own depictions of Jesus. Pick up a one of those bright blue "Bible Story" books in a Sunday School classroom and you'll find white Jesus waiting for you, rosy cheeks and all. Or you could survey the light-skinned Jesus in any number of modern TV or film portrayals, including History Channel's hit series The Bible.
Interestingly, the Bible is far less descriptive on the matter of Jesus' skin color than we are. Christian scriptures say very little about Jesus' physical appearance. They do not comment on his nose, eye colour, skin pigmentation or hair. The glaring exception is Isaiah 53:2, which prophesies that the messiah won't be much to look at, another fact that places the Bible at odds with "the well-groomed surfer-dude Jesus" that's often put forth.
Does it really matter that Jesus was not white?
Yes, actually.
As some historians and theologians have posited, the silence of the Scriptures on the issue of Jesus' skin colour is critical to Christianity's broad appeal with people of various ethnicities. In a world where race often divides communities and even churches, the Biblical depictions of God's Son positions him as one that can bridge those divides.
