The Origin of Races
The term ‘race’ isn’t one found in the Bible, rather it’s a more modern term used to define why we as humans look different. According to the Bible, we all came from the same parents, Adam and Eve.
Science
A race is a biological subspecies which has genetically transmittable traits that differentiates it from other races. Scientific research shows that humans are 99.8% genetically identical. Most differing 0.2% has to do with gender and personalities. Therefore, humans originate from one race. Even evolutionary science concludes that all existing varieties of man are members of the same species. [Ralph Linton. The Study of Man. (Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1964). p. 24.]
Bible
“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings”.
Acts 17:26
All men sprang from common ancestors, our first parents – Adam and Eve. After the tower of Babel, Noah’s decedents migrated from the Middle East (Genesis 11:1-9) to the different parts of the earth. As people dispersed and intermarried between themselves, certain genes within the human gene pool became dominate within each group, while others became latent. With time, these genes produced the skin color, hair color and texture, bone structure and other physical characteristics that made each group different.
Salvation
When it comes to salvation, God makes no distinction between races “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:12-13).
The Bible teaches that there is no superior race, we are all children of Adam and Eve and created by God. Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are al one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). God Himself told Samuel, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Check out our Bible Answers page for more information on a variety of topics.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
