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The Biblical view of the origin of the ‘races’

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According to the Biblical view of the origin of the various people groups, all humans—no matter their skin color, eye shape, hair type—are descended from the first two people, Adam and Eve (and more recently through Noah and his family), and are therefore all related (albeit distantly). Scripture teaches that God has ‘made of one blood all nations of men’ (Acts 17:26), and distinguishes people by tribal or national groupings, not by skin color or physical features.

On Day 6 of that first week, God created Adam and Eve in His image—humans are therefore not just animals, but rather are image-bearers of the Creator of the universe (Genesis 1:26-31).

Later, after the waters as subsided from the globe-covering Flood, God told Noah and his descendants to spread out and populate the whole Earth. Rather than obeying, they stayed together and built a tall tower (today called the Tower of Babel) to showcase their independence from God. As a judgment upon their rebellion, God confused their language, so that they would not be able to understand one another, and would scatter over the whole earth.

Genesis 10:32 seems to indicate that the dispersion was generally along extended family lines. Each family group took with them genetic information for specific characteristics (eye color/shape, skin shade, height, etc.) Modern genetics shows how, following a break-up of a population, groups can arise with fixed varieties of skin color, for example, in only one or a few generations. (The ‘colors’ are actually all the same pigment—melanin—the variation is just a difference in the amount produced in each case.)

From these family groups, all the tribes and nations of today have developed.

Because Jesus Christ became a descendant of Adam (He is called the ‘last Adam’ in 1 Corinthians 15:45), the Gospel can be preached to all tribes and nations. Any descendant of Adam can be saved, because our mutual relative by blood (Jesus Christ) died and rose again on behalf of those who receive the free gift of eternal life.

Biblically, all humans are related and have the same problem of sin. All humans need the same solution—Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-25). All humans, no matter from what culture, need to judge their attitudes, beliefs, and behavior against the absolute authority of the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 5:21). All humans need to look past the minor surface differences such as skin shade (not ‘color’ as all have the same skin coloring pigment), eye shape etc, and 'look' at the real person—who is one of our relatives (Matthew 22:39).

The solution to racism can only begin to be found by teaching true history based on the Bible.