Bottom line -- the depictions are wrong, but so is YOUR understanding of what "it says in the Bible" about Jesus' appearance.
I, of course, disagree with a blue-eyed. lily white image of Jesus, or any attempt to make a ridiculous "pro-Aryan" argument.
But I am rather surprised that only one answer even interacted with or questions YOUR description.. where you got it from, etc.
I know EXACTLY where the "woolly hair and bronze skin" from. I rather hope you do NOT, but are just repeating something you've heard. In that case, a look at the actual passage will easily show it is not ANY kind of description of the actual physical (much less "racial") features of Jesus of Nazareth.
The terms come from John's VISION of Christ, recorded in Revelation 1. That picture itself builds on a whole set of Old Testament imagery, esp. on the vision of the "Ancient of Days" (that is, God) and 'one like a son of man' in Daniel 7.
The specific phrases your description is based on are "his HEAD and HEAR were WHITE like wool" (not "woolly" - it's about the COLOR, not the texture) and "FEET like bronze GLOWING IN A FURNACE".
The picture doesn't prove anything racial. All the more so if you look at the WHOLE description. The high priestly type garb described might work, but just TRY to draw a picture that incorporates ALL the parts, and IF you're able to draw it, it will NOT look, sound, etc. at all like a normal human being! (his tongue is a SWORD, his eyes blaze like fire, his face shines LIKE THE SUN, his voice is like thundering waters). That's because it not MEANT to -- it is a VISION telling you something about his characteristics, glory, power, etc.
(Compare the NEXT vision of him -- a LION that looks like "a lamb that had been slain". Again, IF you can make this one picture, it is NOT about "what Jesus of Nazareth looked like", race or otherwise!)
Here, for you to check, is John's description of his vision -
(Revelation 1: 12-17)
" I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,"dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance."
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? Because it was easier to convert pagan Europe by portraying a white Jesus. The image just stuck, that's all, and if it keeps the $$$ rolling in, then it's a keeper as far as advertising is concerned. False advertising, but advertising nonetheless.
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? Me too wonders! Some even made him black, e.g. Black Nazarene of Quiapo Manila, Philippines
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? a question that many have asked but everyone gives an opinion and no other facts as im sure you saw when keying in this question. good luck on which one your going to believe. most whites over look it and blacks are proud to hear it. I really dont care. I dont buy pictures of him at all because noone has seen him, they just read whats in the bible.
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? the Egyptians were black too, and they build a civilization with brain surgery and advanced medicine that was way better than the rules of hygiene in Deuteronomy and Leviticus -- where sick ppl are supposed to grow their hair long and walk around yelling "unclean" to let others get out of the way. but every time they wanna show civilized Egyptians on TV, they are white. even HBO's Rome did this, with the Egyptian servants being black and looking correctly -- but Cleopatra played by a totally white woman. Egyptian makeup, hair, and dress looks totally gay on white ppl.
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? artists in western civilizations have depicted Jesus as a white man, often with blue eyes, because way back in history and even amongst many people today, the white race was considered to be superior to any other race. therefore, (in the opinions of many) the perfect Son of God naturally wouldn't be anything other than white. of course, this is a false representation, but it has become sort of a tradition to portray Jesus as a white man. it must be said that many black people have argued that Jesus was a black man, which is also not true. in some other cultures, Jesus is shown to be whatever ethnicity the people happen to be, so that they can relate to Him better. however, Jesus was from the middle east so He would have had dark skin and hair.
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? Because everyone wants a Jesus they can relate to. My black friend has a painting of "black Jesus", my mexican friend has the "mexican Jesus". The early churches wanted someone they could relate too, so you have "white Jesus"
Jesus wasn't white, but that thought offends most white people.
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? idk...but no one knows what Jesus or God look like. In movies and stuff they just show what they think they look like. We will never know till we get to Heaven..
閳绢櫝addie
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? I didn't know it did say that actually, can you tell me where in the bible this passage appears, it would be interesting to read it. i can't recall ever hearing that there was a description of Jesus in the Bible.
Since Jesus came from Galilee, it seems likely that he would have been quite swarthy, but he was of Semetic origin rather than black. Likewise the Egyptians were were more arabs than like black africans.
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? It does? Which book? Chapter? Verse? I never heard of such a claim!
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? As a jew he would look much more white than black.
In any case you have made up the quotation.
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? Great Bruhaha's answer!!.
Also, to correct another answer. The ancient Egyptians were not Black but closely related to the Semites. They did have at one time, a Black ruling Dynasty that came from Nubia, as they later had a Hykso dynasty of Semites. Cleopatra was not of ancient Egyptian stock but of white Macedonian origin. She belonged to the Ptolemaic Dynasty founded by Ptolemy, a Macedonian, therefore European soldier, one of Alexander the Great's generals. He and his successors adopted Egyptian customs such as the marriage between siblings (incest) to keep the royal bloodline free from being "polluted" by strange blood, therefore, Cleopatra may have been of sickly degenerated blood but not African Black. Do read History, not pamphlets.
As to Jesus, He was a Jew before the Diaspora. Therefore, most likely he ressembled persons from the Middle East more than Europeans. It is His Teachings that matter, not His human looks.
If it says in the bible that jesus had bronze skin and hair like wool, then why do they show someone white? The historicity of Jesus is shakey at best but according to the Gospels he was a Jew, thus probably white. But for those who believe in him, he could probably be of any race or nationality that suits them as far as I'm concerned.
All races deserve due recognition for their respective and massive contributions to world history and culture but some of the postings here are way over the top. Not all ancient Egyptians were black and it's especially not likely Cleopatra was, being that she was of Macedonian descent.
