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I
am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
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Psalm
52:8
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Interracial Marriage:
What Does the Bible Teach?
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Yet Christians who teach against biracial marriage generally permit such marriages to remain intact within the Church, rather than declaring them void. Other Christians,
with very little explanation, soften their stance, suggesting
that racial considerations are merely a point of wisdom in the
context of family and culture. Much confusion results. The Key Question: What is the Truth from God regarding interracial marriage? What is the truth from the Word of God? What is God’s mind on this matter? Does God ever allow or encourage interracial marriage? Can we know? Is it clear? Do the Scriptures actually support what has been taught? Whichever is the Truth from God, we must stand absolutely steadfast and fearless in adherence to His mind on this matter, regardless of the opinion of men. Why is it so important to resolve this question? It is imperative because it is a question which has the potential to impact almost any family. It is crucial because of the seriousness of its implications: If interracial marriage is sin: 1. If interracial marriage is a SIN, the Church must not only FORBID racial intermarriage; it must also require biracial couples to separate, so that they do not continue to live in sin. There IS precedent in Scripture for breaking up families-- even with children -- when marriage(s) are contrary to Scripture (see Nehemiah). 2. If interracial marriage is a SIN, we must correctly define what is or is not interracial marriage. Is it a matter of color? Is it a matter of Israelite and Gentile? Where do we draw the line? Considering the fact that many of those called into God’s Church are already descendants of biracial or Israelite-Gentile unions, we must administer each decision properly according to the will of God. If interracial marriage is not sin: 1. If interracial marriage is NOT a sin, there is an urgent need for correct teaching within God’s Church -- for teaching the proper understanding of God’s Word. Historical prohibitions continue to be a source of significant hurt and anguish for many of our beloved brethren of various races. We simply must teach the people of God how we should serve Him in unison without prejudice. 2. If interracial marriage is NOT a sin, we must nevertheless instruct God’s people that there are still questions of wisdom, having to do with the very human challenges of marital compatibility, cultural compatibility, and the impact of societal racial prejudices upon couples and upon their children.
Actually, we encounter a problem, even with structuring the above question in this manner; because, as we will see, God does not address race in these Scriptures which follow. He addresses language and family heritage. Two families may be racially different, or racially identical. You and I would probably have a difficult time telling the average Croation or Serb or Bosnian apart racially. But they are absolutely and tragically divided in other ways. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were racially identical to Laban; yet God commanded Abraham to separate himself from his ancestors and from his family and to move to another area. So let’s ask this question differently: What was God’s intent regarding mankind in general, (Genesis 10:5 NNAS) From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations. Mankind was dispersed across the earth to different lands, according to language and family. How did this happen? (Genesis 11:4-8 NNAS) They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." {5} The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. {6} The LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. {7} "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech." {8} So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. Man sought to remain in one area. God used language to forcefully divide men, and to impede the collective "progress" that would otherwise have been possible by men. (Deuteronomy 32:8-9 NNAS) "When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, When He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the sons of Israel. {9} "For the LORD'S portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance. Again, God had a plan for where people were to live, and Israel was a central part of His plan. (Acts 17:26 NNAS) and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, So we see that Scripture supports the idea that God purposely separated and divided men, by language and family, and scattered them across the earth. It seems clear that he had a plan for where they would go. There were to be boundaries. It is important to recognize that all the families of man did not scatter to their ultimate homelands immediately following the tower of Babel. For example, the Canaanites did not go to their ultimate place right away. They went to the area of Palestine, a land that God would eventually give to the sons of Israel. So there were migrations that happened over hundreds and thousands of years, for various reasons, that resulted in the dispersal which we see today. Based upon where we find large concentrations of racial groups today, it would seem apparent by observation that God intended for most of the people we would call Asians or Orientals to settle in East and Southeast Asia. Most of the brown-skinned people settled in the areas including and surrounding India. Most of the blacks settled in Africa. Most of the red or copper-skinned people migrated to North and South America. And most of the lighter skinned and Mediterranean people settled in the Middle East and Europe, eastern Europe, and Russia, with later migrations to North America, parts of Africa, and Australia. We should also note that there were, in most cases, natural obstacles to easy movement between these areas – oceans, deserts, mountain ranges, great rivers, etc. So God separated the languages and families, and He has arranged the earth in such a way so as to make wholesale mixing more difficult than it would otherwise be. So it is safe to say, based upon Scripture, and upon God’s design of the earth, that God intends that there be some ongoing distinction between languages, families, and racial groups. But does this
mean that interracial marriage is a sin? Specific Scriptural Allowances: The Midianite Virgins: (Numbers 31:15-18 NNAS) And Moses said to them, "Have you spared all the women? {16} "Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD. {17} "Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately. {18} "But all the girls who have not known man intimately, spare for yourselves. The context of this chapter is God's revenge against Midian, and its almost complete destruction. Yet the Isrealites were permitted to spare the virgin girls “for themselves.” For what purpose? Slaves? Wives? The context is not specific. But based upon the next passage of Scripture which we will read, it is certain that it was allowable, and also was very likely, that some of these virgin Midianites became the wives of Israelite men. Captive Women: (Deuteronomy 21:10-14 NNAS) "When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands and you take them away captive, {11} and see among the captives a beautiful woman, and have a desire for her and would take her as a wife for yourself, {12} then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall shave her head and trim her nails. {13} "She shall also remove the clothes of her captivity and shall remain in your house, and mourn her father and mother a full month; and after that you may go in to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife. {14} "It shall be, if you are not pleased with her, then you shall let her go wherever she wishes; but you shall certainly not sell her for money, you shall not mistreat her, because you have humbled her. Here God specifically ALLOWS His people to marry women of other nations. In fact, He gives very specific instructions for doing so. What is so different here than, for example, the forbidden marriage to "the peoples of the land" (as in Ezra and Nehemiah’s time)? The difference lies in the fact that these women were CAPTIVES. They were no longer “the peoples of the land,” because their cities had already been captured, their families were dead; their religious and cultural infrastructure had been destroyed. It is interesting
also to note that God granted the captive wife a sort of quasi-Israelite
status. She could be divorced more readily than could an Israelite
wife; yet even if her Israelite husband chose to send her away
because he was "not pleased with her," he could NOT
sell her as he would have treated a slave – she was free to
go “wherever she wished.” Yet God Forbade Israel to Intermarry With Certain of the Peoples of Canaan. Why? Now as we read through the commands to Israel against intermarriage, we will see that God DOES name specific peoples – the people who actually lived within the borders of the land that God was giving to Israel. This list was very specific, and did NOT include ALL who were of Gentile stock. For example: Marriage between the Israelites and those of the "mixed multitude" – the assortment of Gentiles who emigrated from Egypt with the Israelites – was never prohibited. WHY did God specifically forbid His people from intermarriage with certain named nations? What was God’s concern? What was God's emphasis? Was it race, or was it RELIGION? (Exodus 34:11-17 NNAS) "Be sure to observe what I am commanding you this day: behold, I am going to drive out the Amorite before you, and the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. {12} “Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst. {13} "But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim {14} --for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God-- {15} otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice, {16} and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods. {17} "You shall make for yourself no molten gods. Is God emphasizing race? Or RELIGION? (Deuteronomy 6:24-25 NASB) "So the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God for our good always and for our survival, as it is today. {25} "And it will be righteousness for us if we are careful to observe all this commandment before the LORD our God, just as He commanded us. (Deuteronomy 7:1-6 NASB) "When the LORD your God shall bring you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and shall clear away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, {2} and when the LORD your God shall deliver them before you, and you shall defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. {3} "Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. {4} "For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will quickly destroy you. {5} "But thus you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire. {6} "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Is God emphasizing race? Or RELIGION? (Joshua 23 NNAS) Now it came about after many days, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies on every side, and Joshua was old, advanced in years, {2} that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and their heads and their judges and their officers, and said to them, "I am old, advanced in years. {3} "And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He who has been fighting for you. {4} "See, I have apportioned to you these nations which remain as an inheritance for your tribes, with all the nations which I have cut off, from the Jordan even to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun. {5} "The LORD your God, He will thrust them out from before you and drive them from before you; and you will possess their land, just as the LORD your God promised you. {6} "Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, {7} so that you will not associate with these nations, these which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them. {8} "But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. {9} "For the LORD has driven out great and strong nations from before you; and as for you, no man has stood before you to this day. {10} "One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised you. {11} "So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the LORD your God. {12} "For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, {13} know with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you. {14} "Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. {15} "It shall come about that just as all the good words which the LORD your God spoke to you have come upon you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the threats, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you. {16} "When you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you." Is God emphasizing race? Or RELIGION? Regrettably, Israel did NOT heed God’s warnings through Moses and Joshua. (Judges 3:1-7 NNAS) Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan; {2} only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly). {3} These nations are: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. {4} They were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses. {5} The sons of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; {6} and they took their daughters for themselves as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. {7} The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Is God emphasizing race? Or RELIGION? Ezra and Nehemiah acknowledge the guilt of the people in their respective times, and of the people before the time of the captivity. (Ezra 9:10-15 NNAS) "Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments, {11} which You have commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from end to end and with their impurity. {12} 'So now do not give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters to your sons, and never seek their peace or their prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.' {13} "After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt, since You our God have requited us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us an escaped remnant as this, {14} shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction, until there is no remnant nor any who escape? {15} "O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this." (Nehemiah 13:23-30 NNAS) In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. {24} As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people. {25} So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. {26} "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin. {27} "Do we then hear about you that you have committed all this great evil by acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?" {28} Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me. {29} Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. {30} Thus I purified them from everything foreign and appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, each in his task, It is clear from the above passages that God’s servants understood that God DID intend the Israelites to not intermarry with any who were practicing pagan religions. As we have seen, God also had given very specific and more restrictive commands against intermarriage with certain of the pagan tribes. However, if we read God's condemnations of Israel and Judah which are recorded in Isaiah and in Jeremiah, it was for adopting the pagan RELIGIONS (through marriage or otherwise) that God punished his people, not for “interracial” marriage per se. It is important to note, relative to the specific example of Joiada, who Nehemiah drove away, that Joiada was not an ordinary Jew. Joiada, who had married a foreign woman, was the son of a priest and a grandson of the high priest. As is recorded in Ezekiel 44:22, the priests WERE expected to refrain from marrying ANY non-Israelite. The priests were expected to not marry even a widow, unless she was the widow of a priest. Again, is the focus in the above passages upon race? Or upon RELIGION? These are ALL of the passages of which we are aware, which address God’s commands against marrying foreign women. In EVERY case, God’s stated concern is RELIGIOUS PERVERSION. In NO case is the stated underlying reason for this marital restriction simply lineage, with the SINGULAR exception of the priesthood. We should also notice what Paul said: (1 Corinthians 7:39 NNAS) A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. Here Paul emphasizes
nothing about lineage, but rather religion. It
is especially important that we find this emphasis within a
letter to a congregation in what is recognized to have been
a multi-racial, multi-ethnic community at that time. Why Did Abraham and Isaac Insist That Their Sons Take Wives From the Family of Abraham? Abraham for Isaac: Although some have used the events described in the passage below to promote the idea that God is against interracial marriage, Scripture is silent as to the reason(s) for Abraham's directive. We have no recorded command from God, one way or the other. Perhaps God revealed His will to Abraham regarding a wife for Isaac. Or perhaps it was simply what Abraham preferred. It is interesting to note here that Abraham frees the servant from his oath to get a wife from Abraham’s family, if the one selected woman declines to come. (Genesis 24:1-9 NNAS) Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in every way. {2} Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, "Please place your hand under my thigh, {3} and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, {4} but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac." {5} The servant said to him, "Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?" {6} Then Abraham said to him, "Beware that you do not take my son back there! {7} "The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants I will give this land,' He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there. {8} "But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this my oath; only do not take my son back there." {9} So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. Isaac for Jacob: At Rebekah’s urging, Isaac sent Jacob away to take a wife from among the daughters of Laban, his relative. (Genesis 27:41-46 NNAS) So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob." {42} Now when the words of her elder son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she sent and called her younger son Jacob, and said to him, "Behold your brother Esau is consoling himself concerning you by planning to kill you. {43} "Now therefore, my son, obey my voice, and arise, flee to Haran, to my brother Laban! {44} "Stay with him a few days, until your brother's fury subsides, {45} until your brother's anger against you subsides and he forgets what you did to him. Then I will send and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?" {46} Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these, from the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?" (Genesis 28:1-9 NNAS) So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, and said to him, "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. {2} "Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and from there take to yourself a wife from the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. {3} "May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. {4} "May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you, that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham." {5} Then Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau. {6} Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take to himself a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he charged him, saying, "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan," {7} and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Paddan-aram. {8} So Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan displeased his father Isaac; {9} and Esau went to Ishmael, and married, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth. Why did Isaac send Jacob away? If it was a directive from God, Scripture does not record it as such. The reason we are given is that Rebekah is trying to get Jacob away from the threat of Esau. She uses the need to get a wife for Jacob, and her apparently genuine displeasure with Esau’s Canaanite wives, as a pretext to get Jacob out of the country. So while it
is true that Abraham and Isaac did seek wives for their respective
sons from their own heritage, there is no Scriptural reason
that would support the claim that the issue was race (rather
than religion or some other element(s) of culture). Nor is there
any Scriptural indication that the arrangements of Isaac’s and
Jacob's marriages in this fashion were commanded by God. Does Not “Nature Itself” Teach Us That Racial Intermarriage Is Improper? Indeed God does, at times, teach by analogy with nature. Let’s look at one Scriptural analogy which, at first glance, might seem to have little to do with the topic of interracial marriage. (Romans 11:17-24 NNAS) But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, {18} do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. {19} You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." {20} Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; {21} for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. {22} Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. {23} And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. {24} For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? So here we have an analogy: the Jews are likened to branches on an olive tree. Some of them are cut off for unbelief, and the branches of a wild olive tree – the Gentiles -- are grafted in. What would happen IN NATURE, were an olive tree to be grafted? Some olives are self-pollinating. In other words, the pollen of the same tree, even of the same flower, can cause fertilization. Such an olive tree, by itself, away from all other olives, can pollinate itself and produce fruit. This is called self-pollinating, self-fruiting, or “selfing.” Different kinds of olives flower at different times. So if there are two different kinds of olives on the same tree, as would be the case in grafting, one type of olive would be likely to flower before the other. The following quote is from Insect Pollination of Cultivated Plant Crops by S.E. McGregor, United States Department of Agriculture (originally published 1972), Chapter 5, section “Olive.” The book can also be found on the Internet. From the book: “The flower opens before pollen is released from the anthers so cross-pollination can occur before selfing [self pollination] with the flower is possible.” To restate the above: when an olive flower first opens, it CAN be fertilized IMMEDIATELY, but it does NOT immediately release its OWN pollen. This increases the chances that any fertilizing pollen will come from a separate flower. Therefore, if other flowers ARE releasing pollen (as would be the case in a graft where other flowers had opened earlier), cross pollination is actually MORE LIKELY than self-pollination, because cross-pollination will be what occurs first. To say it another way: if there are two kinds of olives near to one another (for instance, on the same tree) cross-pollination WILL generally occur. Later in the section, the author cites a concurring study, writing “They concluded that ‘the chances of fertilization were greater in cross- than in self-pollination, (as indicated by the higher percentages of pistils in which a pollen tube reached the embryo sac.)’”[1] Does this analogy PROVE that racial intermarriage is correct, and is thus according to God’s will? NO! Absolutely not. What it DOES
prove is that it is not accurate, nor is it supportable
Scripturally, to say that “nature itself” teaches us that racial
intermarriage is contrary to God’s will. We can
demonstrate from the natural facts of Paul’s analogy of the
grafted olive tree, that interracial marriage is possible, and
even likely, where God has spiritually grafted Gentiles into
the olive tree of His Son's Body. Who Decides Who Can Be Grafted In? In this regard, it is helpful to consider God's instruction regarding the planting of vineyards, bearing in mind as we do so, that every precept of God has a spiritual intent (Romans 7:14). (Deuteronomy 22:9 NASB) "You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest all the produce of the seed which you have sown, and the increase of the vineyard become defiled. If we notice carefully what is written here, the analogy is very instructive. On the surface, it might at first seem that this regulation is designed at the physical level to prevent the corruption of seed for future plantings. If that were the case, and a person was not planning to save any seed from his grapes, then it might seem acceptable to disregard this rule. However, a more thorough examination of what is stated reveals a crucial principle. Not only is the seed defiled for future planting, but the grape itself -- "the produce of the seed which you have sown" is termed defiled. Hence, if we intermarry with the world, it is not just our seed (our offspring) which is defiled – unsuitable for future planting. We, as errant vines co-mingling with those of the world, find even our own personal fruits defiled and unsuited for any good purpose. The decision as to WHO to graft into His Body is not given to us as a prerogative – it is the exclusive prerogative of Almighty God. (John 6:44 NNAS) "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…” GOD does the
calling. GOD did the grafting of the wild olives. This is
why Paul said “only in the Lord.” We can’t force God to sanctify
-- in effect, to call -- someone of our own choosing,
by marrying outside of His Church. Scriptural Instances of Interracial Marriage NOTE: What follows are a series of Scriptures documenting interracial marriages in Scripture. Scripture never comments negatively on the interracial nature of the relationships mentioned here. While this is an interesting fact, it is an argument from silence and, by itself, proves nothing. For example, Rahab, the Canaanite harlot, married an Israelite, and is perhaps in the genealogy of the Kings of Judah and of Jesus Christ. It is true that her marriage to an Israelite is not condemned in Scripture. But Scripture also never explicitly condemns her harlotry. So if we were to argue that God’s silence on her marriage means that racial intermarriage is not a sin, to be consistent we would also have to agree that God’s silence on her harlotry means that prostitution is not a sin. (Of course harlotry is VERY specifically condemned ELSEWHERE in Scripture, while interracial marriage is not.) That being said, if interracial marriage were the tremendous sin before the flood that some have alleged (see Appendix), and if it is indeed sin and so important to God, it would seem logical that God would have said something negative about at least one of the following unions: Abraham and Hagar: (Genesis 16:1-3 NNAS) Now Sarai, Abram's wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. {2} So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. {3} After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. Nowhere do we find that God accuses Abraham because of Hagar’s race. But Ishmael could not be the promised son, because that promise had been made through Sarah. Ishmael DID receive exceptional blessings by virtue of being a son of Abraham (Genesis 17:20). Joseph: (Genesis 41:45 NNAS) Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt. (Genesis 41:50-52 NNAS) Now before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. {51} Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." {52} He named the second Ephraim, "For," he said, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." (Genesis 48:1-6 NNAS) Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is sick." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. {2} When it was told to Jacob, "Behold, your son Joseph has come to you," Israel collected his strength and sat up in the bed. {3} Then Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, {4} and He said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.' {5} "Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. {6} "But your offspring that have been born after them shall be yours; they shall be called by the names of their brothers in their inheritance. If “racial purity” is important to God, why does Jacob literally adopt these two boys – who are half Egyptian – as his own, as the first- and second-born of Israel, thus placing them foremost among those included in the blessings to Abraham? Moses: (Numbers 12:1 NNAS) Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); Here we find
that Aaron and Miriam criticize Moses’ marriage, which was to
a non-Israelite, and they are strongly corrected (Numbers12:2-15)
for their attitude and approach to Moses. The Genealogy of Jesus Christ The following is among the arguments used against interracial marriage: “Jesus Christ was born of the tribe of Judah, and it was necessary that HE be of the original pure racial strain…” Yet what does Scripture actually teach about the genealogy of Jesus Christ? We find at least one, and very possibly two, Gentile women specifically mentioned in the genealogy of Christ, which is recorded in Matthew, Chapter One. These women are Rahab, and Ruth: Rahab, a resident of the Canaanite city of Jericho, accepted the God of Israel. Many scholars believe that she is the same Rahab who is listed in Matthew as the mother of Boaz. Ruth was a Moabitess, who also accepted the God of Israel. Scripture demonstrates
that Christ's genealogy included at least one Gentile. Hence,
we find that racial purity was never a requirement in the lineage
of God’s chosen servants, for we find a Gentile woman, not only
in the lineage of Ephraim and Manasseh, but possibly two
Gentile women in the genealogy of such important people in God’s
plan as King David and Jesus Christ The New Testament There is nothing in the New Testament indicating that racial intermarriage is a sin. From what we have been able to discover, the subject is not addressed at all. Peter was instructed, in the vision of the sheets with the unclean creatures, that he should call no man common or unclean. This removed even the ceremonial separation of Israelites from people of other nations (not only from people of other colors or "races"). Where rifts occurred between the Jews and Gentiles in the early Church, Paul, in particular, came out strongly against these divisions: (Galatians 2:11-14 NNAS) But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. {12} For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. {13} The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. {14} But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? Paul repeatedly emphasizes that at the spiritual level, there are NO distinctions between people. We all stand before God as human beings. (Romans 10:11-13 NNAS) For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." {12} For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; {13} for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." (1 Corinthians 1:22-24 NNAS) For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; {23} but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, {24} but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NNAS) For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. {13} For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (Galatians 3:27-28 NNAS) For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. {28} There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Of course Paul is not pretending that there are no PHYSICAL distinctions between people. There ARE Jews, there ARE Greeks, there ARE men and women, there ARE slaves and freemen. But before God, regardless of our physical distinctions, we are all the same – we are all human beings. (Colossians
3:9-11 NNAS) Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside
the old self with its evil practices, {10} and
have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge
according to the image of the One who created him-- {11}
a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek
and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian,
slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. Mixing of the Races One contention that many sincerely concerned individuals have made is that racial intermarriage would eventually lead to the world being populated by one “mongrel” race. It has been asserted that this is what was occurring prior to the flood. However, the actual evidence in the United States, and in other countries around the world, proves for the most part, to be contrary to that expectation. Much of this world's racial mixing has occurred as the result of illicit sexual relationships – including prostitution, rape and oppression during times of war, and slave owners taking female slaves. What we see today, even in heavily integrated schools, cities and nations, is that MOST people marry people who look, who talk, and who act like themselves. Even in groups of the same race, there tend to be families, tribes, etc. Among those of the SAME ethnic origin, such factors as culture, language and other far more subtle differences, cause people to gravitate toward people who are most like themselves. MOST people do NOT seek to cross these barriers. That being said, when diverse groups are mixed in society, there will be more intermarriage than would occur if these groups were geographically separated. By analogy, most would consider it unthinkable to suggest that it is sin for a Christian to marry someone significantly older or younger. Yet the crossing of age barriers in marriage has never become common, because most people tend to gravitate toward mates of the same age range, toward those who are in the same stage of life as are they themselves. TO SUM UP THE BIBLICAL AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE: 1. God did create the diverse races. 2. Scripture indicates that God divided mankind – by language and by family. 3. The result we see today is that, broadly speaking, the races are divided geographically. 4. Scripture does not condemn interracial marriage. 5. Indeed, Scripture allows for interracial marriage. 6. Scripture does condemn, and does forbid, interreligious marriage. 7.
Therefore,
within God’s Church, racial intermarriage does NOT constitute
sin. Wisdom Given the above, we must still ask if interracial marriage is WISE, considering: human / familial cultural differences (language, diet, music, on and on); the prejudices of the surrounding culture (such as name-calling, isolation, society’s approach to biracial children). Is it WISE to marry someone considerably older or younger than yourself? Is it WISE to marry across socioeconomic boundaries? Is it WISE to marry interracially? A degree of commonality of experience, culture, language, and interest makes the many adaptations required by marriage easier; commonality adds cords to the bond, and reduces the points of potential conflict. Thus, there are many situations when the realistic answer to the above questions would be “No.” Yet there are also circumstances when marriage can be a wonderful blessing, even in the face of all three of these obstacles! A case in point from Scripture is found in the marriage of Boaz to Ruth. Their marriage is foundational to the “happy ending” of the book of Ruth. Yet Ruth and Boaz were of diverse age, of diverse racial origin, and of diverse socioeconomic status. Additionally, they had been raised in different national cultures with, presumably, different primary languages. Religiously they were the same, since Ruth had already acknowledged God and His way of life. In Conclusion It is important that we counsel wisdom to any couple anticipating marriage – wisdom in all of the factors which affect the marital union. However, it is essential that we teach the TRUTH of God, and base our counsel upon that truth. The truth of God is that interracial marriage is NOT, of itself, a sin. Whether or not biracial marriage is wise in any given situation will be dependent upon the many factors peculiar to the individual circumstance. A given marriage may or may not be wise for any number of reasons – including considerations of race – but racial intermarriage is definitely NOT, of itself, sin. The challenges of biracial marriage, along with the natural tendency of people to marry people like themselves, will render it far less common than same-race marriage within God’s Church; however, when interracial marriage does occur, we should embrace it as a normal and expected event in Christ’s Body. For indeed, we are all one in Jesus Christ. [1] Insect Pollination of Cultivated Plant Crops by S.E. McGregor, United States Department of Agriculture (originally published 1972), Chapter 5, section “Olive.” NOTE: Underlining and bold emphases to Scripture are added.
APPENDIX: Genesis 6 In Regard to Interracial Marriage God’s Church has taught that the races sprang from Adam and Eve – that God created the capability within Adam and Eve to bear children of different races. The supportability of that theory from Scripture does not really impact this topic. It is certainly possible that racial diversity existed before the flood, just as the Church has taught. Whatever the case, the races exist today. Since there are multiple races, the question of interracial marriage naturally arises. However, some use Chapter 6 of Genesis, sincerely suggesting: (1) One of the key sins prior to the flood was racial mixing through rampant interracial marriage, and (2) Noah alone was distinguished, by having an unblemished racial heritage. Here is the passage: (Genesis 6:1-13 NNAS) Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, {2} that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. {3} Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." {4} The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. {5} Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. {6} The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. {7} The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them." {8} But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. {9} These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. {10} Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. {11} Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. {12} God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. {13} Then God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. In response to the first point, what ARE the sins which God focuses upon here? What phrases are used? “The wickedness of man was great on the earth…every intent of the thought of his heart was only evil continually.” “The earth was corrupt…and the earth was filled with violence…the earth…was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.” “…the earth is filled with violence because of them.” It is reasonable that wickedness and corruption in this passage would include interracial marriage IF, in fact, such marriages are sin. However, violence and evil in every intent of man's heart goes far beyond (and if such marriages are not sin, are entirely separate and distinct from), the racial lineage of one's spouse. In the midst of this wickedness and corruption and violence, we find Noah, who “found favor in the eyes of the LORD…Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time (Brown, Driver, & Briggs “in his own generation and those immediately contiguous,” [1] Theological Wordbook of the OT “among his contemporaries” [2]), Noah walked with God.” We find a violent, corrupt, and thoroughly wicked world. In it, Noah literally stands alone – righteous, blameless, walking with God. Unlike in the case of Elijah much later, there are no other thousands who have not bowed the knee to Baal. We notice how Peter describes Noah’s time: (2 Peter 2:5 NNAS) and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; The nature of the wickedness, corruption, and violence is not specifically stated. However marriages are mentioned in the context. We will come back to that later, since it does appear that something was amiss in those marriages. As we shall see, the context of Genesis 6 does not clearly specify that this marital problem was mixing of the races. Nor does the context clearly specify that the problem was interreligious marriage. Additionally, Christ’s words, as recorded in Matthew and Luke, have been paired with Genesis 6 in support of the idea that marriage was one of the biggest problems in the time of Noah. Is this idea supportable? What do these verses actually say? (Matthew 24:36-51 NNAS) "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. {37} "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. {38} "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, {39} and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. {40} "Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. {41} "Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. {42} "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. {43} "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. {44} "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. {45} "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? {46} "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. {47} "Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. {48} "But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My master is not coming for a long time,' {49} and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; {50} the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, {51} and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Luke 17:26-30 NNAS) "And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: {27} they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. {28} "It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; {29} but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. {30} "It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. What do these verses actually say? Surely it is true that almost any ungodly society will have sins related to the misuse of marriage and to the misuse of alcohol. However, is Christ saying here, as some have suggested, that marriage and drinking were two of the most prominent sins at the time of the flood? Then is Christ also saying that the buying, selling, planting, and building that were going on in Sodom and Gomorrah were terrible sins? The answer is found in the context. The context makes clear that Christ is saying that at the end time, people will be going about their physical lives, marrying and giving in marriage, eating and drinking, working in the field, grinding at the mill, buying, selling, planting, building – fundamental, everyday acts of human existence – right up to the moment of the return of Christ. Just like those people in Noah’s time and in Lot’s time, they will be completely oblivious of what is about to happen to them. Straightforwardly, there is nothing in these words of Jesus Christ which either blesses or condemns the people in Noah’s time, or in Lot’s time, for eating, for drinking, for marrying, or for giving in marriage – or for working, grinding, buying, selling, planting, or building. Therefore, in these gospel verses, by themselves, there is no additional support for the idea that marriage of any kind was a particular problem in the time of Noah, any more than these verses suggest that it is a sin to work in the field or to grind at the mill. Going on to the second point, was it Noah’s “unblemished racial heritage” for which he found favor with God? In examining what is behind that supposition, we begin with a quote from an esteemed author, one to whom we are greatly indebted for the understanding of numerous Scriptural truths. He argues the following in regard to Genesis 6:9: “Noah, was ‘perfect’ in his generations. That is, his heredity, ancestry (Gen. 6:9). “Proof of this lies in the meaning of the Hebrew word translated ‘perfect.’ It may refer either to spiritual character (Gen. 17:1) or to physical characteristics (Lev. 22:21).”[3] But is this assertion valid? The verses which the author cites read as follows: (Genesis 17:1 NNAS) Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. (Leviticus 22:21 NNAS) 'When a man offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to fulfill a special vow or for a freewill offering, of the herd or of the flock, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. Let’s take a closer look. The Hebrew word translated "blameless” and "perfect" here is tamim, which comes from tamam: H8549. tamim, [1071a]; from H8552; complete, sound:-- [translated in Scripture as] blameless(22), blamelessly(1), complete(1), entire(1), full(1), intact(1), integrity(4), perfect(5), sincerity(1), unblemished(2), uprightly(1), who is perfect(1), whole(2), without blemish(12), without defect(36).[4] H8552. tamam, [1070b]; a prim. root; to be complete or finished:-- [translated in Scripture as] all(1), all gone(1), all spent(2), been completed(1), blameless(1), blossoms(m)(1), boil well(1), came to an end(1), cease(1), come to an end(2), complete(2), completed(1), completely(3), consume(1), consumed(4), count(m)(1), destroyed(6), end(2), ended(3), fail(1), finally perished*(1), finish(1), finished(7), full(1), gone(1), lie(m)(1), make perfect(1), meet an end(4), met an end(1), perished(4), ready(m)(1), run(m)(1), show blameless(2), spent(1), utterly(1).[5] The perfect physical characteristics of the offerings symbolize the perfect spiritual character of Jesus Christ. We should also note that the required “perfection” of the physical characteristics of the sacrificial animal goes far beyond “genetic heritage.” This is clearly indicated by verse 22 of Leviticus 22, and by other passages of Scripture in which God condemns Israel for bringing the poorest of their stock as offerings. To be sure, God condemns the interbreeding of two "kinds" of four-footed animals; however, we can have a genetically acceptable animal that is unacceptably blemished – blind, lame, sick, fractured, or maimed; with a running sore, eczema, or scabs; or bruised, crushed, torn, or cut -- and therefore unfit for an offering. The previously mentioned author accepts that Noah's perfection "in his generations" can be legitimately rendered to mean "among his contemporaries." (See quotes above and below.) Therefore, if Noah were physically unblemished among his contemporaries, this would strongly imply a physical state of health and soundness similar to that which was required for the sacrificial animals, and for the Levitical priests' eligibility for priestly service. A further significant question is to ask: Where else in Scripture do we find any confirming use of these terms to indicate their usage in the sense of genetic acceptability, apart from physical health and soundness? Consequently, at a minimum, any interpretation of "unblemished" which would presume to limit its meaning to only heredity or ancestry would have to be considerably expanded. The respected author states: “Therefore Genesis 6:9 allows the translation that Noah was either ‘blameless’ or ‘unblemished.’"[6] This is correct. The usage of this word elsewhere in Scripture allows either translation, so we must examine the context for the intended meaning. Yet notice that author’s conclusion: “The context (Gen. 6:2) clearly indicates the latter is the intended meaning of ‘perfect.’ So a good rendering of Genesis 6:9 is that Noah was the only ‘just’ man (in spiritual character), and also ‘unblemished' (in his genetic heritage) among his contemporaries.” (Emphasis added.) [7] That author reaches his conclusion about Noah, based solely upon the interpretation that Genesis 6:2 refers to interracial marriages. Here is the verse: (Genesis 6:2 NNAS) that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. However, does the above verse in its context actually refer to interracial marriage? UNLESS it can somehow be conclusively established that race is the marital problem here in Genesis 6, the surrounding context does not lend any support for the conclusion that this verse means that Noah was “unblemished in his genetic heritage.” What is absolutely clear here is that the context does support the fact that Noah’s RIGHTEOUSNESS set him apart from that wicked, corrupt, and violent society. Thus we can safely conclude that the words translated “blameless in his time” (KJV “perfect in his generations”) do allow for the meaning “unblemished in his physical characteristics among his contemporaries" – however, this meaning is certainly not required, either by the context, or by the words themselves. In fact, the more natural reading in the clear context may simply be that Noah was righteous, blameless, and walked with God. Hebrews 11:7 flows with this reading of Genesis 6: (Hebrews
11:7 NASB) By faith Noah, being warned by God about things
not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation
of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became
an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. “Sons of God” There have been various arguments based upon “the sons of God” and “the daughters of men,” attempting to support various points of view, including the idea that this passage of Genesis addresses interracial marriage. (Genesis 6:1-4 NNAS) Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, {2} that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. {3} Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." {4} The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Arguments have been made for the view that the “sons of God” should be rendered “sons of god,” presumed to refer to descendants of Cain -- allegedly dark skinned, who took “the daughters of men” – (allegedly Sethites) who were “beautiful,” (translated “fair” in the KJV, thus presumed by some to suggest “light skinned”) – and that this mixing of skin coloration was contrary to God’s will. Other scholars have argued the opposite -- that the “sons of God” were the Sethites, which would have included the lineage of Noah and the other “preachers of righteousness,” who chose ungodly Cainite women and married them. In either case, the argument is made by some that interracial marriage was all, or part of, the problem; and by others, that the problem was singularly interreligious. Thus, we need to investigate to learn precisely what it is that Scripture uses the phrase “sons of God” to indicate. The pertinent passages follow: (Job
1:6 NNAS) Now there was a day when the sons of God came
to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among
them. (Job
2:1 NNAS) Again there was a day when the sons of God
came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came
among them to present himself before the LORD. (Job
38:7 NNAS) When the morning stars sang together And all the
sons of God shouted for joy? (Matthew
5:9 NNAS) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall
be called sons of God. (Luke
20:34-36 NNAS) And Jesus said to them, "The sons
of this age marry and are given in marriage, {35}
but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age
and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given
in marriage; {36} for they cannot even die anymore, because
they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons
of the resurrection. (Romans
8:14-17 NNAS) For all who are being led by the Spirit of
God, these are sons of God. {15} For you have
not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but
you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we
cry out, "Abba! Father!" {16} The Spirit
Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of
God, {17} and if children, heirs also, heirs of God
and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him
so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans
8:19 NNAS) For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing
of the sons of God. (Galatians
3:26 NNAS) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. How then does Scripture use the phrase “children of God?” (John
1:12-13 NNAS) But as many as received Him, to them He gave
the right to become children of God, even to those
who believe in His name, {13} who were born, not
of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man,
but of God. (John
11:51-52 NNAS) Now he did not say this on his own initiative,
but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was
going to die for the nation, {52} and not for the nation
only, but in order that He might also gather together into one
the children of God who are scattered abroad. (Romans
8:20-23 NNAS) For the creation was subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope {21}
that the creation itself also will be set free from its
slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children
of God. {22} For we know that the whole creation
groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
{23} And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the
first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the
redemption of our body. (Romans
9:6-8 NNAS) But it is not as though the word of God
has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
{7} nor are they all children because they are Abraham's
descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL
BE NAMED." {8} That is, it is not the children of
the flesh who are children of God, but the children of
the promise are regarded as descendants. (Philippians
2:14-16 NNAS) Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
{15} so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and
innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst
of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear
as lights in the world, {16} holding fast the word of
life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory
because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. (1 John 3:1-2 NNAS) See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. {2} Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will |