Was Jesus Christ black or white? Why is he represented in all his paintings as a white person?

Answer 1

I don't think he was black or white more like a tanned colour of skin.

Answer 2

I think there is a misconception here that Jesus coul d not be white, fair haired or blue eyed. There are many Arabs, North Indians and Middle Easterners with that colouring. I personally would say he had an olive skin, dark brown eyes and brown hair The artists that painted the pictures were mainly from Italy and they would perceive him as being fair of skin...if you look at the Greek Orhodox and Russian Orthodox painting he is not fair and blue eyed. I spoke to a nun about this and also about the Virgin Mary being black in some pictures and was told that they are depicted in this way so that the people of that region feel that Christ and the virgin Mary were part of them. They would be able to associate theselves with Jesus and Mary in this manner. No colour isnt really the issue but that is what the question asked. As long as we all pray to the same god what does it matter what colour he is and what he call him.

Answer 3

The church catholic and protestant were mainly founded by white people,In turn there have made there Christ white,In Jamaica(were there is more churches per square mile then any where else in the world(catholic) they may have a black representative of there Christ. I think the idea is for Christ to symbolise what ever that person would like him or her to!
Painted by white people!
Jesus was Arabic if any thing!

Answer 4

unfortunately for the hardline christians. Since Jesus came from the arabic world. He was an Arab looking person(most probably even one with short hair and without beard). The reason why he is usually depicted as being white is that since The time of Roman christians, christianity has been dominated by white Europeans. The usual Christ image(with long hair and beard) seems to have started around the 12th century. At that time it would have been inapropriate to have him look like an Arab. Since the Europeans were not on very good terms with them at that time

Answer 5

Jesus wasn't white, or black, or arabic. He was Jewish. The Bible says He was descended from King David (through His mother Mary). The Bible also says that He wasn't comely - which means, not very handsome. So it was who He was, and not His appearance, that mattered at the time and that attracted people to Him. The same should be true today. Artists probably paint Him in whatever skin color will be most familiar to the viewers of the painting. But I agree with those above who said that it's who He is that matters, and He came to save us all... skin color is irrelevant.

Answer 6

Q: Was Jesus Christ black or white?
A: He was caucasian (white).

Q: Why is he represented in all his paintings as a white person?
A: Because he was caucasian (white).

OriginalBubble, where was Jesus supposedly born, or where did he supposedly live? I thought it was in the area of Egypt and Israel, where you don't see very may black people, even today.

Answer 7

Going on where he was born he most likely had olive skin.
No pictures to call up but his color is not important that is only the physical, in the spirit we will all be the same. There are Native American Christ images,others too I am sure. Jesus is the son of the living God and that gives us all an equal connection so color Him what ever.

Answer 8

Jesus is described in the bible as perfect. I assume that means he had perfect genetics. So all the assumptions made about him are probably wrong. If God wanted a blue eyed Jew - he would have created a blue eyed Jew! It appears his genetics were such that he never got sick. Some research years ago, suggested that the way he healed the sick was real. That he was psychologically and physically perfect - whatever perfect is - and that would have made it scientifically possible for him to heal certain illnesses if not all sickness. Maybe, he was like the Chameleon and changed his colour to suit the onlooker!

Answer 9

Your skin colour is determined by parentage, not where you where born. Given (if you are a Christian), that Jesus was an immaculate conception i.e. not from the sperm / ovum approach, I guess it was a matter of whatever God thought would be the best / most suitable colour - probably of middle eastern appearance. No mention is made in the Gospels of any unusual appearance - so I guess he looked 'local'.

The way He is represented in art reflects the culture of the artist.

Answer 10

that is a good question. it angers me that alot of white people are racist and claim to love Jesus when its obvious that Jesus was not white, he was born in Jerusalem and was known as Jesus of Nazareth!! because Mary and Joseph were form Nazareth.
how could he have been white??

he is pictured as white as some people can only accept him that way and it is so wrong.
i love Jesus, no matter what colour his skin was as we should love each other regardless of skin colour x

Answer 11

Jesus was probably of Arabic origin. He's always portrayed as white because it's incocievable to the church that he sould be from a different ethnic group to the traditional majority of christians, particularly senior members of the catholic church.