Question:  Dear Greg,

            There is a problem that no one seems to want to acknowledge: the birth of Christianity and from whence it came, the ethnicity of the original Israelites, and the changing of the original documents of the Bible.  I ask you, is it wrong to think outside of the box?

            I am not trying to change anyone’s faith in the Supreme Being, because I too know there is a Supreme Being.  I just get the feeling that the whole story is not being told truthfully.  For example, on the ethnicity of Jesus, in Matthew when Jesus was born the three wise men came and talked to Herod explaining that a King is born.  Herod, in an attempt to kill the King, ordered all firstborn males killed.  Meanwhile, the Angel of the Lord told Joseph to move his family to Egypt, to hide from Herod.  Now I ask you—how could a white baby hide amongst all the black people that were in Egypt at that time?  I am just a little confused.

            Greg

Answer:  Dear Greg,

            Early in your message/question you ask what is wrong with “thinking outside of the box”?  Nothing at all.  However, it is wise to think outside of the box according to logic, fact, and documentation.  The Bible and its historical record are true, according to all established rules of historiography.  If the history and historical figures of the Bible are not true, then by the same token the Roman Empire, the empires of Greece and Egypt must be suspect—all the Caesars, all historical figures are open to suspicion.  If you or anyone is to establish that all/the vast majority of history is in error, then you have a huge project on your hands.

            You note that the story of Jesus must not be truthful, for how could a white baby hide among the black people of Egypt?

1.      The idea that Jesus was a Scandinavian or Germanic blonde is an artistic representation, not a biblical assertion.  The Bible tells us that he was a Jew.  History tells us that the Jews of that day who populated Palestine/Israel were olive skinned—not white and not black (more typically what one thinks of when one thinks of today’s Arabic peoples, Turks, Jews of the Middle East, etc.).  That would be closer to what Jesus actually looked like.

2.      Now, to the logic of your question.  Would it have been impossible for a

white baby (or polka-dotted baby) to find refuge in Egypt, among people whose skin color was different?  Not at all.  Is it impossible today for people to live in lands where their skin color is not the majority?  Has it been possible throughout all time?  Have the Jews themselves, while victims of many pogroms, not been able to live in communities as minorities, around the world?  Yes.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht