420 – Origin of the Races

SEMESTER 2

420 – Origin of the Races

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  BIBLE SURVEY II LESSON # 20
ORIGIN OF THE RACES

 INTRODUCTION:

1. This is a most difficult Bible subject to deal with:

i. Because of national and racial prejudice inherent in both the teacher and student.
ii. Because of fear of, or accusation of the same, in both teacher and student.
Ill: “Racist” is a bad word in today’s society, yet the fact of difference in races is a most obvious fact of life.

I. THE KNOWN FACTS OF RACIAL DISTINCTION

1. They are all the offspring of one man, Adam.

i. More specifically they are all offspring of Noah.(Gen. 9:18-19)

2. Different races are biologically different in many ways (not color only).

III: The recent report in lead content of the blood.

3. To accept any kind of creation, is to credit God, either by cause or permission, with these differences.
4. If we have a biblical explanation (and we do) it is essentially in Gen. 9 and 10.
5. Migration, name changes and crossbreeding over the last 4,000 years make definite identification difficult.
6. The Bible does indicate three categories of people according to the sons of Noah. (Gen. 9:24-27)

II. JAPHETH AND HIS OFFSPRING

1. Japheth was the eldest of Noah’s sons. (Gen. 10:21)
2. He is the father of the Gentile nations and languages. (Gen. 10:1-5)
3. These apparently constitute all the Caucasian nations.
4. It appears that Japheth is to be the race of the greatest domin­ion. (Gen. 9:27)

III. HAM AND HIS OFFSPRING

1. Ham was the youngest of Noah’s sons. (Gen. 9:24)
2. His name Ham is from the Hebrew (Khawm) which means to be or to wax hot, some writers infer that it means burned.
3. Cush, the name of Ham’s oldest son is the same Hebrew word as is rendered Ethiopia.
4. Mizraim was the father of those who settled upper and lower Egypt.
5. Canaan is the father of the Canaanites.
6. We cannot be utterly conclusive, but it is agreed by most, that Ham is the father of all the black races.
7. The curse of slavery, was specifically pronounced upon Canaan, Ham’s youngest son. It seems likely that it extended through his older brothers culminating in him.
8. Let it be known that whatever the curse of slavery is, it is no man’s responsibility to enforce it. But what of Scripture’s tolerance of slavery? (Hear on tape.)

IV. SHEM AND HIS OFFSPRING

1. Since Japheth is the oldest and Ham the youngest, Shem is logically the second born of Noah.
2. The name Shem is the same as Sem (Greek) and is the name from which Semitic comes.
3. He is the father of the oriental peoples, and in my opinion, including the North and South American Indians.
4. He is the only one with a total lineage.
5. He is in the bloodline of Christ revealed in the Gospels.
6. He is the only son of Noah whose life span (600 years) we know.

i. Incidentally, he outlived Abraham by about 33 years.