"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language …" (Revelation 7:9). The visions in the book of Revelation give a glimpse of the people of God at the consummation of history - a racially diverse congregation gathered together in worship around God's throne. The theme of race runs throughout Scripture, constantly pointing to the global and multi-ethnic dimensions inherent in the overarching plan of God. In response to the neglect of this theme in much evangelical scholarship, Dr Hays offers a thoroughly exegetical study. As well as focusing on texts which have a general bearing on race, Dr Hays also demonstrates that black Africans from Cush (Ethiopia) play an important role in both Old and New Testament history. This careful nuanced analysis provides a clear theological foundation for life in contemporary multi-racial cultures, and challenges churches to pursue racial unity in Christ.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. The ethnic make-up of the Old Testament World
3. Creation, blessing, and race (Genesis 1-12)
4. Israel, the Torah, foreigners and intermarriage
5. Israel and black Africa during the monarchy
6. Racial issues in the prophets
7. The ethnic make-up of the New Testament world
8. Race and the theology of Luke-Acts
9. Race, Pauline theology, and the Apocalypse
10. Conclusions and applications
