Was Jesus Handsome?

More gasoline for the fire....

Did he wear a WWID bracelet? ("What Would I Do")

Since He's the only one that could rightfully wear it, I'm sure that product sales were very light...

Seriously...I, too, think that His appearance is irrelevant.

 

Physical attractiveness is very subjective. The terms "spotless and without blemish" don't refer to his physical appearance. They refer to his spiritual nature.

Otherwise, one would get the notion that Jesus didn't have, say freckles, birthmarks, etc. That's a silly idea, and scripturally frivilous.

His appearance is unknown, speculative, and scripturally irrelevant. All we know is that he wasn't overtly physically appealing, which does not say either way whether he was handsome or not.

 

I dont care what he looked like.

 

He's got a beautiful name.

 

aw, he sure does.

 

Of interest is that his name was quite common in Jewish families of the day.

 

The hair which we consider to be long ws not considered long to the Jews of the day. Shoulder length hair for a Jew was commonplace, and not considered to be long. </font>[/QUOTE]A Feb. 24, 2004, Associated Press article reports: "'Jesus didn't have long hair,' said physical anthropologist Joe Zias, who has studied hundreds of skeletons found in archaeological digs in Jerusalem. 'Jewish men back in antiquity did not have long hair.' 'The Jewish texts ridiculed long hair as something Roman or Greek said New York University's Lawrence Schiffman" ("Jesus Scholars Find Fault in Gibson's 'Passion'"). However, it wasn't at all typical among even the Greeks and Romans, as plenty of statues and coins from the time attest.

http://www.ucg.org/booklets/JC/humanbeing_longhair.htm


History shows that short hair on men has been around for a long time—much longer than many realize. At the time Jesus lived, it was the accepted and general custom. For proof, all one need do is pick up any illustrated history book relating to the period. You will find pictures of busts and statues of famous Greeks and Romans of Christ's time. In every case, the men are portrayed with short hair similar to what we find today.

Two excellent books that one may reference are A History of the Holy Land (Michael Avi-Yonah, editor) and Daniel to Paul (Gaalyahu Cornfeld, editor). On pages 126 to 127 of the former, you will find pictures of the busts of Roman leaders, such as Augustus, Pompey, and one believed to be Herod. Each one has short hair. As a matter of fact, all the carvings and statues of the Roman legionnaires show them as having closely cropped hair. Motion pictures involving stories of this time period always portray men with short hair. It would have been quite an oddity for a Roman man to wear his hair long. It used to be the same for all men in our society. The reality is that before, during and after the time of Christ, every Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to Trajan had short hair. And it was the emperor who set the pattern in style and mode of dress for the entire empire.

The Hellenistic Greek culture dominated the Eastern Mediterranean area, influencing Judea before the Romans came on the scene. Quite a large segment of the Jewish population spoke the Greek language and had a Hellenistic view in the time of Christ. (Notice John 12:20; Acts 6:1.) The style of hair for men of this culture was to wear it short. (Cornfeld, pp.15, 146). You will find on page 146 of the book Daniel to Paul a picture showing a “marble statuette of an unidentified man of the Hellenistic period—a time of close contacts between the Jewish and Hellenistic civilizations in thought, art, and everyday life. Whether Jewish or Gentile, he evokes his age and environment.” The man shown in the picture of this statuette had short hair. From the comment made by the author, a learned historian and archaeologist, it is clear that he could not tell if the man was a Jew or a Gentile. Why? Because throughout the Near-Eastern region, the styles were the same—including short hair on men.

Some argue that those Jews who did not have a Hellenistic view may have worn their hair long. However, in the anti-Hellenistic Jewish Talmud is the instruction that every thirty days, all the priests should cut their hair. Why this instruction if they grew their hair long? These priests were well aware of Ezekiel 44:20: “Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long.” God intended that the priests set the example for the rest of the community. (Mal. 2:7). Further examination of the Talmud reveals that the hairstyle was “Julian,” or what would be called “a Caesar cut” (Sanhedrin 22b).

http://www.theologyonline.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-12999.html


Ray

 

in related news...it was erroneously reported by cbn news that Jesus also had a goatee. Several pre-eminent scholars stepped forward and refuted that assertion, claiming a "liberal conspiracy." Trace evidence does, however, hope to shed light on the brand of sandals Jesus preferred, and the controversial "boxers-briefs" theological argument.

And now, your word of knowledge for the day...

 

thanks rbell...gotta stay up on the current news

 

I don't believe that there was anything remarkable about Jesus' appearance in any way. His appearance must have been what was considered ordinary for that time. If He had a remarkable appearance in any way, attention would have been drawn to Him because of His appearance.

Was He handsome? No. Ugly? No. He was most likely what we would call an "average Joe" these days.

 

Oldregular
Let's have a verse on your statement that Jesus was a Nazarite. He was a Nazarene because he lived in the town of Nazareth.

 

As Richard Burton [who portrayed the Roman centurian who crucified Jesus Christ] continued to ask in the movie The Robe: Were you out there johnv? Were you out there?

 

Exactly was I was attempting to say.

 

Don't confuse Nazarite with Nazarene!

 

Agreed, Isaiah 53:2 settles it.

About the long hair thing; here's what 99% of Bible-believers miss

Irrespective of whether Jesus was a Nazarite (and it could be argued he was!) or not, he was a Jew under the law; as such he was under

Leviticus 19:27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.

Now, while this does not necessarilly imply hair down to the shoulders, the reason for the command was for the Jews to stand out amongst a mass of gentiles that cut their hair short, often in connection with religious practice.
But even more, it was precisely for the people of God to bear the "shame" of their God.

1Corinthians 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

is a general truth always. Long hair was against nature, therefore the Jews were to have it as a shame upon them. That it might have been long enough to cover neck and ears is indicated by the fact that Nazarites couldn't ever cut it in order to stand out amongst Jews.

Also, circumcision is against nature, therefore they had to be circumcised.

Jesus wasn't under 1 Corinthians 11:14 doctrinally, but under Leviticus 19:17

A good exercises in rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

Interesting name, O mighty man of David!

 

Jesus was too handsome.

Then...

"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"

Now He's quite handsome again.