Ethnology, in the context of biblical studies, refers to the study of the various peoples, tribes, and nations mentioned in the Bible, with a focus on their origins, relationships, and cultural characteristics. This field of study is significant for understanding the historical and social contexts of the biblical narrative, as well as the fulfillment of biblical prophecies and the unfolding of God's plan for humanity.

Biblical Foundations

The Bible provides a foundational account of the origins of different peoples and nations, beginning with the creation of humanity. Genesis 1:27 states, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This verse establishes the unity of the human race, created by God with inherent dignity and purpose.

The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 is a key passage for ethnological study, as it lists the descendants of Noah's sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and their respective nations. Genesis 10:32 summarizes, "These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood." This genealogical record provides insight into the dispersion and development of various ethnic groups following the flood.

Ethnic Groups in the Bible

Throughout the biblical narrative, numerous ethnic groups are mentioned, each playing a role in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. The Israelites, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are central to the Old Testament narrative. God chose Israel as His covenant people, as stated in Deuteronomy 7:6: "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession, above all peoples on the face of the earth."

Other significant groups include the Egyptians, Canaanites, Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. Each of these nations interacted with Israel in various ways, often serving as instruments of God's judgment or blessing. For example, the Assyrians and Babylonians were used by God to discipline Israel and Judah for their disobedience, as seen in 2 Kings 17:6 and 2 Kings 25:1-11.

The New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the focus shifts to the inclusion of all nations in the redemptive work of Christ. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 commands, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." This mandate underscores the universality of the gospel and God's desire for all ethnic groups to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ.

The early church grappled with issues of ethnic diversity, particularly the inclusion of Gentiles alongside Jews. Acts 10 recounts Peter's vision and subsequent visit to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, where he declares, "I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right" (Acts 10:34-35).

Eschatological Vision

The Bible culminates in a vision of a redeemed humanity, united in worship before the throne of God. Revelation 7:9-10 describes this scene: "After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands, and they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'"

This eschatological vision affirms the ultimate purpose of ethnology within the biblical narrative: to reveal God's sovereign plan to gather a diverse people for Himself, reflecting His glory and grace throughout all creation.(n.) The science which treats of the division of mankind into races, their origin, distribution, and relations, and the peculiarities which characterize them.ETHNOGRAPHY; ETHNOLOGY

eth-nog'-ra-fi, eth-nol'-o-ji.

See TABLE OF NATIONS.

Chapter xii
... The claim by which the tribal theory is chiefly supported is that ethnology has
no instances on record where nations descended from an individual, as, for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xii.htm

Thoughts on a Revelation.
... Geology, ethnology, mythical interpretation, critical investigation, and inquiries
of other kinds, have raised their several difficulties; and, in consequence ...
/.../jerram/thoughts on a revelation/thoughts on a revelation.htm

Science and the Savages
... Hence arises the fact which strikes the eye everywhere in the records of ethnology
and folk-lore " the fact that the same frigid and detached spirit which ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xi science and the savages.htm

Chapter xxxvi
... chapter is so obviously correct that it has been remarked that "the chapter evidently
embodies authentic information regarding the history and ethnology of Edom ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

Professor of Sanskrit, Bengali, and Marathi
... he had founded in the first year of the eighteenth century, Leibniz first sowed
the seed of the twin sciences of comparative philology and ethnology, to which ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter ix professor of sanskrit.htm

Celts and Celtophiles
... are easily disposed of. Nationality in its weakness has been stronger than
ethnology in its strength. Five triumphant races have ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xiii celts and celtophiles.htm

The Old Testament and Modern Science
... "It is true that the Scriptures were not designed to teach philosophy, science,
or ethnology, or human history as such, and therefore they are not to be ...
/.../the christian view of the old testament/chapter ii the old testament.htm

The Royal Pair in their Glorious Chariot
... At one time it was thought that ethnology would prove that the human race could
not be one; and Moses was terribly abused by some who said it was not possible ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/the royal pair in their.htm

The Evolution of Language
... [65] Tylor, Anthropology. [66] First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology,
Washington, 1881. [67] Mental Evolution, p. 147. ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter v the evolution of.htm

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... Nor was it necessary to touch questions of ethnology and politics which might be
raised by those who value Germanism so far as it is human, rather than so far ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/bunsens biblical researches.htm

Ethnology
... characterize them. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ETHNOGRAPHY; ETHNOLOGY.
eth-nog'-ra-fi, eth-nol'-o-ji. See TABLE OF NATIONS. ...
/e/ethnology.htm - 6k

Ethnography
... n.) That branch of knowledge which has for its subject the characteristics of the
human family, developing the details with which ethnology as a ... See Ethnology. ...
/e/ethnography.htm - 6k

Japheth (12 Occurrences)
... Asshur), the Syrians (Aram), the Hebrews (Eber), and the Joktanian Arabs (Joktan),
four of the principal races which modern ethnology recognizes under the ...
/j/japheth.htm - 15k

Eubulus (1 Occurrence)

/e/eubulus.htm - 7k

Semites
... that the gigantic Aryans of the North had their portion also in Palestine 5.
Reliability of Genesis 10: It is customary now in Biblical ethnology to disregard ...
/s/semites.htm - 27k

Semitic
... that the gigantic Aryans of the North had their portion also in Palestine 5.
Reliability of Genesis 10: It is customary now in Biblical ethnology to disregard ...
/s/semitic.htm - 28k

History (57 Occurrences)
... Shem. Linguistics and ethnology confirm, in general, the closer connection
between the Semitic tribes mentioned in Genesis 10:21 ff. ...
/h/history.htm - 67k

Israel (27466 Occurrences)
... Shem. Linguistics and ethnology confirm, in general, the closer connection
between the Semitic tribes mentioned in Genesis 10:21 ff. ...
/i/israel.htm - 101k

Genealogy (29 Occurrences)
... does not accord with the present deliverances of archaeology, it must be remembered
that at this distance conclusions drawn from ethnology, philology and ...
/g/genealogy.htm - 70k

Joseph (248 Occurrences)
... presents some interesting things and many clever speculations which may well be
considered on their own merits by those interested in ethnology and etymologies ...
/j/joseph.htm - 91k

Ethnology: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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