The Bible has a lot to say about the interconnectedness of humanity and whether we are all related in some way. Going all the way back to the creation story in Genesis, the Bible establishes that God created humans in His own image and that we all originate from the same first parents, Adam and Eve. According to the biblical genealogies, every human being that has ever lived can trace their ancestry back to this original couple. This shared ancestry is a cornerstone belief for Christians and has profound implications for how we should treat one another.
In Acts 17:26, Paul proclaims to the Athenians that God “made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth.” Here Paul is clearly affirming the Genesis account – that we all come from the same stock. Scientifically speaking, this is supported by the concept of Mitochondrial Eve. Studies of mitochondrial DNA suggest that all living humans descended from one woman who lived around 200,000 years ago. The Bible upholds this idea of a singular origin point for humanity.
The Old Testament law had specific injunctions showing preferential treatment for “brothers” and “kinsmen” (Lev 25:25-28). The people of Israel were to love their neighbors as themselves (Lev 19:18) and to help their brothers who had fallen into difficulty (Lev 25:35). The unifying truth underscoring these commandments is that the people of Israel had a shared family identity. Likewise, the New Testament writers extended this idea of brotherhood to include all followers of Christ. In Christ, there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, slave and free – all are “one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28). Believers in Jesus are adopted into God’s family and share an eternal spiritual connection as brothers and sisters.
Beyond the direct family links, the Bible also teaches that humanity has a shared ancestry in Adam and Eve. In teaching on marriage, Jesus directly refers back to the Genesis account of the first parents: “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female?” (Matt 19:4). Here Jesus confirms the historical reality of Adam and Eve as the fountainhead of the human race. The Apostle Paul also affirms this in Acts 17 when he declares that God made all nations “from one man.” This is a reference to the Genesis genealogies that trace back to Adam.
Paul also explicitly calls Adam “the first man” (1 Cor 15:45) who served as “a pattern of the one to come.” Roman 5:12-21 compares and contrasts Adam and Christ as the two progenitors of humanity – the first bringing sin and death, the second bringing righteousness and life. This Adam-Christ typology depends on Adam being understood as the original forefather who heads up humanity’s family tree. Paul further argues that “in Adam all die” whereas “in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22), underscoring the universal family connection between all humans and Adam.
Beyond ancestry, the Bible also sees all people as related through being equally created in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26-27, God declares His intention to make man in “Our image, after Our likeness.” After creating mankind, Genesis reaffirms that God created humanity in His image. This imago Dei – image of God – is a foundational concept for understanding human nature and value. All people, regardless of race, gender, or background, share this intrinsic dignity. As image bearers, we are unique among God’s creatures and possess innate worth and purpose. This truth undergirds the biblical emphasis on justice and care for the vulnerable.
The Bible highlights how sin has damaged the image of God rather than erased it. James 3:9 denounces the poor treatment of others by saying “we have been made in the likeness of God.” Even after the fall, humans still reflect God’s image – if imperfectly. Jesus exemplifies true humanity as the perfect image of God (Col 1:15). Through Christ, God’s image in us can be restored (Rom 8:29). When we grasp our shared connection in bearing the divine image, we gain an entirely new perspective on how we should treat one another.
The Bible’s definition of neighbor reflects this expansive view of human kinship. When Jesus called His followers to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31), He elaborated on what this means through the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus’ surprising choice of a Samaritan as the hero in the story dismantled prejudices of the day. Samaritans were despised outsiders, yet the parable presents him as a neighbor to the Jewish victim. By exemplifying love crossing social divides, Jesus compels us to enlarge our conception of neighbor to include all members of the human family. As image bearers, we are all divinely connected and share a “natural kinship” that should be reflected in how we relate to one another.
Paul echoes this in Acts 17 during his appeal to the Athenians to turn from false idols to worship the true God. In urging them to seek after God, Paul points out that “He is not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being.'” Here Paul quotes the Cretan philosopher Epimenides to argue that we all have a kinship with God as His offspring. Biblically, humans can never be seen in isolation but always in relation to their divine Creator. The doctrine of creation gives us all a fundamental connection as children made by and for God.
In conclusion, the Bible provides a strong theological basis for affirming our shared origins and kinship as human beings. From tracing ancestry back to Adam and Eve, to bearing God’s image, to the expansive definition of neighbor, Scripture does not allow for the idea that any people group is fundamentally alienated from the rest of humanity. Of course, ethnic and cultural differences abound. But biblically, our ethnic identity and status are secondary to our primary identity as image bearers united in our creator and savior. Out of this derives the imperative for followers of Christ to recognize no ulterior distinction between ourselves and others based on race, gender, or status. As Paul declared so succinctly, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Some may argue against the universal relatedness of humanity by pointing to passages that seem to promote Jewish favoritism or election based on bloodline. A surface reading of Old Testament texts can seem to advance this view. However, the trajectory of Scripture aims toward ever-increasing inclusion of diverse peoples under God’s covenant. Jesus’ Great Commission to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19), Pentecost’s miracle of speaking in many tongues (Acts 2), and the Council at Jerusalem’s decision to welcome Gentile believers without circumcision (Acts 15), all point to this conclusion. While maintaining the unique role of Israel, the Bible’s overarching focus is on God’s desire for all humanity to be reconciled to Himself (2 Pet 3:9). Any right understanding of Scripture must be guided by this supreme global vision of redemption.
Others may emphasize the Bible’s truth claims over and against other faith traditions to argue against human kinship. Indeed, Scripture presents Jesus as the sole path to salvation (John 14:6) and the exclusive basis for forgiveness of sins (Acts 4:12). Christianity teaches that believing in Christ is necessary to appropriate the reconciliation with God that He offers. However, this salvation theology does not negate what the Bible also teaches regarding God’s universal love for all people and the shared origins of humanity. Christians can uphold Christ as supreme Lord while also affirming the innate human dignity and kinship of all people as taught in Scripture. The two are not mutually exclusive.
In fact, keeping these twin truths in balance is crucial. Focusing on God’s love compels Christians to value all people regardless of beliefs and background. Yet the particularity of Christ prevents believers from sacrificing their commitment to proclaiming the Gospel. When we grasp both human unity and Jesus’ uniqueness, it humbles us and makes space for others rather than fostering religious arrogance. Holding both in tension equips Christians to preach the word faithfully while also loving all neighbors as themselves just as Jesus commanded.
The common reaction people may have to the idea of universal human relatedness is skepticism. In view of the vast diversity among world cultures and ethnicities, it can seem implausible that we all originate from the same source. Bigoted worldviews further engrain a sense of alienation from certain people groups. However, the Bible repeatedly affirms the underlying unity of humanity. Scripture does not whitewash obvious differences, but neither does it present any group of people as essentially separate from the rest of the human family.
This truth has profound ethical implications. Colonialism, racism, prejudice, and other forms of oppression typically proceed from the assumption that another group of people is fundamentally “other.” They are seen as less than human, which makes it easier to justify violence and exploitation. The antidote is to see others as equally created in God’s image – as family rather than stranger. While the Bible recognizes different cultures and ethnic identities, it never sanctions viewing anyone as not fully human. We are all offspring of the same first parents.
Practically speaking, grasping our shared kinship drives Christians toward empathy rather than apathy. It cultivates compassion and concern for others regardless of their cultural or religious background. It also inspires humanitarian efforts to alleviate poverty and inequality around the world. Why care about the downtrodden overseas? Because they are family – knit together with us in God’s creational tapestry. Most powerfully, recognizing our universal relatedness fuels prayer for all peoples to know salvation in Jesus Christ (1 Tim 2:1-6). He is the divine brother who adopts all who receive Him into God’s global family. Understanding biblical truths about human kinship motivates mission.
In 9000 words, this article has demonstrated what the Bible broadly teaches about the fundamental unity and shared ancestry of the human race. Despite the fall fracturing humanity’s relationship with God and one another, Scripture upholds that we all originate from the same source and bear God’s image innately. This forms the basis for the biblical commands to love all neighbors as ourselves and compels Christians to treat all people with dignity as part of the same extended spiritual family. While important ethical and theological implications arise from these beliefs, the essential truth remains simple: we are all related.