Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: mejicovs@eniac.seas.upenn.edu Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Jesus' physical appearance Message-ID: Date: 7 Jun 91 03:15:05 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Pennsylvania Lines: 29 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article schiller@src.sony.co.jp (Christoph SCHILLER) writes: >[ >I recenly found a book in which it was stated that there is an >old tradition that Jesus was born with a bad leg, had >curved shoulders and was in general of ugly appearance. > >Does anybody have any information on this tradition ? >More details, more references, etc? > >What are the theological arguments for and against it? It's actually necessary if he is at all to be considered the Jewish Messiah (which I don't believe). If you read the passage popularly referred to as the Suffering Servant in Isaiah then you see, beside some heavily veiled references that some believe point to Jesus, the description of the Messiah as being not so fair in appearance... acquainted with pains and diseases... despised of men... I don't know why people don't actually *read* this passage and then try to match it up with Jesus rather than skimming it and assuming that they match up because everyone says they do... James mejicovs@eniac.seas.upenn.edu