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I am looking for materials and/or sources and answers to aid in my research of refuting the belief of British Israelism. Someone at my church is a believer in this and has provided me with materials by the late E. Raymond Capt, who was a proponent of this. After reading these materials, I am completely unconvinced of the claims of B.I. and its supporters. B.I. is the belief that the English, Scots and certain European peoples are descendants of the ten lost tribes of Israel.

Any assistance would be appreciated. If this is the wrong forum to ask this question, I apologize.

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    Mathematically, I think it's likely that everyone currently living has at least one line that traces back to Israel. theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2002/05/the-royal-we/302497
    – Samuel Bradshaw
    Dec 18, 2016 at 23:39
  • See also: stat.yale.edu/~jtc5/papers/Ancestors.pdf "[A]ll individuals who have any descendants among the present-day individuals are actually ancestors of all present-day individuals." However, proving your line goes back to a specific tribe (such as one of the lost 10 tribes) is where it gets more complex.
    – Samuel Bradshaw
    Dec 18, 2016 at 23:44
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    @Andrew That's incorrect - British Israelism is a Christian doctrine (according to the forum rules), it's most definitely on-topic here.
    – bruised reed
    Dec 19, 2016 at 0:39
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    This is one of those things where it's so obviously nonsense that it's hard to know what an effective argument would be!
    – curiousdannii ♦
    Dec 19, 2016 at 2:16
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    I've just read the Wikipedia article on this nonsense. How to refute it? Don't bother. Ask adherents if the verse "Repent and believe the Gospel, and you shall be saved" is not enough for them. If they answer "No", wash your hands of them and leave them to their delusions.
    – Mick
    Dec 20, 2016 at 4:24

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A great deal of this move to identify a group of people as the lost tribes of Israel stems from a misunderstanding of prophesy from the OT. They use scriptures such as Isa. 45:17,

" But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." (KJV)

without understanding the definition of Israel under the new covenant of the gospel of Christ. Some analysis is required.

Under the old covenant, the Israelites were identified by their blood line to be children of Abraham, or proselytes to the faith.

Under the new covenant of the gospel of Christ, all those that are baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, and are counted for the seed of Abraham.

Matt. 3:9,

"And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." (KJV)

The blood line was not important any longer, and truly was not important even under the old covenant, as anyone whose faith brought them to a knowledge of the laws of God could become a proselyte, and counted in the congregation.

It was always the faithful of God who were the true Israelites.

Rom.4:16-148,

"Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.” (KJV)

Today, the house of Israel which is saved with an everlasting salvation are all those of the saved under the old covenant, along with all who are in Christ under the new covenant. If we have been baptized (immersed) into Christ, then we are counted for the seed of Abraham, and we are Israel (Gal. 3:26-29).

Those who seek a DNA strand of the blood line have become confused, and are seeking after the old covenant which has passed away.

I have more material that you can use to support your arguments at my blog at ShreddingTheVeil. My posts titled God's Definitions, Part I: The House of Israel, and Part II: The House of God show how these changed under the gospel of Christ.

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