Judaism and Christianity

Although Christianity contains its roots in Second Temple Judaism, the two religions divide in the earlier Christian era decades. Christianity fosters correct belief by emphasizing the New Covenant, detailed in the New Testament and mediated via Jesus Christ (or orthodoxy). In Judaism, proper conduct (otherwise called orthopraxy) is emphasized, focusing on the Mosaic covenant as said in the Torah and Talmud.

Overview of Judaism and Christianity

Christians believe that accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior Son is the only way to be saved from sin. Jews believe that people and communities can actively dialogue with God through tradition, rituals, prayers, and ethical deeds. Christians generally believe in a Triune God, one of whom became human. Judaism emphasizes God's Oneness and rejects Christianity's idea of God as a human being.

Judaism and Christianity have much in common despite their theological differences and varied past. They defend the Hebrew Bible's canonicity. They have philosophical and theological perspectives in common. They both have a stake in the state of Israel on theological, political, and social levels. Periods of intense persecution have soiled their histories. Despite their similarities, Judaism and Christianity vary on some key points.

Christianity and Rome

The Apostle Paul wrote several letters in the decades after Jesus' death that is now included in the Christian Bible's New Testament. Paul was a Roman citizen who wrote these letters to local Christian groups throughout the Roman Empire. The letters demonstrate that Paul and his fellow Christians were still trying to figure out what it meant to be Christians. The exact link between Judaism and Christianity and the relationship between Christianity and the Roman government were highly debated topics.

In the Roman Empire, Judaism was recognised as a legal religion with formal protections. Even though Christianity originated from Jewish traditions, it lacked legal protections. Christians were persecuted—formally punished—for their beliefs several times throughout the first two centuries CE. However, unless Christians challenged imperial authority, the Roman state's official position was to ignore them.

Rome becomes Christian

The Edict of Milan, issued by Emperor Constantine in 313 CE, granted legal status to Christianity and most other religions. While this was a significant development in Christian history, it did not mean Christianity completely replaced ancient Roman beliefs.

In 325, Constantine called the Council of Nicaea a gathering of Christian leaders tasked with establishing Christianity's formal—or orthodox—beliefs. The Nicene Creed, which laid out the council's agreed-upon beliefs, resulted from this council.

The Edict of Thessalonica, issued by Emperor Theodosius in 380 CE, declared Christianity, specifically Nicene Christianity, to be the Roman Empire's official religion. The Roman state declared most other Christian sects heretical, seized their legal standing, and confiscated their property.

Inter-Faith Relationship and the History of Judaism and Christianity

In addition to their different viewpoints on each other as religions, Christianity and Judaism have a long and often painful history of war, persecution, and, at times, reconciliation, which has shaped their mutual views of their relationship over time. Since the end of WWII and the Holocaust, Christianity has gone through a period of introspection over its Jewish roots and attitudes toward Judaism.

The abolition of anti-Semitism is just one aspect of this ongoing Christian introspection, which seeks to address several legacies that enrage modern believers (Anti-Semitism, slavery, racial and ethnic prejudice, colonialism, sexism, homophobia and religious persecution).

Difference between Judaism and Christianity

Let us look at the difference between Judaism and Christianity here.

Christians believe Jesus is a messiah and personal saviour, which is the main difference between Jews and Christians. Jewish theology does not include Jesus. Jesus is not recognised as a divine being by Jews. As a result, all holidays associated with the life of Jesus are excluded from Jewish life and/or observance (Christmas, Easter, Advent, Lent, Palm Sunday, etc.)

The covenantal relationship between God and Abraham is the source of Judaism. Our sacred book is the Bible (Hebrew Bible, which does not include the New Testament). The text records the relationship between the Jewish people and God. The Bible details the Jewish people's history, culture, language, theology, and practices.

Common roots of Judaism and Christianity 

One God

When it comes to God, Christians agree with Jews that the God revealed in the Holy Scriptures is One. It has been a key principle of Israel's early history that God claims exclusivity as Creator and Redeemer. The Jews of the Old Testament era were distinct from other countries in this regard, as they acknowledged and worshipped multiple, if not multiple, gods. Witness to the One God was also a mark of Christians, and Jews and Christians were both maligned and persecuted for it during the first centuries of Christian history.

Holy Scripture

Like all Jews, the first Christians had several biblical books that generally corresponded to what the Church later called the "Old Testament." These works are referred to as "the Law and the Prophets" in the New Testament (Matt. 22:40). Since this collection was widely known and acknowledged as a fundamental testimony of religion, they are frequently referred to simply as the Scriptures. The Scriptures provided Christians and Jews with various instructions for everyday life, prayer, sermons, and worship.

Conclusion

The conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity did not happen overnight. Slowly but gradually, Roman religious beliefs evolved. Christianity was still spreading when the Western Roman Empire fell in 476 CE. It's also important to remember that Christianity did not arise fully or quickly. Christianity originated from Jewish traditions and was moulded by Roman cultural and political structures for millennia.

For example, the Pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, with a focus on religion and Roman culture, derives his title from the ancient Roman office of pontifex Maximus, or high priest. As Rome came into contact with various peoples and cultures, Roman culture was not completely replaced, but it was frequently repurposed. Both Judaism and Roman cultural institutions had a significant influence on Christianity.

This is detailed information about the history of Judaism and Christianity and focuses on religion and Roman culture.