History of Judaism
Judaism is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, tracing its origins back over 3,000 years to the patriarch Abraham, who is considered its founder. God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3) laid the groundwork for a chosen people through whom the Messiah would eventually come. Key figures in the development of Judaism include Moses, who received the Law (Torah) on Mount Sinai, and later prophets who guided Israel through various spiritual highs and lows.
The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) is central to Judaism. Over the centuries, the religion evolved, especially following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. by the Romans, which marked a transition from Temple-based worship to Rabbinic Judaism. Rabbinic literature, particularly the Mishnah and Talmud, codified religious practices and theology for a post-Temple age.
Major historical events shaping Judaism include the Babylonian Exile, Roman occupation, the rise of Christianity, medieval persecution in Europe, and the Holocaust. The founding of the modern state of Israel in 1948 marked a pivotal moment in Jewish identity and global geopolitics.
Principles and Foundational Assumptions
Judaism teaches belief in one, indivisible God (YHWH), who revealed His law to Israel and expects obedience. It rejects the divinity of Jesus Christ, viewing Him at best as a teacher, not the Messiah. Salvation in Judaism is often seen as tied to covenantal faithfulness, observance of the Torah, and moral conduct. Sin is addressed through repentance, prayer, and good deeds, not through a substitutionary atonement.
Authority rests in the Hebrew Scriptures and Rabbinic traditions. Truth is understood through human reasoning applied to sacred texts, with ethical behavior and cultural continuity being emphasized.
Biblical Christianity, in contrast, is Christocentric. Jesus is not just a prophet or moral teacher; He is God incarnate (John 1:1,14), the fulfillment of the Old Testament Messianic prophecies. Man is fallen and under the just wrath of God. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by works or law-keeping (Ephesians 2:8–9). Authority rests solely in Scripture (Sola Scriptura), which includes both the Old and New Testaments.
Where Judaism places emphasis on Torah observance and cultural continuity, Christianity focuses on internal transformation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Modern Influencers and Institutions
Modern Judaism is diverse. It includes Orthodox (strict observance), Conservative (moderate adaptation), and Reform (liberal re-interpretation) branches. Key organizations include:
- The Jewish Theological Seminary (Conservative)
- Yeshiva University (Orthodox)
- Hebrew Union College (Reform)
- Chabad-Lubavitch (Hasidic movement with global outreach)
Influential Jewish voices in religious and cultural discussions include Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (deceased), Rabbi David Wolpe, and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. Online platforms such as My Jewish Learning and Chabad.org offer education and outreach, while YouTube channels like Aleph Beta provide animated Torah commentary.
In contrast, Christian evangelists like Dr. Michael Brown (a Messianic Jew), Dr. John MacArthur, and Ray Comfort engage Jewish audiences with the gospel.
Psychological and Cultural Appeal
Judaism’s appeal lies in its strong sense of identity, tradition, and moral clarity. Its emphasis on family, education, and community stability offers structure and continuity, especially in a morally confused world. For many Jews, the cultural aspects—Sabbath observance, kosher laws, and lifecycle events—provide a deeply rooted identity.
These features offer comfort and belonging, yet they often substitute for the personal relationship with God through Christ. The biblical gospel offers something radically different: not works-based identity or national inheritance, but unearned grace through Jesus Christ, who reconciles sinners to God and unites people from every tribe and tongue (Revelation 7:9).
Practical Outcomes and Cultural Fruits
Judaism has fostered intellectual engagement, civic responsibility, and familial integrity. Jewish communities are often marked by educational excellence, charity, and social cohesion. However, these external blessings can mask internal spiritual need. The Apostle Paul grieved for his fellow Israelites who had “a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2).
The cultural fruits of Judaism cannot replace the righteousness of Christ. While ethical, Rabbinic Judaism lacks the power of regeneration. Good works, without the new birth (John 3:3), are ultimately insufficient for salvation.
Christianity, despite its varied expressions, has produced hospitals, universities, and the abolition of slavery—fruits that flowed from the doctrine of Imago Dei and transformed hearts. The gospel compels love not merely for one’s tribe but for one’s enemies (Matthew 5:44).
Criticisms that Biblical Christianity Poses to Judaism
Biblical Christianity critiques Judaism primarily for rejecting Jesus as the Messiah. This rejection is not merely theological but deeply spiritual, as Jesus Himself said to the Jewish leaders, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me” (John 5:46).
Christianity also challenges the sufficiency of the Mosaic Law. Paul argues that the Law was a tutor leading to Christ (Galatians 3:24), and that righteousness cannot be achieved through law-keeping. The New Covenant in Christ fulfills what the Old Covenant foreshadowed (Hebrews 8).
Evangelists like Arnold Fruchtenbaum and Michael Brown address the logical inconsistencies within Rabbinic Judaism, especially the rejection of Messianic prophecies and the shift in atonement theology post-70 A.D., when Temple sacrifices ceased.
Criticisms that Judaism Offers to Biblical Christianity
Judaism critiques Christianity on several grounds:
- Theological: It sees the doctrine of the Trinity as a violation of God’s oneness (Deuteronomy 6:4).
- Christological: Jews reject Jesus as Messiah due to His death (they expected a conquering king, not a suffering servant).
- Scriptural: Judaism does not accept the New Testament as inspired Scripture.
- Historical: Many Jews cite antisemitism in church history as proof of Christianity’s moral failure.
Rabbinic figures like Rabbi Tovia Singer challenge Christian use of Old Testament prophecies and accuse Christianity of misrepresenting Jewish texts and theology.
Christian Counter-Responses
Biblical Christianity responds by showing the unity and continuity of the Scriptures. The Old Testament foreshadows Christ, and the New Testament reveals Him. The Trinity is not tritheism but the one true God in three persons, a mystery affirmed by Scripture.
Regarding Messianic expectations, Christians point to Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 as prophecies of the suffering Messiah. Jesus fulfilled the first coming as the Lamb of God (John 1:29) and will return as the Lion of Judah.
Historical abuses committed in the name of Christianity are real, but they represent human sin, not Christ’s teaching. Paul’s longing for Israel’s salvation (Romans 9:1–3) reflects the heart of every believer: not arrogance, but urgent love for the Jewish people.
Chart of Fundamental Differences
| Category | Judaism | Biblical Christianity |
|---|---|---|
| God | Unitarian Monotheism | Trinitarian Monotheism |
| Jesus Christ | Not Messiah, not divine | Messiah, Son of God, God incarnate |
| Authority | Tanakh and Rabbinic Tradition | Old and New Testament Scripture |
| Salvation | Works-based (law, repentance) | Grace through faith in Christ alone |
| View of Sin | A moral error, corrected by effort | A deadly disease, cured by Christ alone |
| Atonement | Repentance, prayer, good deeds | Substitutionary death of Christ |
| Afterlife | Varied views (Olam Ha-Ba, resurrection) | Eternal life through Christ, or judgment |
| Messiah | Still expected | Fulfilled in Jesus |
| Evangelism | Rare and not central | Essential command of Jesus |
| Final Authority | Rabbis and traditions | Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura) |
Spiritual Nature of the Conflict
This is not just a theological disagreement. It is a spiritual battle between truth and deception (Ephesians 6:12). Satan has blinded the minds of many, including those zealous for God but without Christ. Christians are to pray for the Jewish people, remembering that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).
We must be filled with compassion and truth, recognizing that salvation is from the Jews (John 4:22), and that many Jewish believers in Jesus (Messianic Jews) are powerful witnesses today.
Why Contemporary Christians Must Be Equipped
In a time of increasing religious pluralism, Christians must be equipped to engage the Jewish worldview with respect, courage, and biblical truth. The Apostle Paul’s approach—reasoning from the Scriptures in synagogues—remains our model (Acts 17:2–3).
We must know the Scriptures well, understand Rabbinic arguments, and boldly proclaim the gospel of grace. Recommended resources include:
- Dr. Michael Brown – Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus series
- Chosen People Ministries
- One for Israel – YouTube videos by Jewish believers
Let us love our Jewish neighbors not with flattery but with the unchanging truth of the gospel. Their need is great—and Christ is their only hope.
Robert Sparkman
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