Christianity and Judaism

Comparing and contrasting Judaism and Christianity suggests that Judaism and Christianity are not necessarily part of the same Judeo-Christian tradition.

This article discusses traditional views of two religions and may not apply to all adherents of each. Judaism places emphasis on actions , focusing primary questions on how to respond to the eternal covenant God made with Israelites and Proselytes , as recorded in the Torah . Ever since the First Council of Nicaea , Christianity places emphasis on correct belief with some Christian denominations going so far as to claim that human actions are irrelevant, see also the discussions at Sola fide and Christian anarchism . Simply put, Christians achieve salvation ( Heaven / Kingdom of God ) through accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This is stated clearly as the path and way to heaven a number of times. The article on Judeo-Christian tradition emphasizes continuities and convergences between the two religions, this article emphasizes the widely diverging views held by Christianity and Judaism . This article only considers the mainstream Jewish views, in contrast to Karaite Judaism .

Christianity places emphasis on correct belief (or orthodoxy ) , focusing on the New Covenant as mediated through Jesus Christ , as recorded in the New Testament . Judaism places emphasis on right conduct (or orthopraxy ) , focusing on the Mosaic Covenant , as recorded in the Torah and Talmud . Christians believe in individual salvation from sin through repentance and receiving Jesus Christ as their God and Savior through faith (and in some Christian traditions, good works ). Jews believe in individual and collective participation in an eternal dialogue with God through tradition, rituals, prayers and ethical actions . Christianity generally believes in a Triune God , one person of whom became human . Judaism emphasizes the Oneness of God and rejects the Christian concept of God in human form .

Christianity emphasizes correct belief (or orthodoxy ), focusing on the New Covenant as mediated through Jesus Christ , as recorded in the New Testament . Judaism places emphasis on correct conduct (or orthopraxy ), focusing on the Mosaic covenant , as recorded in the Torah and Talmud . Christians believe in individual salvation from sin through receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord (God) and savior . Jews believe in individual and collective participation in an eternal dialogue with God through tradition, rituals, prayers and ethical actions . Christianity generally believes in a Triune God , one person of whom became human . Judaism emphasizes the Oneness of God and rejects the Christian concept of God in human form . The Illustrated Dictionary of Culture . Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms .

Comparison of Christianity and Judaism Related topics Art Adherents Criticism Culture Ecumenism Liturgy Mission Other religions Persecution Prayer Sermon Symbolism Western society Worship Sabbath in Christianity Gregorian calendar Glossary Index Outline Christianity portal v t e Christianity began as a movement within Second Temple Judaism , but the two religions gradually diverged over the first few centuries of the Christian Era . Today, differences of opinion vary between denominations in both religions, but the most important distinction is Christian acceptance and Jewish non-acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew Bible and Jewish tradition. Early Christianity distinguished itself by determining that observance of halakha (Jewish law) was not necessary for non-Jewish converts to Christianity (See Pauline Christianity ). Another major difference is the two religions' conceptions of God. The Christian God consists of three persons of one essence (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), with the doctrine of the incarnation of the Son in Jesus being of special importance. Judaism emphasizes the Oneness of God and rejects the Christian concept of God in human form . While Christianity recognizes the Hebrew Bible (called the Old Testament by Christians) as part of its scriptural canon, Judaism does not recognize the Christian New Testament . The relative importance of belief and practice constitute an important area of difference. Most forms of Protestant Christianity emphasize correct belief (or orthodoxy ), focusing on the New Covenant as mediated through Jesus Christ , as recorded in the New Testament . Judaism places emphasis on correct conduct (or orthopraxy ), focusing on the Mosaic covenant , as recorded in the Torah and Talmud . Mainstream Roman Catholicism occupies a middle position, stating the both faith and works are factors in a person's salvation. Some schools of thought within Catholicism, such as Franciscanism and liberation theology , explicitly favor orthopraxy over orthodoxy. Praxis is of central importance to Eastern Christianity as well, with Saint Maximus the Confessor going as far as to say that "theology without action is the theology of demons." Christian conceptions of right practice vary (e.g., Catholic social teaching and its preferential option for the poor ; the Eastern Orthodox Church 's practices of fasting , hesychasm , and asceticism ; the Protestant work ethic of Calvinists and others), but differ from Judaism in that they are not based on following halakha or any other interpretation of the Mosaic covanent. While more liberal Jewish denominations may not require observance of halakha, Jewish life remains centred on individual and collective participation in an eternal dialogue with God through tradition, rituals, prayers and ethical actions . The Illustrated Dictionary of Culture . Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms . Doing Theology in a Divided World .