Compare Christianity and Judaism

March 5, 2005 · updated February 15, 2022

Christianity has a close relationship with Judaism, both historically and theologically. Jesus, his disciples, Paul (who wrote most of the New Testament), and the members of the earliest Christian churches were all Jews. Jesus' family followed Jewish customs and Jesus frequently quoted the Hebrew Bible. Jesus' followers believed him to be the messiah, a Jewish figure predicted in the Jewish Bible.

Despite its Jewish origins, it was not long before Christianity regarded itself as something other than a new Jewish sect. The first Christian council, described in the New Testament, concluded that pagan converts to Christianity did not have to follow Jewish ritual laws. Soon, converts to Christianity were almost exclusively pagans and Christianity moved further away from Judaism.

In the 2,000 years of history since Jesus, the relationship between Christianity and the ancient faith in which it is rooted has often been strained. Christians have criticized Jews for rejecting Jesus as their messiah and Jews have criticized Christians for corrupting the concept of one God and following a false messiah. The New Testamant reports Jews persecuted Christians; after Christians became the more powerful group, they frequently persecuted Jews.

The following chart compares the origins, beliefs and practices of Christianity and Judaism.

ChristianityJudaism
etymology followers of Christ (Greek christos, Messiah) of the Kingdom of Judah
adherents called Christians Jews
date founded c. 30 CE c. 1800 BCE (Abraham); 6th cent. BCE (Pentateuch); or 70 CE (destruction of Second Temple)
place founded Southern Levant (modern-day Israel, Palestine, and Jordan) Southern Levant (modern-day Israel, Palestine, and Jordan)
languages Aramaic and Greek Hebrew
founders Jesus, Peter, Paul Abraham, Moses
expansion within 60 years, churches in major cities in Palestine, Turkey, Greece and Rome; entire Roman Empire by end of 4th cent. little expansion; mostly confined to Palestine area throughout history
schisms Catholic-Orthodox (1054); Catholic-Protestant (1500s) Reform-Orthodox (1800s CE)
branches Roman Catholic; Eastern Orthodox; Protestant Orthodox, Reform, Conservative
main locations Europe, North and South America, Africa Israel, Eastern Europe, USA
ChristianityJudaism
adherents (world) 2.2 billion 14 million
adherents (USA) 159 million 5.6 million
adherents (Canada) 21 million 350,000
adherents (UK) 51 million 320,000
texts Bible (Hebrew Bible + New Testament) Hebrew Bible (Tanakh); Talmud
Hebrew Bible canonical; called "the Old Testament" canonical
Apocrypha canonical (Catholic) or useful but noncanonical (Protestant) noncanonical but useful
New Testament canonical noncanonical
creeds Apostle's Creed, Nicene Creed 13 Articles of Faith
religious law canon law (Catholicism) Halakhah
ChristianityJudaism
religious authority Bible (all), ecumenical councils and creeds (Catholic and Orthodox), papal decrees and canon law (Catholic), continuing revelations (Pentecostal) Bible, Talmud, halakhah
scripture views vary: most believe inspired by God; some believe literal Word of God, inerrant in original languages views vary
prophets Biblical prophets were true prophets of God Biblical prophets were true prophets of God
god(s) One God, who is a Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit; angels; demons; saints One God: Yahweh (YHVH)
spiritual beings angels and demons angels and demons
revered humans saints, church fathers prophets
Messiah Jesus Christ is the Messiah awaited by the Jews the Messiah will come in the future
Jesus Son of God, God incarnate, Word of God, Messiah, savior of the world false prophet
birth of Jesus virgin birth normal birth
death of Jesus normal death plus spiritual suffering normal death
ChristianityJudaism
resurrection of Jesus affirmed denied
second coming of Jesus affirmed denied
revelation through Prophets and Jesus (as God Himself), recorded in Bible prophets, recorded in Hebrew Bible
human nature Created good but all inherit "original sin" from Adam, causing a tendency to evil two equal impulses, one good and one bad
salvation correct belief, faith, good deeds, sacraments (Protestants emphasize faith alone) belief in God, good deeds
predestination affirmed by most denominations
afterlife Resurrection of body and soul; eternal heaven or hell (most denominations); temporary purgatory (Catholicism) Not emphasized; views vary: no afterlife, shadowy existence, World to Come (similar to heaven), Gehenna (similar to hell), reincarnation
view of Christianity true religion false interpretation and expansion of Judaism
view of Islam respected as a fellow monotheistic religion, but Muhammad is not seen as a true prophet false interpretation and expansion of Judaism
view of Judaism true religion but with incomplete revelation true religion
ChristianityJudaism
house of worship church, chapel, cathedral, basilica, meeting hall synagogue, temple, schul
day of worship Sunday Saturday
clergy/leaders priest, bishop, archbishop, patriarch, pope, pastor, minister, preacher, deacon rabbis
practices prayer, Bible study, baptism, Eucharist (Communion), church on Sundays, numerous holidays Circumcision at birth, bar/bat mitzvah at adulthood, observing Sabbath, wearing tallit and tefilin, prayer services
head covering
major holidays
minor holidays
symbols Cross, dove, anchor, fish, alpha/omega, chi rho Star of David, chai, hamsa, tree