Are Jews Christians?

To understand the relationship between Jews and Christians, it is essential to look at the origins of both religions. Judaism is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic faiths, with roots dating back over 3,000 years to the covenant between Abraham and God. The Jewish people trace their spiritual lineage through the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and their foundational texts include the Torah (the first five books of what Christians call the Old Testament), as well as other writings and commentaries like the Talmud.

Christianity emerged in the first century CE in the Roman province of Judea, among Jewish communities. Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish preacher, is the central figure of Christianity. His followers believed him to be the long-awaited Messiah prophesied in Jewish scripture, and after his crucifixion and resurrection, they began to spread his teachings. These followers, initially all Jews themselves, would eventually become known as Christians, forming a distinct faith community. The New Testament, the central Christian scripture, was written by these early believers, many of whom had deep roots in Judaism.

Key Theological Differences

While Christianity emerged from Judaism and shares many scriptures and beliefs, there are crucial theological differences that distinguish the two faiths.

Belief in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God

The most significant difference is the Christian belief that Jesus is the Messiah (the Christ) and the Son of God, a divine figure who was crucified and resurrected for the salvation of humanity. Jews, on the other hand, do not accept Jesus as the Messiah or as divine. Jewish teachings maintain that the Messiah has not yet come, and their expectations for the Messiah differ considerably from Christian beliefs.

The Trinity vs. Strict Monotheism

Christians believe in the doctrine of the Trinity: that God exists as three persons in one essence—Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. Judaism, in contrast, emphasizes a strict, indivisible monotheism. The Shema, a foundational Jewish prayer, declares, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” The concept of the Trinity is fundamentally incompatible with Jewish theology.

Scripture and Law

Both religions revere what Christians call the Old Testament, but Judaism’s canon, the Tanakh, is organized and interpreted differently. Moreover, Judaism places significant emphasis on the observance of the commandments (mitzvot) as outlined in the Torah. While Christianity values the Hebrew Bible, Christians typically believe that Jesus fulfilled the law, and most Christian denominations do not observe the full range of Jewish laws and rituals.

Shared Heritage and Divergent Paths

Despite their theological differences, Judaism and Christianity share a deep historical and scriptural heritage. The Christian Old Testament is rooted in Jewish scripture. Many Christian beliefs, such as the concepts of creation, sin, prophecy, and the messianic hope, originate in Jewish tradition.

However, as Christianity spread to non-Jewish communities throughout the Roman Empire, it gradually developed new beliefs, practices, and structures that differentiated it from Judaism. By the end of the first century CE, Christianity and Judaism had become distinct religious communities, each developing its own identity.

Jewish Identity: Religion, Peoplehood, and Culture

It is also important to understand that Judaism is not just a religion but also an ethnic and cultural identity. Jews can be secular, religious, or anywhere in between, but their Jewishness is often tied to ancestry and community as much as to religious belief.

Christianity, by contrast, is primarily a faith-based identity; anyone who professes belief in Jesus Christ and accepts Christian teachings can become a Christian, regardless of ethnic background. While there are cultural and denominational differences among Christians, the core of Christian identity is theological.

Messianic Jews and Jewish Christians: Special Cases

There are some groups that blur the lines between Judaism and Christianity, which can lead to confusion. Messianic Jews, for example, are individuals who identify as Jewish but believe that Jesus is the Messiah. While they may observe some Jewish traditions and holidays, the vast majority of the Jewish community—including all mainstream Jewish denominations—do not consider Messianic Judaism to be a form of Judaism, but rather a branch of Christianity.

Similarly, in the early days of Christianity, there were Jewish Christians—Jews who believed in Jesus but continued to observe Jewish law and customs. Over time, however, these groups became part of the broader Christian church as Christianity and Judaism became more distinct.

Interfaith Dialogue and Misunderstandings

The question of whether Jews are Christians sometimes arises from misunderstandings or from a lack of awareness about the distinctiveness of each faith. In some cases, people might assume that because Christianity grew out of Judaism, Jews are a subset of Christians, or that the terms are interchangeable. In reality, while Christianity has Jewish roots, the two are separate and distinct religions.

Interfaith dialogue has become an important way for Jews and Christians to learn from one another, build relationships, and foster mutual respect. Recognizing both the shared heritage and the significant differences between the two faiths is essential for genuine understanding.

The Importance of Respecting Boundaries

It is important to respect how religious communities define themselves. Jews do not consider themselves Christians, and Christians, for their part, do not identify as Jews (except in the sense of being spiritually “grafted in,” as described in some New Testament passages). Attempts to conflate the two can be offensive or dismissive of each group’s unique beliefs, practices, and identities.

Interfaith respect involves acknowledging both common ground and irreconcilable differences. For Jews, their covenant with God and their ongoing religious and cultural traditions constitute their unique identity. For Christians, faith in Jesus as the Christ is the defining feature of their religion.