Judeo-Christian Tradition

Paul became an advocate for the inclusion of the Gentiles among the ‘true’ followers of Christianity. Until this moment in history, Jewish Christians believed that non-Jews had to convert to Judaism and follow the law like them, which included many dietary restrictions and circumcision. Gentiles who worship in the synagogue but did not convert were only

Out of all the religions in the world Christianity and Judaism in my opinion have the most similar rites and rituals. They also share many beliefs and flow many of the same rules. Even though some of the rituals might seem like they are completely different, when you look deeply and find the true meaning, you will see that most of the time they share the same message. But even with all of these similarities its the differences that make them unique and these differences are what splits them apart. The three main similarities in both Christianity and Judaism is the first step into adult hood, the last step into adult hood and the Shabbat and the Sabbath.

From what we know about Paul, he was not one of the biggest fans of Christianity before his conversion. Though, as our text recognizes, there isn’t much knowledge of Paul’s life before becoming a follower of Jesus, and much of it is sourced from the Acts. We do know that while Paul was a Jew his name was Saul. Scholars theorize that he was a Jewish missionary. We know that he was raised to be Jewish, and he was a Pharisee. Our textbook elaborates that Saul was, in fact, a very dedicated Jew. He wrote in one of his letters “I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors” (Gal 1:14). Scholar Johnny Awwad goes as far as to suggest that Paul was an apocalyptic

The context of this will be showing how Judaism and Christianity more similar than most people think. Three ways these two religions are the same are, both are monotheistic, how both share same holy city, and their beliefs to the “Good Life.”

Judaizers wanted to preach works but Paul wrote that we must preach Christ alone. 7. Paul was not a passive individual as he describes himself in verse 14 he was “exceedingly zealous”. He appears to be talking to an audience who knew him in the past as a strong Jew who upheld the traditions of his people. He also stated in verse 14 that he “profited in the Jews’ religion” 8. so he was possibly politically powerful and personally benefiting from his status in the community while upholding the Jewish traditions of his fathers. He wants to make it clear to his audience that what he is preaching to them now is not of man but is by divine revelation from God by his grace. To demonstrate his point, Paul recounts his conversion, in which he switched from being a persecutor of the church to being a preacher of its gospel. He wants to advise that his conversion occurred through a direct act of God, who “was pleased to reveal his Son to me, 9. so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles”. The revelation of who Jesus really was came directly from God and for a clear purpose so that Paul could take the message to the Gentiles. Paul insisted that the Spirit is the same Spirit through whom God spoke and acted in the history of Israel, the difference is that through Jesus the Spirit is now poured out on all God’s people, Jew and Gentile alike. 10. The fact that Paul criticized some aspects of his native Judaism 11. and that he announced a gospel to the

God revealed to Paul that His great love for everyone that even when all are dead in their sins He can make them alive in Christ (Vs. 4-5)

Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, was raised in a Jewish household, but he also had exposure to Roman culture because his father was also a Roman citizen. After his family relocated to Jerusalem, he became the apprentice of Gamaliel, who was a Hillelites Pharisee member. Paul on the other hand, had become a member of the Shammaites Pharisee, who strictly followed the Jewish law, and believed that those who did not follow the Jewish law were preventing the coming of God’s kingdom. As a member of this Pharisee, Paul too part in the persecution of Christians who were accused of heresy, because he along with the other members believed that they were spreading and supporting a belief in a failed messiah, who we have come to know as Jesus Christ.

In the initial decades of the Roman Empire, at the eastern end of the Mediterranean, a new religion, Christianity, emerged. Much of the impetus for this new religion rested in issues in the Jewish religion, including a long-standing belief in the coming of a Messiah and rigidities that had developed in the Jewish priesthood. Whether or not Christianity was created by God, as Christians believe, the early stages of the religion focused on cleansing the Jewish religion of stiff rituals and haughty leaders. It had little at first to do with Roman culture. Christianity arose in a remote province and appealed particularly to the poorer classes. It is not easy, as a result, to fit Christianity neatly into the patterns of Roman history: It was deliberately separate, and only gradually had wider impact.(Robert A. Guisepi)

Throughout Jesus’s life and after his death, there were several different views and opinions generated that separated the people in society during this time. These differing opinions resulted in an entire new religion being formed called Christianity. The first Christians were called Jewish Christians. These were the first group of people that converted from Judaism to Christianity. There were many differences between the Jewish Christian’s beliefs.

Paul's life has a great impact on all Christianity after him through his letters, and if I can state, he was like a prophet for gentiles, bringing the Jesus the Messiah to them. Paul's passion for Jesus that happened after he met him on the way to Damascus, made him having a strong assurance that the message of the Jesus is true and is offered for everyone. His calling was to be spread the good news of salvation through Jesus, the Messiah first to the Jews then to gentiles. In Acts, 13-28 are recorded three of Paul's trips, started to the Antioch and concluded with the trip to Rome called to stand for his trial. Due to his faith-based on the life, death and resurrections of Jesus Christ, he experienced much suffering and persecution. His

Now Paul is led to the Areopagus by the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers (Acts 17:16-20). Paul addressed them, but when he spoke of the Resurrection, they mocked him.

5:8) one should not use this statement as the end of all ends and thereby eliminating the reality of a physical resurrection. On the contrary, this statement made by Paul is inserted among verses that contrast the disembodied theology favored by his opponents. 2 Corinthians 5:1-3 speaks explicitly of the “dissolving of the earthly temple” and “having a building of God, a house not made with hands.” Moreover, he uses terminology such as “clothed” and “we shall not be found naked.” These terms solidify Paul’s position as one fully persuaded of the unification of body and soul through resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15, the res-urrection of Christ becomes the central focus due to the infiltration of those who were persuad-ing others against it. Paul’s ultimate agenda in presenting the case for Christ’s bodily resurrection was to incorporate the reality of the future resurrection promised to believers.

A Judeo-Christian view of reality differs a lot from a naturalist overview. A Judeo-Christian world states that God is the owner of the universe. It states that the universe is derivative of God and it is God who created the world and only he can destroy it. The whip of the universe lies in the hands of Gods and it is he who controls us and owns us. We all are his puppets and are solely in debt of God, that he has infused a life in us. On the other hand, A naturalist view is opposite to that of Judeo-Christian view of reality. A naturalist view states that the universe is natural and no one is behind creating it. It just exists naturally. And, we the humans, are ones who have created God. It starts with what is naturally knowable to human

He was characterized by profound thinking and as a reasoner, he would have had a memorable place among men who have influenced the world. It is fair to infer from what he has written though on the subject of religion, and though directed by inspiration, what his powers of mind were in this respect.Paul was born a Jew in the city of Tarsus, capital of the Roman province of Cilicia. This made Paul, then known as Saul, a Roman citizen with all the rights and privileges that went with it, including execution by a sword (otherwise he could have been crucified, as were Jesus and Peter). Saul studied religion and Jewish law in Jerusalem, and one of his teachers was the great scholar Gamaliel.

Christianity at the start of it all was basically a faction trying to break away from Judaism. A major difference between Judaism and Christianity is their view on Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah, while Judaism does not (Page 303). Christians believed that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, this follows the Old Testament that the Messiah was born in Bethlehem. Some scholars have come forward and said that they are lead to believe that Jesus was born in Nazareth. Which according to Judaism would mean that Jesus is not the Messiah (Page 287-288). Since these two communities did not agree on this, Christianity branched off and became its own religion.