Christianity’s Jewish Roots and the Rise of Antisemitism

This is the first in a series on Christianity and the history of antisemitism. While we are often reminded to, “Never forget,” many of us were never taught this history. The goal is to help us recognize when the church uses its power to harm marginalized groups—and to take action.

The Jewish Foundation of the Christian Church

Many people today may not realize just how Jewish Christianity was when it first began. Jesus was Jewish, his disciples were Jewish, and the earliest followers of Jesus saw themselves not as starting a new religion, but as a continuation of God’s covenant with Israel. For the first century of its existence, Christianity functioned almost as another sect within Judaism—much like the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, Herodians, and Samaritans. However, as Christianity grew and spread beyond Jewish communities, tensions arose between Jews and Christians, eventually leading to antisemitism and a deliberate attempt to separate Christianity from its Jewish roots.

This is the first article in a series on Christianity and Antisemitism, examining how Christianity’s earliest foundations were entirely Jewish, with no trace of antisemitism. It was only later, for political and theological reasons, that antisemitism entered the Christian church, leading to centuries of persecution against Jews.

Christianity as a Jewish Movement

Christianity began entirely within a Jewish framework. Jesus was a Jewish rabbi, teaching from the Torah and fulfilling the prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures. His disciples were also Jewish. Peter, later recognized as the first Pope, was Jewish, and Paul, often considered the first Christian theologian, was Jewish.

In its earliest days, Christianity was not a separate religion but rather a movement within Judaism. The Book of Acts refers to the early believers as “The Way” (Greek: hē hodos, ἡ ὁδός), a term that reflected a Jewish concept of following a righteous path. This name appears multiple times in Acts (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22) and is rooted in Old Testament teachings about the “way” of righteousness:

• Isaiah 40:3 – “Prepare the way of the Lord…”
• Psalm 1:6 – “The Lord watches over the way of the righteous…”
• Deuteronomy 5:33 – “Walk in the way that the Lord has commanded…”
• Proverbs 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.”

Furthermore, Jesus himself declared:

• John 14:6 – “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

In Hebrew thought, “the way” (derekh, דֶּרֶךְ) and “Halakha” (הלכה) referred to Jewish law and lifestyle. The early Jewish followers of Jesus saw him as the fulfillment of the true Halakha—the ultimate way to live according to God’s will. They did not see themselves as separate from Judaism but as the continuation of God’s covenant.

Christianity Among Jewish Sects

During Jesus’ time, Judaism was diverse, with different sects interpreting the Law in different ways:

• Pharisees – Focused on strict observance of the Torah and oral traditions.
• Sadducees – Wealthy, priestly class that rejected oral traditions and only accepted the Torah.
• Essenes – A separatist group that emphasized purity and awaited the Messiah.
• Zealots – Revolutionaries who sought to overthrow Roman rule, sometimes violently. One of Jesus’ disciples, Simon the Zealot, may have been associated with this group.
• Herodians – A political group that supported Herod Antipas and collaborated with Rome.
• Scribes – Experts in Jewish law, often aligned with the Pharisees.
• Samaritans – A distinct group that followed the Torah but worshiped on Mount Gerizim rather than in Jerusalem.
• Followers of John the Baptist – Some continued to follow John’s teachings even after Jesus’ ministry began.

Like these groups, early Christians had their own unique beliefs but still saw themselves as part of Judaism. However, as Gentiles started joining, a major question arose:

How Much of the Jewish Law Should Christians Follow?

As Gentiles (non-Jews) began converting, many Jewish Christians believed they needed to follow the Law of Moses to be truly saved. This led to a heated debate:

• Did Gentiles need to keep kosher, observe the Sabbath, and follow Jewish festivals?
• Did Gentiles need to be circumcised to be part of God’s people?
• Was faith in Jesus alone enough, or did Christians also need to obey the Torah?

Some Jewish Christians, known as the “Judaizers,” insisted that faith in Jesus was not enough—one also had to obey the Torah to be fully righteous before God. Paul and others, however, argued that salvation comes through faith in Jesus alone, not by following the law.

The Issue in Galatians: Justification by Faith vs. The Law

Paul wrote the Letter to the Galatians to address this controversy. The central issue: Did Gentile Christians need to be circumcised and follow Jewish law?

• Galatians 2:16 – “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.”
• Galatians 5:2-3 – “If you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you.”

Paul argues that the law was temporary:

• Galatians 3:24-25 – “The law was our guardian until Christ came… but now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”

Paul sees the Law as a “yoke” that Gentile believers should not have to bear:

• Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Finally, Paul stresses that Jewish and Gentile believers are one in Christ:

• Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) – Settling the Debate

To resolve this issue, the apostles and elders met in Jerusalem (Acts 15) and decided:

Gentiles did NOT need to follow the entire Law of Moses or be circumcised.
However, they should abstain from:

• Food sacrificed to idols
• Blood
• Meat from strangled animals
• Sexual immorality

This was a compromise:

• Salvation was by faith, not law-keeping (Paul’s position).
• Gentiles should still respect some Jewish customs to maintain unity in the church.

The Separation from Judaism and the Rise of Antisemitism

For nearly 100 years, Christianity remained closely tied to Judaism. However, as Christianity spread, tensions arose:

• The Jewish-Roman Wars (66-135 AD) – Some Jewish Christians distanced themselves from Judaism to avoid persecution by Rome.
• The Destruction of the Temple (70 AD) – Judaism redefined itself around Rabbinic teachings, while Christianity continued growing among Gentiles.
• The Rise of Gentile Christianity – As more Gentiles converted, Jewish customs became less central.

To further separate Christianity from Judaism, some theologians promoted the “Christ-killer” accusation, blaming Jews for Jesus’ death. This fueled antisemitism, even though Jesus, his disciples, and the first Christians were all Jewish.

Conclusion

Christianity began as a Jewish movement, deeply connected to Jewish teachings. However, as it spread, theological and political motivations led to a tragic history of antisemitism. Understanding Christianity’s Jewish roots is essential to correcting misconceptions and addressing historical injustices.

This series will continue to explore how Christianity transitioned from a persecuted movement to one that persecuted others, including Jews.