In what ways did Christianity effect Judaism

In Israel?

Lauren Bobek
June 3, 2009
Ferry
AP World History

1
 Table Of Contents

I. Section A: Plan of Investigation

II. Section B: Summary of Evidence

III. Section C: Evaluation of Sources

IV. Section D: Analysis

V. Section E: Conclusion
Pg.8

VI. Section F: Works Cited

2
 In what ways did Christianity effect Judaism in Israel?

Section A: Plan of Investigation

In the first century CE, Jesus of Nazareth spread new ideas within Judaism throughout

Israel. He was known as “Christos” (God’s son) [who] came to set Israel free (Cahill 256). His

ideas and crucifixion lead to the establishment of a new religion, Christianity. Christianity and

Judaism share several of the same beliefs, origins, and religious text. However, being that all of

these factors were not the same, Christianity had several impacts on Judaism in both positive and

negative ways. So, how did Christianity affect Judaism in Israel?

This investigation will show how several Jewish people defected to Christianity, and how

Christianity aided in leading to the Jewish Diaspora. The works Jerusalem and the Holy Land by

Fabrizio Ardito, Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff, Christina Gambara, and Massimo

Acanfora Torrefranca, and Desire of the Everlasting Hills by Thomas Cahill will be analyzed,

along with several other sources on Christian and Jewish history in Israel from the first century

CE. Primary sources to be analyzed will include the books of the New Testament in the Bible.

Section B: Summary of Evidence

Between the fourteenth century and eleventh century BCE there were two important

establishments in the world. These establishments were the monotheistic religion of Judaism, and

the Israelite kingdom in Canaan and Egypt. During the tenth century BCE the Israelite kingdom

split in two, the Kingdom of Judah, and the kingdom of Israel. In five hundred eighty six BCE

King Nebuchadnezzar II Exiled the population of Judah to Babylon. However, forty-eight years

3
later, Cyrus the great allowed Judeans to have their freedom.

This freedom remained until 333 BCE when Alexander the great conquered Judea. In one

hundred seventy four BCE the Maccabean Revolt began, which led to the reestablishment of

Judaic rule. However in sixty-four BCE they were once again conquered, this time by the

Romans. One hundred thirty years later they broke free of Roman rule and renamed their

kingdom to Israel.

During this one hundred thirty years several things happened in Judaism that would

forever change the religion, and Israel. These changes started with the birth of Jesus of Nazareth

circa four BCE. Jesus was of Jewish descent, and was Jewish himself. Jesus was known to be a

builder of some sort (Matthew 13:55). He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River

(Mark 1:10) when he was around thirty years of age (Luke 3:23). After his baptism, he went to

the desert and fasted for forty days, and forty nights. At this time, Jesus began his teachings.

Jesus’ teachings were mainly focused on the Kingdom of God. It is stated that he came to

ransom his life for many. He also taught moral values such as love for everyone, the forgiveness

of sin, service, and humility. He lead an apocalyptic movement, stating that the end of the world

would come unexpectedly, and he would be there as a judge. He began to teach his followers that

he would suffer, die, and rise again.

Jesus went with his followers to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. While there, he traveled

to a garden in the night, where he was arrested by the order of the Sanhedrin and the high priest

Caiaphas. He is tried for treason, and sentenced to death. Pilate, who is to execute him, gives the

Jewish people a chance to save him. However they chose to let him be crucified. He is stripped,

flogged, mocked, and crowned with thorns, then placed on the cross where he dies. His body is

then placed in a sealed stone tomb.

4
 Two angels appear outside the tomb on the Sunday after Jesus’ death, stating that he has

risen again (Luke 24:4). He first appears to Mary Magdalene, then later to his now eleven

apostles. Although he originally taught to the Jewish people, he gives to the eleven, “The Great

Commission”, telling them to go and spread his teachings to the world. He also appears to Peter,

telling him of his death and assigning him the role of shepherding a new community. On a

Sunday evening, Jesus ascends to Heaven in a ray of light. Peter shepherds the new community

of Jesus’ followers and to those who believe in his resurrection. This new community comes to

be known as Christianity.

Section C: Evaluation of Sources

The book Jerusalem and the Holy Land by Fabrizio Ardito, Dorling Kindersley

Publishing Staff, Christina Gambara, and Massimo Acanfora Torrefranca, tells the story of Jesus

of Nazareth, and his teachings. It goes into further detail on his affects of his teachings and his

disciples on Jerusalem. The book also expounds about Jerusalem after Jesus’ death and the

history of Jerusalem until the crusades.

Jerusalem and the Holy Land was originally written in 2000 CE, with a reprint in 2007

CE. The book is based on historical evidence that has been acquired through the years. The book

was written with the purpose of being a travel guide that encompasses Jerusalem, Western

Jordan and the Red Sea and Sinai. Although Jerusalem and the Holy Land is a travel guide it

contains much propaganda. The 2000 years between the events and the time the book was

written also lowers its truth-value.

The book Desire of the Everlasting Hills, by Thomas Cahill tells more on the life of Jesus

of Nazareth. The book shows his life through the eyes of people who knew him, such as his

5
disciples and followers. The book also attempts to answer if his teachings did in fact change the

world. The book also depicts his story in the context of his time.

Desire of the Everlasting Hills was originally printed in 2001 CE. The book is based on

Cahill’s research on Jesus of Nazareth and his findings. The purpose of the book appears to tell

the story of Jesus of Nazareth’s life. Once again the time difference of around 2000 years lowers

the books truth-value. However, since it is written by one definitive author it makes it a more

reliable source.

Section D: Analysis

Judaism and Israel have always been connected; this can be seen by the fact that they

both had their starts in the same time period. Judaism continues to play a major role in Israel, and

vice-versa. Because of these connections an event that affects Israel is going to affect Judaism,

and an event affecting Judaism is going to affect Israel. This can be seen with the teachings of

Jesus of Nazareth and their affect on Judaism changing Israel.

Jesus of Nazareth’s teachings were on the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is

where people of the Jewish faith, and after its founding, Christian faith, aspired to go after death.

Because Jesus’ teachings were not in accordance with the Hebrew Bible this would lead some

people of the Jewish faith to see him as a false prophet, and not to be the Messiah as was

claimed.

The apocalyptic movement that Jesus led could have caused more skepticism of his

teachings by the Jewish people. This skepticism would grow into larger amounts of doubt, and

this doubt would grow and lead to the establishment of the Christian faith as a separate faith

from Judaism. Being the skeptics do have some belief in Jesus of Nazareth’s teachings, they

6
would stay with these teachings but it would lead to different beliefs in Judaism.

A majority of the Jewish people did not see Jesus of Nazareth after he had risen and this

would have also caused doubt in him. This doubt could go in two directions. The first being the

Jewish people don’t believe he rose again and therefore decide not to believe any of his

teachings. Secondly, they don’t believe he has risen again, but still believe in some of his

teachings, and he will still rise one day.

Christianity and Judaism share some of the same religious texts, as there are several

mutual beliefs between the two religions. These mutual beliefs cause a connection between the

two faiths that only three other faiths share (Hinduism with Buddhism, and Islam with Judaism,

and Christianity). It also causes conflicts such as fighting over which faith Jerusalem belongs to.

This dispute has led to years of war with each other, causing much bloodshed to both religious

sectors.

Because Christianity has been broken up into several denominations, this will affect the

way the Jewish people view it. These different denominations will make Christianity harder for

the people of Jewish faith to believe in it. This will create a greater distance between the two

religions, making their affect on each other less and less as time goes on. The multitude of

denominations could also cause more denominations to grow in Judaism, thus actually bringing

the two religions closer together.

Section E: Conclusion

7
 Ultimately, Christianity greatly affected Judaism in Israel. It caused a mass of Jewish

people to defect to Christianity. Christianity has also lead to the establishment of new

denominations such as Messianic Judaism. It’s caused conflicting societies to emerge within

Judaism such as Jews for Judaism, and Jews for Jesus. As more and more Christians populated

Israel, they pushed out the Jewish people, catalyzing the Jewish Diaspora.

Words Cited

8
Primary Sources:

1. Abc. 1. Abc. “Judaism”. 2009. Abc. 23 May 2009.

2. Adapted from Shamash. “The Origins of Reform Judaism”. Jewish virtual library. 2009. The
American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. 21 May 2009.
<[Link]

3. Guisepi, A. Robert. 1, 2. Christianity. The Origins of Christianity. 21 May 2009.

4. Rabbi Simmons. “Jesus as the Messiah”. About. 21 May 2009.

5. Rich, R. Tracey. 1,2, 3. Judaism 101. 1998-1999. Jew FAQ. 22 May 2009.
<[Link]

Secondary Sources:

1. Cahill, Thomas. Desire of the Everlasting Hills. London:

2. Dorling-Kindersley. Jerusalem and the Holy Land. London:

3. Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. Great Britain:

Word Count: 1,524