Difference Between Jews and Christians

Edited by Diffzy | Updated on: April 30, 2023

       

Difference Between Jews and Christians

Why read @ Diffzy

Our articles are well-researched

We make unbiased comparisons

Our content is free to access

We are a one-stop platform for finding differences and comparisons

We compare similar terms in both tabular forms as well as in points


Introduction

Judaism is the name of the religion practiced by the majority of religious Jews. Of the three monotheistic religions practiced worldwide, it is the oldest (that is, religions serving one God). Islam and Judaism are both descended from Judaism. It declares that the universe was created by and is ruled by one God, who goes by the name Yahweh. He chose the Jewish people (then known as Hebrews) to be a light for all of humanity when He revealed His law, the Torah, to them. The roughly 613 commands presented in the Torah are distilled down to the Ten Commandments.

Since Christians likewise regard the Old Testament and its teachings as inspired, there are numerous points of agreement between the two religions. For example, the perfect creation of the universe out of nothing by an infinite God, the entry of sin into this world through the temptation of another transcendent entity known as Satan, the judgment of God on sin, and the necessity of atonement for sin are some of the fundamental truths recognized by both faiths. According to Judaism, this atonement is made possible by prayers, good deeds, sacrifices, and God's mercy.

Jews are the ones who specify in society the distinctive qualities of their nation, ethnicity, and religion. Their way of life and standard of living reflect their culture. Nowadays, there are very few Jews in the world, and they have dispersed to various locations. Jews adhere to and hold on to the idea that there is only ONE God. They do not follow Jesus because they believe that he was not the promised Messiah but rather a teacher and a disciple of God and that his birth was not a virgin birth but a common one. They think that by conducting their life by God's words in the Bible, one will eventually enter Heaven.

Jews vs. Christians

Christians and Jews belong to different religions. The distinction between them is in the specifics of their respective views. Several distinctions are evident and important to almost any study of the two groups. Other changes could be negligible to most assessments and even to the participants in the two groups. It's crucial to remember that everyone has the potential to practice and believe differently from another group member when it comes to religion. It is also true that the Jewish and Christian religions have a sizable number of structured groups.

There may be differences in the official beliefs and practices of each established groupings. Therefore, this analysis shouldn't be taken as a complete or a true representation of any person.

Jews generally hold that the Bible's Old Testament is true. Additionally, they have several other holy literature that the faith regards as significant. However, they do not think that Christ was the Messiah. Therefore, the outcome depends critically on following the law as it is laid out in the Bible. This entails fulfilling their obligation under a covenant with God to live as their scriptures instruct. Favor with God and ultimately entrance into Heaven are their recompense.

The Bible makes mention of Jews as a people group and God's chosen offspring. Furthermore, the Old Testament recounts numerous instances in which God defends and delivers the Jews from peril.

Christians have a similar faith in the Bible. But they conduct their worship by a Bible containing both the church's New and Old Testament. This includes acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah and the fulfillment of the law that God gave to his people. The outcome is a release from the consequences of the behaviors the Bible labels as sins. This fosters faith in the Son of God as well as in the existence of God. One of the main contrasts between religions is this. Additionally, Christianity lacks a biological analog to the Jewish peoples' genetic heritage. Christ welcomed everyone, opening both his arms and the portals of Heaven.

Even though these two religions are fundamentally different and have different interpretations of the Bible, it is not unusual to observe healthy interactions between the two groups. In addition, the various religions have occasionally found methods to interact (Christians that observe the law described in the Bible, for example). The primary tenet of each of these religions is Love. It is widely understood and advocated that studying the scriptures is one method to understand what Love is and what Love can be when it is perfect.

Difference Between Jews and Christians in Tabular Form

Parameters of Comparison Jews Christians
They are Followers of Judaism Followers of Christianity.
Place of Birth Israel Jerusalem
Founder Jesus Christ (c. 4 B.C. - 30 A.D.) Abraham (First Patriarch, born c. 1800 B.C.)
Definitions Judaism is the bond that exists between God and the Israelites. monotheistic belief system. ONE and ONLY GOD. Christians adhere to the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments, which include Jesus' teaching.  believes that God the Son is Jesus Christ.
Believe in Jesus or not They don't adhere to Jesus. They are Jesus's only and entire followers.
Holy Text Tanakh and the Torah Old Testament and New Testament

Who are Jews?

Jews are monotheists, which means they have a single belief in God. They hold that God is the one true creator and that all that exists outside God is temporary. The two primary scriptures that Jews follow are the Tanakh and the Torah. Hebrew, which is also the Language of the Jewish people, is used most often for communication.

Jews believe that they will be saved if they continue to have a strong belief in God and their good deeds. Jews are those who follow Jewish religious practices. Because they were viewed as idolatry in the past, pictures and statues were forbidden.

Jews are expected to eat three times per day. However, extra prayers are added to the holy days and Shabbat list. Shacharit, Mincha, and Arvit are the names of the morning, afternoon, and evening prayers, respectively. However, other types of art are increasingly appreciated.

One of the oldest religions in the world is Judaism, which dates back to around 2000 B.C. when God first urged Abraham to leave his house and join Him.

God formed a covenant (or agreement) with Abraham at that time, promising to make Abraham the patriarch of a powerful people and give his offspring the land of Canaan, provided Abraham obeyed him.

Through the Old Testament, God's plan was gradually made clear and expanded with new promises made to Moses, David, and the prophets. In essence, this strategy aims to reverse many of the consequences of the fall (the transgression committed by Adam and Eve in Eden, which resulted in the loss of God's first blessing and transformed man.

The written law, essentially the Old Testament, and the oral law, which Jews believe was passed down from Moses, are collectively referred to as the Torah by Jews. The Torah contains 613 commandments, the most well-known of which are the 10 Commandments.

Israel, however, was never really able to uphold her end of the bargain and obey God's commandments. Even after settling in Canaan (modern-day Israel), the Israelites persisted in their rebellion against God, leading to their exile to Babylon. God sent numerous prophets throughout this time to warn the people of their sin and remind them of God's promises. Additionally, they stated that the exile would end because God would deliver His people from captivity, enabling them to obey Him in the future and preventing further judgment. Herein lies the fulfillment of the promise of a messiah (or anointed one), who would be the deliverer sent by God.

Who are Christians?

The Holy Bible is essentially the only source of inspiration for Christians. Examples of original languages that are still used for communication include Latin, Greek, and Aramaic. Christians hold that they can be rescued through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Christians also hold to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which comprises the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Christians can pray and worship in the church. They study Scripture and partake in the sacraments. They also take part in philanthropic endeavors.

Christians are those who adhere to Christian religious practices. Orthodox and Catholic churches are where artwork and sculpture are most prevalent in Christianity.

Jesus warned his followers that there would be a price to pay for his teachings. He claimed that because of him, the world would despise Christians. A little time after Jesus' ascension to Heaven, the persecution started. The first Christian martyr was Stephen, a leader in the early church. About five years after Jesus' crucifixion, he was stoned to death. James, Andrew, and other disciples were also punished for their religion. Christians were frequently persecuted during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero. But this led to the expansion of the Christian faith.

Thousands of Christians have endured hardship for their religion over the ages. Unfortunately, many regions of the world still experience persecution today because authorities view Christianity as dangerous. Some people lose their jobs or promotions, while others have their friends and families reject them. Others, however, pay a larger price for their beliefs by being imprisoned, subjected to torture, or even killed.

The Main Difference Between Jews and Christians in Points

  • Jews are persons who adhere to Judaism's religious customs. On the other hand, those who adhere to Christian religious practices are referred to as Christians.
  • In the past, it was forbidden to have statues and portraits since they were viewed as idolatry. Different kinds of artwork are encouraged today, though. On the other hand, churches that practice Christianity tend to be largely Orthodox and Catholic in their usage of images and statues.
  • Jacob, Isaac, Moses, and Abraham are considered the founders of the Jews and the religion of Judaism. However, the Lord, Jesus Christ, laid the cornerstone for Christianity.
  • Jews often offer three daily prayers. However, a new prayer is added to the list on holidays and Shabbat. Christians, however, also attend church services to pray and worship. They read the Bible and participate in rituals. They participate in charitable deeds as well.
  • Jews practice monotheism. They think there is just one God. They believe that only God is the ultimate creator and that all that exists outside of God is merely temporary. On the other hand, Christians concur that there is only one deity and that he is represented by the Holy Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  • Tanakh and Torah are the two fundamental religious texts that Jews adhere to. On the other hand, the Holy Bible is the only piece of literature that practically all Christians adhere to.
  • Hebrew, also the original Language of Jews, is the most commonly used by Jews. On the other hand, Latin, Greek, and Aramaic are some of the original languages that are still spoken today.
  • Jews hold that salvation is possible if they maintain a strong belief in God and righteous conduct. On the other hand, Christians think that they can find salvation through Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection.

Conclusion

Christians pray and worship at the church. They also take part in philanthropic endeavors. A single god and the Holy Trinity, which consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are other concepts shared by Christians. For Jews, three meals a day are typical. However, a separate prayer is added to the Shabbat and holy days list. There are three times of day for prayer: Shacharit in the morning, Mincha in the afternoon, and Arvit at night.

The Holy Bible is essentially the sole book that Christians follow for information. Examples of ancient languages still used today for communication include Latin, Greek, and Aramaic. Christians think that salvation can be attained via Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection.

While the Torah and the Tanakh are the two most crucial texts for Jews to follow. The majority of Jews use Hebrew, which is also their mother tongue, for communication. Jews believe that they can win salvation if they hold a firm belief in God and their good conduct.


Category


Cite this article

Use the citation below to add this article to your bibliography:


Styles:

×

MLA Style Citation


"Difference Between Jews and Christians." Diffzy.com, 2024. Fri. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.diffzy.com/article/difference-between-jews-and-christians-697>.



Edited by
Diffzy


Share this article