Comparison between Apostolic Christianity and Traditional Judaism
Q. 1. Did Apostolic Christianity emerge separately from Judaism?
A. No. Apostolic Christianity emerged within Second Temple Judaism. Jesus, the apostles, and the first disciples were Jews who saw Jesus as the fulfillment of the Scriptures and the messianic promises.
Q. 2. In what sense is Apostolic Christianity a continuation of Judaism?
A. It is a continuation in the sense of being the fulfillment of the promises of the Torah, the Prophets, and the Psalms. The New Covenant announced by the prophets (Jer 31:31) is fulfilled in Jesus.
Q. 3. What was the religious practice of the first Christians like?
A. They attended the Temple, participated in prayers in the synagogues and maintained Jewish practices, such as Sabbath rest, feasts and rites, adding the celebration of the Eucharist on the “first day of the week” (Sunday), a memorial of the Resurrection.
Q. 4. How did they view the Law (Torah)?
A. The moral Law was fully observed. Ceremonial prescriptions (sacrifices, ritual purity, circumcision) began to be reinterpreted in the light of Christ. The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) decided that converted Gentiles were not bound by the entire Mosaic Law.
Q. 5. Does the concept of saints (the righteous) and intercession exist in Traditional Judaism?
A. Yes. The intercession of the tzadikim (the righteous) was and is part of the Jewish tradition, as is the veneration of the patriarchs, prophets and sages whose merits benefit the people before God.
Q. 6. Was there a belief in guardian angels and intercessory angels?
A. Yes. Judaism believes in angels as messengers and protectors. This belief was fully absorbed by Apostolic Christianity, with the development of the doctrine of guardian angels and archangels.
Q. 7. Was there purgatory in Judaism?
A. Yes, in an analogous way. The belief in Gehinnom as a temporary state of purification of the soul before entering the Olam Haba (World to Come) is well established in traditional Judaism.
Q. 8. What were the prayers like?
A. The prayers of the Apostolic Christians followed the Jewish model: recitation of the Psalms, fixed prayers (Shema, Amidah), blessings before meals and daily praises. The name of Jesus and the invocation of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were added.
Q. 9. What Jewish festivals did the early Christians celebrate?
A. They celebrated the Jewish festivals — Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot — by reinterpreting them Christologically:
Pesach: Christ as the new Paschal Lamb.
Shavuot: Fulfilled at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Sukkot: Image of the New Creation and the definitive dwelling with God.
Q. 10. How did the separation between Christianity and Judaism occur?
A. The separation was progressive, especially after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD and the decisions of the rabbinical authorities in Yavne, who began to exclude Christians from the synagogues for professing Jesus as the Messiah and God.
Q. 11. Is there continuity in the belief in life after death?
A. Yes. Both believe in the resurrection of the dead at the end of time, in the final judgment, in paradise (Gan Eden) and in a state of purification (Gehinnom or purgatory).
Q. 12. And how was eschatology understood?
A. Traditional Judaism awaited the coming of the Messiah, the restoration of Israel and the resurrection of the dead. Apostolic Christianity recognizes that the Messiah has already come (Jesus) and awaits his second coming to consummate the Kingdom.
Q. 13. Was the leadership structure similar?
A. Yes. Just as Judaism had the High Priest, priests, Levites and rabbis, Apostolic Christianity is organized into apostles, presbyters (elders) and deacons, later developing the episcopate.
Q. 14. What was the liturgy like?
A. Christian liturgy derives from the synagogue (Liturgy of the Word) and the Temple (Sacrificial Liturgy, now spiritualized in the Eucharist). Singing of psalms, readings, and blessings were common.
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