11 Key Differences Between Jews and Christians
If you are not a Jew or a Christian, you may not understand what the difference is between the two. Jews are found in the Bible as God’s chosen people, so doesn’t that mean that all Jews are Christian? No, that is not correct. And furthermore, Christians are not Jews. So, what is the difference between Jews and Christians?
Differences Between Jews and Christians
Here are some key differences in beliefs between a Jew and a Christian.
1. Who is the Founder?
According to a Jew, Abraham is the father of Judaism. He was the first patriarch that is recognized in the Jewish faith. As for Christians, Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, not Abraham.
2. Divisions of the Religion
Within Judaism, there are several divisions including Hasidic, Conservative and Reform Judaism. There are ethnic groupings within the Jewish community including Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews. Within the Christian faith, there are three main groups: Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic.
3. Number of Followers
There are an estimated 14 million Jews worldwide. There are an estimated 2.2 billion Christians worldwide.
4. Nature of Their God
The Jewish community believes in one God, called Yahweh or Jehovah. Within the Christian community there is one God who exists in three distinct persons or the Trinity; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Christian vs. Catholic – How They Differ?
5. Holy Book
A Jew has their holy book known as the Hebrew Tanakh which is similar to the Christian Old Testament. The Hebrew Tanakh is comprised of the Torah, Nevi’im and the Ketuvim. A Christian has the Holy Bible which they believe was given to man by God. In other words, the writers of the Bible were inspired by God to write His words.
6. Jesus Christ as the Messiah
The Jewish faith believes that Jesus Christ was simply another ordinary Jew. He was not the Messiah or a divine person in any capacity. The Christian faith believes that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, God the Son.
7. The Mission of Jesus Christ
Jews reject that Jesus Christ was the Messiah and therefore had no holy mission. His work done on earth is of no relevance. Christians believe that Jesus Christ was sent by God to reconcile man to God. His sacrifice on the cross was atonement for man’s sins.
8. The Death of Jesus Christ
Jews feel that Jesus Christ was crucified for his claim to divinity, not as some godly intervention for man. They do not believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
Christians believe that through Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, all men were brought back into fellowship with God. Jesus died, was buried and on the third day rose again.
9. Hell
A Jew’s belief in the afterlife are widely varied among the different groups, however, there is the common belief in Gehinnom or Gehenna. There are those who die while in sin and they may have to suffer a temporary punishment and then there are certain sins that do merit eternal punishment.
A Christian’s belief is that there is a place of eternal punishment for the unrighteous or the unrepentant sinner. There is no crossing over from Hell to Heaven.
10. Salvation
Jews believe that through prayers, good works and the grace of God you are saved. Christians believe that by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and accepting Him as Lord and Savior you are saved.
11. Sin
The Jewish community rejects the doctrine of original sin. Sins are atoned through seeking forgiveness through prayer and repentance. There is a day of atonement set aside for this purpose, known as Yom Kippur.
The Christian community believes that man inherits a sinful nature through Adam and Jesus Christ atoned for man’s sins through His death on the cross.
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Jews Vs. Christians
In a nutshell, below are the key differences between Christians and Jews.
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