Christianity Compared to Judaism: Beliefs, Jesus and Salvation
Updated: Oct 18
Christianity vs Judaism: What Are the Key Differences and Similarities?
Christianity vs Judaism: the main difference is Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is the promised Messiah, the divine Son of God, who died for sin and rose from the dead, making salvation available by grace through faith. Judaism does not accept Jesus as the Messiah or as divine, and continues to await the fulfilment of the messianic age.
Christianity Compared to Judaism: What Is the Main Difference?
Christianity compared to Judaism: both faiths worship one God and share the Hebrew Scriptures, but they differ most over Jesus. Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, while Judaism does not accept him as Messiah. They also differ on the Trinity, the law and how people are put right with God.
Christianity and Judaism are two of the world’s most influential faiths. They share ancient roots, sacred history, many biblical figures, and belief in one Creator God.
Christianity itself began within a Jewish setting: Jesus was Jewish, His earliest disciples were Jewish, and the first Christian communities emerged from the world of first-century Judaism.
Yet Christianity and Judaism are not the same religion. The central difference is Jesus Christ.
Christians believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Son of God, the Word made flesh, the Saviour of the world, and the fulfilment of the promises found throughout the Hebrew Scriptures.
Mainstream Judaism does not accept Jesus as the Messiah or as divine. Jewish belief generally continues to look towards a future messianic age, although beliefs about the Messiah vary across different Jewish traditions.
This difference affects nearly every other major comparison between Christianity and Judaism: the nature of God, the interpretation of Scripture, the meaning of the covenant, the role of the Torah, the way forgiveness is understood, and the question of salvation.
For Christians, the decisive question is: Who is Jesus? For Judaism, Jesus is not the centre of religious belief or worship. For Christianity, everything centres upon Him.
That is why any serious comparison of Christianity and Judaism must eventually come to the identity, claims, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Christianity vs Judaism: What Is the Quick Answer?
Christianity and Judaism share belief in the God of Abraham, the importance of the Hebrew Scriptures, the moral significance of the Ten Commandments, and the historical importance of figures such as Abraham, Moses, and the prophets.
However, they differ fundamentally over Jesus. Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah and the divine Son of God. Judaism does not accept Jesus as the Messiah or as God. Christians accept both the Old and New Testaments as Scripture, while Judaism follows the Hebrew Bible and Jewish religious tradition. Christianity teaches that salvation is a gift of God’s grace made possible through Jesus Christ.
Judaism generally focuses on covenant faithfulness, repentance, prayer, good deeds, and obedience to God rather than salvation through Jesus.
In the clearest possible terms:
Christianity says the Messiah has come.
Judaism says the Messiah has not yet come.
That difference stands at the heart of Christianity compared to Judaism.
Christianity vs Judaism: How Do the Beliefs Compare at a Glance?
This table gives a useful overview, but the relationship between Christianity and Judaism is much deeper than a simple list of differences. To understand both faiths properly, we must begin with their shared history.
What Is Christianity?
Christianity is the faith centred on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians believe there is one God, the Creator of heaven and earth. They believe that God has revealed Himself throughout history and ultimately through Jesus Christ.
Christianity teaches that Jesus is not merely a religious teacher, prophet, or moral example. He is the promised Messiah and the Son of God.
The Gospel of John begins with one of Christianity’s clearest statements about Jesus:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1 goes on to declare that the Word “became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
Christians understand this to mean that God entered human history in the person of Jesus Christ.
The Christian message, often called the Gospel, teaches that humanity has been separated from God by sin but that God acted to bring reconciliation. Jesus lived, was crucified, and, according to Christian belief, rose from the dead.
John 3:16 summarises the heart of the Christian message:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Christianity, therefore, centres on a person rather than merely a system of religious laws.
Jesus said in John 14:6:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
For Christians, salvation is not achieved by earning enough merit. It is received through the grace of God.
Ephesians 2:8–9 states that salvation is by grace through faith and is not the result of human works.
Good works remain extremely important in Christianity, but they are understood as the result of a transformed relationship with God rather than the means by which a person purchases salvation.
What Is Judaism?
Judaism is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions and is rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and the people of Israel.
Its history reaches back to the biblical patriarchs, particularly Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to the covenant associated with Moses and the giving of the Torah. Judaism teaches belief in one God.
One of its most important declarations of faith is found in Deuteronomy 6:4:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
This declaration, known as the Shema, is central to Jewish belief and worship.
The Torah occupies a foundational place in Jewish life. In its narrowest meaning, the Torah refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible:
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
In a broader sense, Torah can refer to divine teaching and the wider body of Jewish religious instruction.
Judaism is not a single uniform tradition. Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and other Jewish movements may differ in how they understand religious law, tradition, the Messiah, the afterlife, and the authority of different teachings. This diversity is important.
Statements such as “all Jews believe” should be used cautiously because Jewish beliefs and practices vary significantly.
However, mainstream Jewish traditions agree on one major point relevant to Christianity: Jesus is not accepted as the divine Son of God or the Messiah in the Christian sense. Jewish educational sources describe Jesus as outside the centre of Jewish theology, while traditional expectations of the Messiah generally look towards a future figure or messianic age. (My Jewish Learning)
What Do Christianity and Judaism Have in Common?
The differences between Christianity and Judaism are significant, but so are their shared roots.
Christianity did not emerge in isolation from Judaism. The Christian story begins within the history of Israel.
Christians and Jews share many important elements, including:
Belief in one Creator God
The importance of Abraham
The importance of Moses
The Ten Commandments
The Hebrew Scriptures
The biblical prophets
Prayer
Moral responsibility
Justice and mercy
The belief that human beings are accountable to God
Hope in God’s purposes for history
Christians call the Hebrew Scriptures the Old Testament, although the arrangement and numbering of the books differ from the Jewish Tanakh. The shared Scriptures include Genesis, Exodus, the Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many other books.
Yet Christians and Jews often interpret these shared texts differently. Christians read the Hebrew Scriptures in the light of Jesus Christ. They see promises, patterns, and prophecies that they believe find their fulfilment in Him.
Jewish interpretation does not read these texts as pointing towards Jesus. This means that Christianity and Judaism can read the same passage and reach very different theological conclusions.
The relationship is therefore both close and complex. Christianity cannot be understood properly without Judaism, but Christianity also makes claims about Jesus that Judaism does not accept.
What Is the Main Difference Between Christianity and Judaism?
The main difference between Christianity and Judaism is the identity of Jesus Christ.
Christianity teaches that Jesus is:
The promised Messiah
The Son of God
The Word made flesh
The fulfilment of biblical prophecy
The Lamb of God who takes away sin
The risen Lord
The only Saviour
Judaism does not accept these Christian claims.
A Jewish explanation of the distinction states that the essential difference is that Christians accept Jesus as Messiah and Saviour, while Jesus is not part of Jewish theology in that way. (Reform Judaism)
This disagreement is not a minor theological detail. It changes the entire structure of both faiths. If Jesus is the Messiah, then Christianity’s claims about the New Covenant, the cross, the resurrection, and salvation must be seriously considered.
If Jesus is not the Messiah, then the central claims of Christianity are rejected. This is why Jesus cannot simply be placed on a list of differences alongside dietary laws, holy days, or places of worship. Jesus is the dividing line.
How Do Christianity and Judaism Understand the Nature of God?
Both Christianity and Judaism are monotheistic. Both reject the idea that there are many competing gods. Both affirm that the God of Abraham is the Creator and Lord of all. However, Christianity and Judaism understand the nature of God differently.
Judaism strongly emphasises the absolute oneness of God.
Deuteronomy 6:4 declares:
“The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
Christianity also believes there is only one God. However, historic Christianity teaches that the one God eternally exists as three Persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. This doctrine is called the Trinity. Christians do not believe in three gods.
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity teaches one divine Being in three distinct Persons. Judaism rejects this understanding and does not accept Jesus or the Holy Spirit as divine Persons within the one God. This is one of the biggest theological differences between Christianity and Judaism.
Do Christians and Jews Worship the Same God?
This question requires a careful answer. Historically, Christianity understands itself as worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the Creator revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Christians believe the God revealed in the Old Testament is the same God revealed more fully through Jesus Christ.
Judaism also worships the God of Abraham and understands itself as continuing the covenantal faith of Israel. In that historical sense, both religions trace their worship to the God of the biblical patriarchs.
However, Christians and Jews disagree profoundly about God’s nature and revelation. Christians believe God has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Judaism rejects the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and does not accept Jesus as divine.
Therefore, a careful answer is: Christianity and Judaism both claim continuity with the God of Abraham, but they understand God’s nature and revelation in fundamentally different ways.
How Do Christianity and Judaism View Jesus Christ?
No subject reveals the difference between Christianity and Judaism more clearly than Jesus.
For Christians, Jesus is the centre of faith. For Judaism, Jesus is not the Messiah, not the Son of God, and not an object of worship. Christianity teaches that Jesus existed before His human birth.
John 1:1 states:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:14 then says:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
Christians understand these verses as teaching the incarnation: the eternal Son of God took on human nature. Jesus also made extraordinary claims about Himself.
In John 8:58, He declared:
“Before Abraham was born, I am!”
In John 10:30, Jesus said:
“I and the Father are one.”
Christians interpret these statements alongside the wider New Testament as evidence of Christ’s divine identity.
Mainstream Judaism does not accept these claims as authoritative religious truth. Jewish sources generally state that Judaism does not regard Jesus as the Messiah or the Son of God. (My Jewish Learning) This creates the central divide. Christianity says Jesus must be worshipped. Judaism says God alone is to be worshipped and does not recognise Jesus as divine.
Was Jesus Jewish?
Yes. Jesus was Jewish. This is historically and biblically essential.
Jesus was born into a Jewish family. He was circumcised according to Jewish custom. He attended Jewish festivals. He taught in synagogues. He quoted the Hebrew Scriptures. He discussed the Torah. His disciples were Jewish.
The earliest Christian movement began among Jewish people. Christianity did not begin as a religion created by Europeans centuries after Jesus. It began in first-century Judea within a Jewish historical, cultural, and religious setting.
The apostles Peter, John, James, and Paul were Jewish. The earliest debates within the Christian movement concerned questions such as whether non-Jewish believers needed to become Jewish or follow the full requirements of the Mosaic Law.
Understanding the Jewish identity of Jesus helps readers understand both the closeness and the eventual separation between Christianity and Judaism.
Why Do Christians Believe Jesus Is the Messiah?
Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah because of His life, teachings, fulfilment of Scripture, death, and resurrection.
The word “Christ” is not Jesus’ surname. It comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning “anointed one”, corresponding to the idea of the Messiah.
Christians believe numerous passages in the Hebrew Scriptures point towards Jesus. These include:
Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah 53
Micah 5:2
Psalm 22
Jeremiah 31:31–34
Christians believe these passages form part of a larger biblical pattern that finds its fulfilment in Christ.
For example, Micah 5:2 speaks of a ruler associated with Bethlehem. The New Testament presents Jesus as born in Bethlehem. Isaiah 53 describes a suffering servant who is wounded for the transgressions of others.
Christians see the crucifixion of Jesus in this passage. Psalm 22 contains descriptions of suffering that Christians believe strongly resemble events associated with the crucifixion.
Most importantly, Christians believe Jesus rose physically from the dead. Without the resurrection, Christianity loses its foundation.
The earliest Christians did not simply claim that Jesus had left behind inspiring teachings. They proclaimed that the crucified Jesus was alive.
For Christianity, the resurrection is God’s vindication of Jesus and the decisive confirmation that He is the Messiah.
Why Does Judaism Not Accept Jesus as the Messiah?
Judaism does not accept Jesus as the Messiah because Jewish and Christian understandings of messianic fulfilment differ.
Traditional Jewish expectations often include a future Davidic ruler and an age associated with peace, restoration, and the fulfilment of God’s purposes for Israel and the world.
Because the world did not enter this expected messianic condition during Jesus’ earthly life, Judaism does not accept the Christian claim that He fulfilled the role of Messiah. Jewish sources commonly describe the Messiah as a future descendant of King David connected with peace and restoration. (My Jewish Learning) Christianity responds differently.
Christians believe the Messiah’s mission unfolds in two stages. At His first coming, Jesus came to deal with sin through His death and resurrection.
At His future return, Christians believe He will bring final judgement, resurrection, restoration, and the full establishment of God’s kingdom. Therefore, Christians believe some messianic prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming, and others will be completed at His return.
Judaism does not accept this two-coming Christian interpretation. This difference in how messianic prophecy is understood remains one of the central disagreements between the two faiths.
What Do Christianity and Judaism Believe About the Trinity?
The Trinity is one of Christianity’s most distinctive doctrines. Christianity teaches:
There is one God.
The Father is God.
The Son is God.
The Holy Spirit is God.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons.
There are not three gods, but one God.
Christians believe this doctrine emerges from the full biblical revelation of God. The Father is clearly presented as God. Jesus is described in divine terms.
The Holy Spirit acts personally and divinely. The baptismal command in Matthew 28:19 speaks of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together. Judaism rejects the Trinity.
From a Jewish perspective, God is one and indivisible, and Jesus is not a divine Person. This is why the Christian claim that Jesus is God is not merely an additional belief added to Judaism. It represents a fundamentally different understanding of God’s nature. Christians maintain that the Trinity does not contradict monotheism because Christianity still teaches only one God. Judaism does not accept that explanation.
How Does Judaism Understand the Messiah?
There is no single belief about the Messiah shared identically by every Jewish person. Jewish traditions are diverse. However, traditional Jewish expectations often describe the Messiah as a future human leader connected with the line of King David.
The messianic age may be associated with:
Peace
Justice
The restoration of Israel
The gathering of the Jewish people
Renewed knowledge of God
The fulfilment of prophetic hopes
Some Jewish people focus more on a messianic age than on an individual Messiah. Others hold traditional expectations of a personal future Messiah. What unites mainstream Jewish perspectives in relation to Christianity is that Jesus is not accepted as the Messiah who fulfilled these expectations.
How Do Christians Understand the Messiah?
Christianity teaches that Jesus is the Messiah promised in Scripture. But the Christian understanding of the Messiah goes beyond the expectation of a political ruler.
Jesus came as a suffering Saviour. Christians believe Isaiah 53 points towards this reality. The passage describes one who suffers, bears wrongdoing, and is wounded for others. The New Testament presents the cross not as the accidental defeat of Jesus but as central to God’s plan of redemption.
Jesus said in Matthew 26:28:
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Christians believe the Messiah came first to save from sin. They believe He will return as King. This distinction between the first and second coming is essential to Christian theology.
How Do Christianity and Judaism View the Bible?
Christianity and Judaism share many sacred texts, but they do not have the same Bible. The Jewish Bible is commonly called the Tanakh.
The name reflects its three main sections:
Torah — Teaching or Law
Nevi’im — Prophets
Ketuvim — Writings
Christians accept these Hebrew Scriptures as the Old Testament. However, the Christian Bible arranges the books differently, and some Christian traditions include additional books in their Old Testament canons. Christianity also accepts the New Testament.
The New Testament contains:
The four Gospels
Acts
The letters or Epistles
Revelation
Judaism does not accept the New Testament as Scripture. This difference affects how both faiths read their shared biblical texts. Christians interpret the Old Testament in the light of Jesus and the New Testament, while Jewish interpretation follows Jewish tradition and does not see the Hebrew Bible as a story culminating in Jesus. (Time)
Is the Hebrew Bible the Same as the Christian Old Testament?
The Hebrew Bible and the Protestant Old Testament largely contain the same core books, but their arrangement differs. The Jewish Tanakh begins with the Torah and is organised into the Torah, Prophets, and Writings.
The Christian Old Testament is commonly arranged into categories such as:
The Law
History
Poetry and Wisdom
Major Prophets
Minor Prophets
This difference in arrangement can influence how the books are read. The Christian Old Testament ends with the prophetic books and is followed immediately by the New Testament.
This naturally creates a movement from prophetic expectation towards the coming of Jesus. The Tanakh ends differently and is read within a different interpretative tradition. Therefore, Christians and Jews may share many of the same ancient texts while understanding their overall message in significantly different ways.
Why Christians Accept the New Testament
Christians accept the New Testament because they believe it contains the authoritative testimony of Jesus Christ and the apostolic witness to His life, death, and resurrection.
The four Gospels present Jesus’ ministry and teachings. Acts describes the growth of the early Christian movement. The letters explain the meaning of Christ’s work and guide Christian communities. Revelation presents the final victory of God and the fulfilment of His purposes.
Christians believe the New Testament does not reject the Hebrew Scriptures. Instead, they believe it reveals their fulfilment in Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.”
This concept of fulfilment is essential to the Christian understanding of the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.
How Do Christianity and Judaism View the Law of Moses?
The Law of Moses, or Mosaic Law, is another major area of difference. Judaism understands the Torah as foundational to the covenantal life of the Jewish people. Christianity honours the Torah as Scripture but believes the coming of Christ changes the believer’s relationship to the Mosaic covenant.
Jesus did not describe His mission as destroying the Law. He said He came to fulfil it. The early Christian church had to answer an important question: Must non-Jewish Christians follow the entire Mosaic Law?
The New Testament answer was no. Gentile Christians were not required to become Jewish in order to follow Jesus. The apostle Paul argued that people are made right with God through faith in Christ rather than through “works of the law.”
This became one of the defining teachings of Christianity.
Do Christians Have to Follow the Torah?
Christians do not generally believe they are required to follow the complete Torah as the covenant law of ancient Israel.
This means Christians are not normally required to follow all Jewish:
Dietary laws
Ceremonial regulations
Sacrificial requirements
Purity laws
National laws given to ancient Israel
However, Christians believe the Old Testament remains inspired Scripture and contains essential moral and spiritual truth.
The Ten Commandments remain deeply influential in Christian ethics.
Jesus also summarised God’s moral will through two great commands:
Love God.
Love your neighbour.
Christians therefore do not simply “throw away” the Torah. They read it through the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
How Do Christianity and Judaism Understand Sin?
Both Christianity and Judaism take sin seriously. Both teach that human beings are morally responsible before God. However, the two traditions often frame the problem differently. Christianity teaches that sin is universal.
Romans 3:23 states:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Sin is not merely a collection of isolated mistakes. It represents humanity’s rebellion against God and creates a broken relationship between human beings and their Creator.
Christianity teaches that human beings cannot solve this problem by moral effort alone. They need reconciliation.
Judaism also recognises wrongdoing, disobedience, and the need for repentance. However, Judaism does not generally teach the Christian doctrine that all people require salvation through the atoning death of Jesus. This difference leads directly to the question of forgiveness.
How Do Christianity and Judaism Understand Salvation?
The word “salvation” does not always function in the same way in Christianity and Judaism.
In Christianity, salvation is central. Human beings are separated from God by sin. Jesus died for sin. He rose from the dead. Those who trust in Him receive forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life.
Acts 4:12 states:
“Salvation is found in no one else.”
Romans 10:9 teaches:
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Christianity, therefore, teaches that salvation is found in Jesus Christ. Judaism does not centre religious life on being “saved through Jesus.” Jewish religious life is generally understood through concepts such as covenant, repentance, obedience, prayer, mercy, justice, and righteous living. This is one of the clearest differences between Christianity and Judaism.
Are Christians Saved by Faith or Works?
Christianity teaches that salvation is by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:8–9 says:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works.”
This does not mean good works are unimportant. The next verse speaks about believers being created for good works.
The Christian order is therefore:
Grace comes first.
Salvation is received.
A transformed life follows.
Good works are the fruit of salvation, not the price paid to obtain it. This distinction is crucial. Christianity does not teach that a person can deliberately live without love, justice, or obedience and simply claim intellectual belief. Genuine faith is expected to produce a changed life. But salvation itself remains a gift of grace.
How Is Forgiveness Received in Judaism?
Judaism places strong emphasis on repentance. The Hebrew concept of teshuvah is often understood as returning or turning back to God. Repentance may involve:
Recognising wrongdoing
Feeling sincere regret
Confessing sin
Making restitution where possible
Seeking forgiveness from those who were harmed
Changing future behaviour
Prayer and God’s mercy
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, has particular importance in Jewish religious life. Judaism does not teach that forgiveness depends upon accepting Jesus’ death. This differs fundamentally from Christianity.
How Is Forgiveness Received in Christianity?
Christianity teaches that forgiveness is made possible through Jesus Christ. At the Last Supper, Jesus connected His death with the covenant and forgiveness.
Matthew 26:28 records Him saying:
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Christians believe Jesus willingly gave His life. The New Testament does not teach that one ethnic group alone bears collective guilt for His death.
Christian theology teaches that sin is a universal human problem. Jesus’ death is understood as a voluntary act of love and redemption. Christians believe forgiveness is received through repentance and faith in Christ.
The Old Covenant and the New Covenant
The relationship between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is central to Christianity compared to Judaism.
The prophet Jeremiah spoke of a coming new covenant.
Jeremiah 31:31 says:
“The days are coming… when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.”
The passage goes on to describe God writing His law on people’s hearts and forgiving their wickedness. (Bible Gateway)
Christians believe Jesus inaugurated this New Covenant. At the Last Supper, Jesus connected the cup with His covenant blood. The book of Hebrews later develops this theme in detail. Judaism does not accept the Christian interpretation that Jesus established the promised New Covenant.
This is another point where the same Hebrew Scripture is understood differently by the two faiths.
What Did Jesus Mean by the New Covenant?
Christians believe the New Covenant means that God’s promise of forgiveness and inner transformation has been fulfilled through Jesus Christ. The New Covenant is not merely a new set of rules.
It involves:
Forgiveness of sin
A restored relationship with God
The work of the Holy Spirit
God’s law written on the heart
Direct access to God through Christ
A new community drawn from every nation
Christians believe the New Covenant fulfils God’s redemptive promises. This does not mean Christians should treat Jewish people with contempt or hostility. The New Testament itself reminds Gentile Christians that the roots of their faith are found in Israel’s history.
Christian antisemitism is incompatible with the command to love one’s neighbour and with the recognition that Jesus, the apostles, and the earliest Christian community were Jewish.
How Do Christianity and Judaism Approach Prayer and Worship?
Both Christians and Jews pray. Both traditions include:
Praise
Thanksgiving
Confession
Petition
Reading sacred texts
Community worship
Private prayer
The Psalms are especially important to both faiths. However, Christian prayer is shaped by belief in Jesus and the Trinity. Christians commonly pray to the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit. Many Christian prayers end with phrases such as “through Jesus Christ” or “in Jesus’ name.”
Jewish prayer does not pray through Jesus. Judaism addresses the one God directly and follows Jewish liturgical traditions.
Christian Churches Compared to Jewish Synagogues
Christians commonly worship in churches. Jewish communities commonly gather in synagogues. A Christian church service may include:
Prayer
Bible readings
Singing
Preaching
Communion or the Eucharist
Baptism
A synagogue service may include:
Prayer
Reading from the Torah
Reading other biblical passages
Teaching
Singing or chanting
Community participation
The exact form of worship varies greatly within both religions. A Catholic Mass may look very different from an evangelical Christian service. An Orthodox Jewish synagogue may differ significantly from a Reform synagogue. Neither Christianity nor Judaism should be treated as completely uniform.
Christian and Jewish Holy Days
Christian and Jewish calendars contain different holy days, although some Christian observances have historical connections with Jewish festivals. Major Jewish holy days include:
Passover
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur
Sukkot
Shavuot
Hanukkah
Purim
Major Christian holy days include:
Christmas
Good Friday
Easter
Pentecost
Passover is particularly important for understanding Christianity. The Last Supper took place in a Passover context.
The New Testament presents Jesus’ death through imagery connected with sacrifice and deliverance.
Pentecost also has a Jewish background connected with Shavuot. These connections show again that Christianity emerged from a Jewish historical world.
What Do Christianity and Judaism Believe About Heaven and the Afterlife?
Christianity places strong emphasis on resurrection, judgement, and eternal life. Christians believe Jesus rose bodily from the dead.
They also believe there will be a future resurrection and final judgment. Those who belong to Christ have the hope of eternal life with God. Jewish beliefs about the afterlife are more diverse. Some Jewish traditions emphasise the resurrection of the dead. Others speak of the world to come.
Some place less emphasis on detailed speculation about the afterlife and more emphasis on faithfulness to God in this life.
Traditional Jewish theology includes belief in resurrection, although views vary concerning its precise nature and who participates in it. (My Jewish Learning) Therefore, it is misleading to say simply that “Jews do not believe in an afterlife.” The reality is more varied.
Can Someone Be Both Jewish and Christian?
This question depends partly on what is meant by “Jewish.”
Jewish identity can involve:
Religion
Ethnicity
Ancestry
Culture
Peoplehood
A person of Jewish ancestry may become a Christian and continue to identify ethnically or culturally as Jewish.
However, mainstream Jewish religious traditions generally do not regard belief in Jesus as the Messiah and divine Son of God as compatible with Judaism. Some people identify as Messianic Jews.
They believe Jesus is the Messiah while retaining various Jewish customs and aspects of Jewish identity.
What Is Messianic Judaism?
Messianic Judaism is a movement whose members believe Jesus—often called Yeshua—is the Messiah.
Messianic Jewish communities may observe:
Jewish festivals
The Sabbath
Hebrew prayers
Torah readings
Jewish cultural traditions
At the same time, they accept the New Testament and believe in Jesus. Mainstream Jewish denominations generally do not recognise Messianic Judaism as a form of Judaism because belief in Jesus as Messiah and divine is viewed as Christian theology. Jewish educational sources describe this disagreement clearly. (My Jewish Learning)
Many Christians, however, regard Messianic Jews as Jewish believers in Jesus. The issue remains sensitive because it involves questions of theology, identity, ethnicity, and religious belonging.
Did Christianity Come From Judaism?
Yes, Christianity emerged from a Jewish historical and religious context. Jesus was Jewish. His disciples were Jewish. The first Christians were Jewish. The Old Testament is rooted in the history of Israel.
Christian concepts such as Messiah, covenant, sacrifice, sin, prophecy, and resurrection cannot be properly understood without their Jewish and biblical background. However, Christianity eventually became a distinct religion. The growth of non-Jewish Christianity, theological disagreements about Jesus, debates over the Torah, and historical events all contributed to the separation.
Why Did Christianity and Judaism Separate?
The separation between Christianity and Judaism was gradual. It did not happen on a single day.
Several factors contributed:
Different beliefs about Jesus
Christian claims about the resurrection
The growing number of Gentile Christians
Debates about the Mosaic Law
The destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in AD 70
The development of rabbinic Judaism
The development of distinct Christian institutions
By the following centuries, Christianity and Judaism had developed increasingly separate identities.
It is important not to oversimplify this history. Early Christianity and early rabbinic Judaism both developed in complex ways within the changing religious world of the first centuries AD.
How Should Christians View Jewish People Today?
Christians should view Jewish people with dignity, love, and respect. Antisemitism has no place in Christian life. Jesus was Jewish. The apostles were Jewish.
The Hebrew Scriptures form a major part of the Christian Bible. Christianity teaches that every human being is made in the image of God. Christians may respectfully disagree with Jewish beliefs about Jesus while rejecting hatred, mockery, stereotypes, and discrimination.
The crucifixion must never be used to justify hostility towards Jewish people. The New Testament presents Jesus as willingly giving His life. Christian theology also teaches that sin is universal. The cross reveals humanity’s need for grace—not an excuse to blame an ethnic group.
Which Is Older: Christianity or Judaism?
Judaism is older than Christianity. The roots of Judaism reach back to the ancient history of Israel, the patriarchs, and the covenant associated with Moses.
Christianity began in the first century AD with Jesus and the earliest Christian movement. However, Christians believe their faith is deeply connected with the entire biblical story beginning in Genesis.
Therefore:
Historically, Judaism is older. Theologically, Christians believe Christianity fulfils promises rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Is Christianity a Branch of Judaism?
Christianity began as a movement within a Jewish environment, but it is now a distinct world religion.
The earliest followers of Jesus were Jewish. Over time, increasing numbers of Gentiles became Christians. The church did not require Gentile believers to become Jewish or follow the entire Mosaic Law.
Christianity also developed doctrines that mainstream Judaism rejects, especially:
Jesus as Messiah
Jesus as divine
The Trinity
The New Covenant through Christ
Salvation through Jesus
Therefore, modern Christianity is not generally described as a branch of Judaism.
What Makes Christianity Different From Judaism?
Many differences exist, but five are especially important. First, Christianity accepts Jesus as the Messiah. Second, Christianity teaches that Jesus is divine. Third, Christianity accepts the New Testament as Scripture. Fourth, Christianity teaches that Jesus’ death and resurrection are central to salvation. Fifth, Christianity teaches the doctrine of the Trinity. All of these differences return to one central person: Jesus Christ.
Why Is Jesus the Central Question Between Christianity and Judaism?
After comparing the Torah, the Bible, worship, salvation, the Messiah, the covenant, and the afterlife, one question remains above all others:
Who is Jesus?
Christianity stands or falls on its answer. Jesus cannot be removed from Christianity while leaving the faith intact. Without Jesus as Messiah, there is no Christian Gospel. Without the cross, there is no Christian understanding of atonement. Without the resurrection, there is no Christian hope. Without Jesus as Lord, Christianity becomes something entirely different. Judaism does not accept the Christian answer. That disagreement should be discussed accurately and respectfully.
But it should not be hidden. Christianity makes extraordinary claims about Jesus. It claims that the eternal Word became flesh. It claims that the Messiah came. It claims that He died for sin. It claims that He rose from the dead. It claims that eternal life is found in Him. The most important question for the reader is therefore not simply:
“How are Christianity and Judaism different?”
The deeper question is:
“Who is Jesus Christ?”
Where do Christians and Jews differ among themselves, and what can we not be sure of?
Neither faith speaks with one voice. Judaism includes Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and other movements, with different views on law, the Messiah and the afterlife. Christianity includes Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant traditions, which differ on authority, the sacraments and salvation.
On how Christians should view Judaism, the Catholic Church stated in Nostra Aetate (1965) that the Jewish people should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God. Paul asks the same question in Romans 11:1 (ESV): "I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means!" Some older Christian teaching, often called supersessionism, claimed the church simply replaced Israel. Many Christians today reject that view.
Messianic Judaism, where Jewish people follow Jesus and keep Jewish customs, is accepted by some Christians but not recognised as Judaism by mainstream Jewish bodies. Whether Christians and Jews worship the same God is also disputed, and honest answers on both sides vary.
Here we describe positions as their followers hold them. Readers who want the Jewish perspective directly should read Jewish sources, not only a Christian site.
Sources and translation
Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV): Romans 11:1. Catholic teaching is from the Second Vatican Council's declaration Nostra Aetate. Other Scripture quotations in this article are not all from one translation, and some are paraphrased. Wording differs between translations, so please check any passage in your own Bible.
Related reading: Who was Jesus Christ? and 50 Christian FAQs.
What is the single biggest difference between Christianity and Judaism?
The biggest difference is Jesus. Christians believe he is the Messiah and the Son of God who died and rose again. Judaism does not accept Jesus as Messiah or as divine. Both faiths share the Hebrew Scriptures and belief in one God.
If you are comparing the two, start with what they share: the Torah, the prophets, the Psalms and the call to love your neighbour. Then compare how each understands the Messiah, sin and atonement. Limit: Judaism includes many traditions, so this is a general summary, not the view of every Jewish community.
Related guides: Who was Jesus Christ?, What Is Christianity? and 50 Christian FAQs.
Sources: Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 53 and John 1 (ESV). Last reviewed 18 October 2026.
Key Takeaways: Christianity vs Judaism
The main difference between Christianity and Judaism is Jesus. Christians believe Jesus is the promised Messiah and the divine Son of God. Judaism does not accept Jesus as the Messiah or as divine.
Christians accept the Old and New Testaments as Scripture. Judaism holds the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, and does not accept the New Testament.
Christianity teaches salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. Judaism emphasises covenant faithfulness, repentance, prayer and righteous living.
Both faiths believe in one God and share the Hebrew Scriptures, Abraham, Moses and the Ten Commandments.
Christianity began within first-century Judaism. Jesus, His disciples and the first Christians were Jewish.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christianity vs Judaism
The central difference between Christianity and Judaism is Jesus Christ: Christians believe He is the promised Messiah; Judaism does not.
Both faiths worship the same God and share the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), but interpret them very differently.
Christianity teaches that salvation comes through faith in Jesus; Judaism emphasises covenant faithfulness, repentance, and obedience to Torah.
Both traditions share core ethical values including justice, compassion, prayer, and love of God and neighbour.
Understanding both faiths helps Christians appreciate the Jewish roots of their own belief and engage respectfully with Jewish people.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christianity Compared to Judaism
What is the main difference between Christianity and Judaism?
The main difference is Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is the promised Messiah, the divine Son of God, and the Saviour. Judaism does not accept Jesus as the Messiah or as divine.
Do Christians and Jews believe in the same God?
Both Christianity and Judaism trace their worship to the God of Abraham and affirm one Creator. However, they understand God differently. Christianity teaches the Trinity, while Judaism rejects the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus.
Why do Jews not believe Jesus is the Messiah?
Judaism does not believe Jesus fulfilled traditional Jewish expectations of the Messiah and messianic age. Christians believe Jesus fulfilled some messianic promises at His first coming and will complete others when He returns.
Do Jews believe in Jesus?
Judaism does not accept Jesus as the Messiah, divine Son of God, or Saviour. Individual Jewish people may hold different personal views, but mainstream Judaism rejects the central Christian claims about Jesus.
Was Jesus Jewish?
Yes. Jesus was Jewish, as were His earliest disciples and the first Christians.
Did Christianity come from Judaism?
Christianity emerged from a Jewish historical and religious setting in the first century. It later developed into a distinct religion as the Christian movement expanded among non-Jewish peoples.
Is the Old Testament the same as the Torah?
No. The Torah consists of the first five books of the Bible. The Christian Old Testament contains the Torah plus historical, poetic, wisdom, and prophetic books.
Do Christians follow the Ten Commandments?
Christians generally accept the moral principles of the Ten Commandments, although they understand the Mosaic Law through the teachings and work of Jesus Christ.
Do Christians have to follow Jewish law?
Most Christians believe they are not under the complete Mosaic covenant. Christians do not generally follow all Jewish dietary, ceremonial, and purity laws.
What do Jews believe about salvation?
Jewish beliefs are diverse and are not usually organised around the Christian idea of salvation through Jesus. Judaism emphasises covenant, repentance, prayer, righteous action, and God’s mercy.
Can a Jewish person become a Christian?
Yes. A person of Jewish ancestry or background can believe in Jesus. However, mainstream Jewish religious traditions generally view belief in Jesus as Christian rather than Jewish theology.
What is Messianic Judaism?
Messianic Judaism is a movement that combines belief in Jesus as the Messiah with various Jewish customs, festivals, and forms of identity.
Which religion is older, Christianity or Judaism?
Judaism is historically older. Christianity began in the first century AD within a Jewish setting.
What do Christianity and Judaism have in common?
Both believe in one Creator God, value the Hebrew Scriptures, honour figures such as Abraham and Moses, teach moral responsibility, and emphasise prayer and obedience to God.
What is the biggest disagreement between Christianity and Judaism?
The biggest disagreement is the identity of Jesus. Christianity teaches that He is the Messiah and Son of God. Judaism rejects these claims.
Conclusion: Christianity Compared to Judaism
Christianity and Judaism are deeply connected. They share ancient history. They share many Scriptures. They share Abraham, Moses, the prophets, and belief in one Creator God. Christianity itself emerged from a Jewish world. Jesus was Jewish. The apostles were Jewish. The earliest Christian believers were Jewish.
Yet Christianity and Judaism eventually give different answers to the most important question between them.
Who is Jesus?
Judaism does not accept Jesus as the Messiah or as divine. Christianity declares that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the crucified and risen Saviour.
For Christians, Jesus is the fulfilment of God’s promises and the centre of the biblical story. For Judaism, the Messiah is not identified with Jesus, and the New Testament is not accepted as Scripture.
These differences are real and should not be minimised. At the same time, they should be discussed without hatred, stereotypes, or disrespect. A serious comparison of Christianity and Judaism should be truthful about disagreement while recognising the shared history that connects both faiths.
For anyone exploring Christianity, the most important next step is not simply to compare religious systems. Read the Gospels. Examine the life of Jesus. Consider His teachings. Investigate the historical claim of His resurrection.
Ask what He meant when He said:
“I am the way and the truth and the life.”
The defining question of Christianity compared to Judaism is ultimately the question Jesus asked His own disciples:
“Who do you say I am?”
Trusted Christian Resources for Further Reading
For readers who would like to study this topic in greater depth, the following organisations provide biblically grounded resources:
BibleProject – Excellent videos and articles explaining biblical context and themes.
Got Questions Ministries – Thousands of biblically based answers to common Christian questions.
The Gospel Coalition – Articles exploring theology, discipleship, and practical Christian living.
If you're exploring Christianity for the first time, continue your journey by reading:
Explore more: What Is Christianity? and What Is Faith?.
Explore more: What Is Christianity? and What Is Faith?.
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