Historically, the conventional view holds that Judaism and Christianity have always been distinct religions, characterized by fundamental differences such as belief in the Trinity and Incarnation versus adherence to kosher laws. However, exploring earlier periods reveals a much more intertwined reality. In the time of Jesus, the rigid division seen today simply did not exist. Everyone, whether they followed Jesus or not, was part of the broader Jewish community, or Israelite people, as the concept of separate 'religions' as we understand them had not yet formed. Core ideas often considered exclusively Christian were actually part of the diverse landscape of Jewish thought. Many Jews at the time expected a Messiah who was both divine and human. The concept of a second divine figure alongside the Ancient of Days, sometimes referred to as the Son of Man, existed in Jewish texts and traditions, potentially stemming from very ancient Israelite ideas. This provided a framework for understanding Jesus as the expected divine Messiah. Even the idea of a suffering Messiah, central to Christian belief, had precedent in Jewish tradition. Ultimately, understanding the historical context suggests that early Christianity was not a sudden break but rather a Jewish messianic movement. Its central ideas, including a divine, suffering Messiah and particular approaches to the Law, were deeply rooted in existing Jewish traditions, texts, and methods of interpretation
The Jewish Gospels: An Introduction
The Son of Man in First Enoch and Fourth Ezra: Other Jewish Messiahs of the First Century
The Suffering Christ as a Midrash on Daniel