Source: “The Jewish Gospels: The Story of the Jewish Christ”, 2012 by Daniel Boyarin
The Jewish Gospels Introduction.wav
This introduction challenges the common modern assumption that Judaism and Christianity were always distinct religions, arguing instead that in the early centuries, followers of Jesus were simply one group among many diverse forms of Judaism. The text suggests that early "Christian" beliefs, like the divinity of the Messiah, were ideas already present within the spectrum of ancient Jewish thought. The author contends that the clear separation we see today was enforced later by authorities, particularly the Christian Roman Empire and emergent rabbinic leadership, who used "checklists" to define who belonged to each group, essentially cutting off the possibility of being both Jewish and a follower of Jesus. Ultimately, the source proposes a more fluid model, like family resemblances, to understand the intertwined nature of these groups in the past.
The Modern Distinction Between Judaism and Christianity: The source begins by noting a common understanding today where Judaism and Christianity are seen as fundamentally separate religions. Christians often define themselves by believing in concepts like the Trinity and incarnation, while Jews are seen as distinct because they do not hold these beliefs and adhere to practices like keeping kosher. This initial point sets up the contrast for the historical argument that follows.
Historical Interconnectedness: A central argument is that historically, Jews and followers of Jesus were significantly more intertwined than they are in the modern era. There was a period when the lines between what we now call Judaism and Christianity were blurred. Many Jews at that time held beliefs that are now considered exclusively Christian, and followers of Jesus continued to observe Jewish practices. The question was less about belonging to a different religion and more about whether Jesus was the expected Messiah.
Religion as an Ancient Concept: The source challenges the application of the modern concept of "a religion" as a distinct category one can belong to, separate from other aspects of life, to the ancient world. It suggests that the idea of having multiple "religions" to choose from did not exist for centuries. Instead, what we now categorize as the religious life of the People of Israel was a complex web of rituals, practices, beliefs, values, history, and political loyalties tied to ethnic allegiance. In antiquity, cult (religious practice) and ethnicity were deeply linked. The term "Judaism" itself, as the name for the religion of the Jews, was primarily used by non-Jews until the modern period, highlighting its anachronistic application to ancient times.
Diversity Within Early Jewish Life: Before the clear separation between Judaism and Christianity emerged, being religiously Jewish was a highly diverse and complicated affair. There were varying interpretations of the Torah, different ideas about God, and different notions of practicing the Law. Following the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, this diversity intensified as Jews grappled with how to continue religious life without the central cultic site. Practices like sacrifices and purity rituals were debated. There were also different beliefs about the Messiah and the nature of divine intermediaries. Some Jews believed in a single divine figure, while others believed in a divine deputy or son figure who acted as an intermediary. Still others expected a human Messiah from the line of David, and some believed the divine redeemer and the human Messiah were one and the same.
Early Christology as Jewish Discourse: The source proposes viewing early ideas about Christ (Christology) not as something alien to Judaism but as a development within Jewish thought. Many Israelites at the time of Jesus were already expecting a Messiah who could be divine and appear in human form. Concepts foundational to later Christian doctrines like the Trinity and incarnation were present in the Jewish world in which Jesus was born and the Gospels were written. The source argues that the divine aspect of the Messiah (Christ) should also be seen as a Jewish concept, deeply rooted in ancient Israelite-Jewish ideas.
The Role of the Temple in Jerusalem: The Temple was a magnificent and central cultic site for the Israelites, uniquely serving as the single location for sacrifices for centuries. It played a crucial role in organizing Jewish religious life around its festivals, rites, priests, and practices. Pilgrimage to the Temple three times a year for major festivals was expected, providing a unifying principle for the people, even amidst disagreements. However, some groups, like those associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls, rejected the Temple. Its destruction in A.D. 70 was a pivotal event that significantly altered Jewish religious life and contributed to the diversification of practices and identities as different groups sought new ways to define Jewish identity without the Temple.
The Development of Religious Checklists: The source highlights how modern definitions of religions often rely on checklists of beliefs and practices (e.g., belief in Trinity/incarnation for Christians, keeping Sabbath/kosher/circumcision for Jews). These checklists create seemingly fixed boundaries and make the idea of someone being both Jewish and Christian appear contradictory. However, the source argues that such rigid checklists did not apply in the early centuries after Jesus, and that people whose beliefs and behaviors blended characteristics from both "lists" existed, demonstrating that being both a Jew and a Christian was seen as possible by some people at that time.
The Influence of the Roman Empire and Church Councils: The formal and absolute separation between Christianity and Judaism, as understood today, was significantly shaped by the Christian Roman Empire and its ecumenical councils. The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD were key moments in establishing Christian orthodoxy. These councils addressed major doctrinal issues, such as defining the relationship between the Father and the Son as "consubstantial," and settled practical matters like the date of Easter, specifically severing its calendrical ties to the Jewish Passover. These decisions were driven by a need for the nascent Christian Church, which lacked ethnic or geographical boundaries, to clearly define itself as separate from Judaism. This process of separation was backed by the authority of the Roman Empire.
The Suppression of Christian Jews: The process of establishing distinct religious identities involved actively suppressing groups who blended Christian belief with Jewish practice. For generations after Jesus, various followers held different theological views and diverse approaches to Jewish law. Some believed in Jesus' divinity but also insisted on keeping kosher, observing the Sabbath, and circumcising their sons. These individuals saw no conflict in being both Jewish and Christian. However, as orthodox Christian and rabbinic authorities consolidated their power, they began to exclude and delegitimize these blended identities. Figures like St. Jerome in the late fourth/early fifth century condemned these groups (calling them Minei and Nazarenes) as neither Christian nor Jewish, reflecting his view that the categories were mutually exclusive. Similarly, rabbinic authorities enacted prayers against sectarians, including those followers of Jesus who continued to identify as Jews, effectively seeking to push them out of the Jewish community. These actions by both sides indicate that "Christian Jews" existed in sufficient numbers to be seen as a threat to the emerging separate identities.
Alternative Models for Understanding Early Religious Identity: The source suggests moving beyond the rigid checklist model to understand the complexity and fluidity of early Jewish and Christian identities. It proposes using the concept of "family resemblances," where members of a group share a variety of features without any single feature being universally present. For ancient Jewish groups, appealing to the Hebrew Scriptures could be seen as one shared feature. For early followers of Jesus, some form of discipleship might be another. However, there were overlapping beliefs and practices among Jews who accepted Jesus and those who didn't. Some non-Jesus Jews shared ideas like belief in a divine figure alongside God or an expectation of a divine-human Messiah. The family resemblance model allows for recognizing these shared features and the diverse ways people related to their traditions and leaders. It suggests viewing early Christianity and the Gospels as part of this broader spectrum of ancient Jewish religious experience.