Differences Between Judaism And Early Christianity

What is the difference between identity and religious beliefs? In some cultures today, a person’s identity is the same as his or her beliefs. Our beliefs are the foundation of who we are and what we say or do, they mold our identity. An individual’s identity was also rooted in his or her beliefs during the formation of the Early Church. A certain apostle who helped spread the Gospel during the formation of the Early Church, more specifically the region from Rome to Jerusalem, was Paul the Apostle. Although he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he was raised with Jewish teachings. His adult identity was different from the beliefs he was raised with as a child. Nonetheless, he used his upbringing to benefit his preaching and shape his newly formed identity. Through analyzing and comparing the various similarities and differences of theology between Judaism and early Christianity, one could assess how Paul used his Jewish background to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews, much similar to prominent figures with foundational religious beliefs who act differently then what their beliefs are once they obtain a substantial amount of influence

Long before he was known as Paul the Apostle, he went by Saul of Tarsus.

Perhaps he was named in honor of the first king of Israel, the biblical King Saul (Philippians 3:5). Saul was born to a Jewish family in a port city of Tarsus. The change of name from Saul to Paul is a debated topic; some believe that Saul changed his name while on the road to Damascus while others believe he has always been named Paul. According to Luke in Acts 13:9, the names Saul and Paul were transposable. Luke writes in Acts “Saul, who also is called Paul…” (Acts 13:9) Saul had always been named Paul, even before his conversion from Judaism to Christianity. Paul inherited Roman citizenship from his father, and as a Roman citizen, he was given the Latin name Paul, or Paulus to be more specific (Acts

22:25-28).
Paul was very attached to Pharisaic traditions, so much so that in Philippians 3:5, Paul refers to himself as “a Hebrew born of Hebrews, a Pharisee.” Paul advanced in the study of Jewish law while at the school of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). He excelled in his studies, surpassing many of his peers. Being a Pharisee, Paul was considered a religious leader within Judaism, being more intelligent and righteous than many around him. As a devout Jewish religious leader, Paul sought to preserve and spread the teachings of Judaism. After witnessing the martyr of Stephen, Paul passionately sought out and persecuted the early followers of Christianity (Acts 8:3). Saul persecuted Christians because their teaching that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah was blasphemous and deserved to be severely punished.
While on his way to Damascus, Paul had a vision that temporally blinded him. In his vision, Jesus called him “Saul, Saul” in “the Hebrew tongue” (Acts 26:14). Saul wasn’t the only one who experienced a vision like that, because Ananias of Damascus later received a vision from the Lord in which Ananias was told that “Saul, of Tarsus” would approach him and need his assistance (Acts 9:11). When Ananias assisted Saul and restored his sight, he addressed him as “Brother Saul” (Acts 9: 1-19). After his miraculous conversion, Saul set out to preach about Jesus to the Jews. It wasn’t until on the island of Cyprus, where Saul and his companions are evangelizing, that he is first called Paul. From this point on in his life, he adopts his Roman name