Similarities Between Judaism And Christianity

Around 70 CE there was significant diversity among relating to Judaism and the Christian society of that era (Harris, 2014). Moreover, the Bible speaks to certain groups having issues with Jesus during his earthly ministry, and historian Flavius Josephus further describes two other groups during that period. While there were numerous beliefs regarding Judaism and Christianity, the prevailing six are as follows the Sadducees, Pharisees, Yavneh, Samaritans, Essenes, and Zealots. Consequently, each group differed in their views of the application of Judaism and Christianity regarding worship and beliefs.

The Sadducees were mentioned in the Bible as staunch opponents of Jesus’s earthly ministry in that He questions the status quo. Furthermore,

However, not only did they follow the Torah, but they also adhered to the oral laws (Mishnah), which depicted them as traditionalist as well (Wilcox, 2014). Although initially the Pharisees and Christians worship together after their rise to dominance in Judaism they eventually the Christian non-traditionalism caused their expulsion from the Temple by the Pharisees (Harris, 2014). Even though the scriptures depict the Pharisees as completely opposed to Christianity and Jesus, they shared beliefs on several matters, but their traditionalism would not allow a coupling with the emerging Christian

55), and were placed there after the Jews subjugation by the Assyrians (Harris, 2014). Even though the Samaritans practiced Judaism similarly to the Jews, the Jews saw them as impure and banned from the Temple (Wilcox, 2014). So, the Samaritans built their own temple near Shechem and practiced Judaism, but the Jews viewed their Judaism as Hellenistic. However, the New Testament writers seemingly held the Samaritans in higher regard than both the Sadducees and Pharisees thereby implying a closer relationship with Christians.

The Essenes are particularly interesting faction due to their likely relation to the Dead Sea Scrolls (Wilcox, 2014). This group became disenfranchised with the leaders of Judaism after the Maccabean revolt and separated themselves into the wilderness seeking religious purity (Harris, 2014). Although initially this faction was based in Judaism, their beliefs mirrored Christianities in numerous aspects. Consequently, the Essenes provide a case that certain Christian belief were Palestinian based rather than Hellenistic. Finally, the Essenes were dispersed or killed by the Romans, but their careful documentation helped religious scholars better understand the Bible and history (Wilcox,