Differences between Christianity and Judaism

Christianity vs. Judaism

Christianity and Judaism are two Abrahamic, monotheistic religions that share common origins in the Middle East. Christianity originated as a sect within Second Temple Judaism during the first century CE. While both faiths worship the God of Abraham, there are fundamental theological distinctions between them. The most central difference is the Christian belief that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew scriptures and the Son of God, a belief that Judaism does not share.

Comparison Table

Category	Judaism	Christianity
Nature of God	God is a single, indivisible entity. The concept of a deity in human form is rejected.	God is a single entity existing in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity).
Key Figure(s)	Moses is considered the most important prophet to whom God revealed the Torah.	Jesus is the central figure, believed to be the Son of God and the savior of humanity.
Messiah	The Messiah is understood to be a future human leader from the Davidic line who will fulfill prophecies, such as uniting the Jewish people and bringing world peace. He has not yet arrived.	Jesus is the Messiah who fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. Christians await his Second Coming.
Sacred Texts	The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), especially the first five books (the Torah). The Talmud, a collection of rabbinic discussions on law and ethics, is also a central text.	The Bible, which includes the Hebrew Bible (called the Old Testament) and the New Testament, which documents the life and teachings of Jesus and his apostles.
Covenant	Focuses on the covenant made between God and Abraham, and later with Moses at Mount Sinai, which established the Jewish people as God's chosen nation and gave them the Torah as a guide for life.	Focuses on a "New Covenant" established through Jesus, whose sacrifice is believed to offer forgiveness for sin and salvation to all people, both Jews and Gentiles.
Salvation and Afterlife	Emphasis is on correct practice (orthopraxy) and living in accordance with the Torah's commandments. Beliefs about the afterlife vary but generally include a "world to come" (Olam Ha-Ba).	Emphasis is on correct belief (orthodoxy), specifically faith in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. The afterlife is typically defined by an eternal heaven or hell.

Venn diagram comparing Differences between Christianity and Judaism

Concept of God

Judaism professes a belief in the strict oneness of God. This view holds that God is a single, indivisible, and unique entity who is not physical or corporeal. Christianity also teaches monotheism but understands God as a Trinity: one God existing in three co-equal persons—the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. The Christian doctrine of the Incarnation, which teaches that Jesus is God in human form, is a core belief in Christianity but is incompatible with Jewish theology.

=== Scriptures === Both religions hold the Hebrew Bible as sacred scripture, though Christians refer to it as the Old Testament. The Jewish Tanakh is organized into three sections: Torah (Instruction), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). The Christian Old Testament contains the same books but arranges them in a different order, concluding with the prophets to lead into the New Testament. Christianity adds the New Testament, which details the life, death, resurrection, and teachings of Jesus and the establishment of the early church. Judaism does not recognize the New Testament as scripture. Additionally, Rabbinic Judaism relies on the Talmud, a compilation of law, tradition, and scriptural interpretation that is not part of the Christian canon.

Jesus and the Messiah

The identity of Jesus is the most significant point of divergence. Christianity teaches that Jesus is the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament, the Son of God, whose death and resurrection provide atonement for humanity's sins. In Judaism, Jesus is often seen as a historical figure, a teacher, or a prophet, but not as the Messiah. Jewish messianic prophecy holds that the Messiah will be a human king from the line of David who will usher in an era of global peace, rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, and gather all Jews to Israel; because these events have not occurred, Jews believe the Messiah has not yet come.