Early Christian Beliefs About Jewish Christianity
The early Christian writings say the church was not meant to stay under Jewish law. Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, and Tertullian all draw a clear line between Christ and the need to keep Judaism as a rule for Christians. Acts and Galatians also show the first churches arguing over circumcision, food laws, and Gentile inclusion.
115 early-church witnesses · 205 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about jewish Christianity and the Early Church?
Early Christian writers taught that Christianity was a new way that should not be treated as a form of Judaism, even while it grew out of Jewish Scripture and the Jewish people. Ignatius says it is “absurd to profess Christ Jesus and then follow Judaism,” while Justin, Irenaeus, Origen, and Tertullian all describe the early church as distinct from Jewish custom and separate from groups that wanted to keep the law as necessary for Christians.
The Bible passages most directly tied to this topic are Acts 15:1-5, Acts 11:19-26, Galatians 2:9-12, and 1 Thessalonians 2:14, which show real conflict over circumcision, food laws, and Gentile belonging in the first churches. The witness is broad and early, but it is also mixed in one important way: these authors often speak about Christians and Jews as closely related in history and Scripture, even while rejecting a return to Jewish law for the church.
Some cards are only background or polemical, so the main claim is strong on church distinctness and only indirect on later “Jewish Christian” groups. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Ignatius says Christians should not mix faith in Christ with keeping Judaism as a rule.
- Acts 15 shows an early dispute over whether Gentile believers had to be circumcised.
- Irenaeus, Origen, and Tertullian treat law-keeping Christianity as a problem when it is made necessary for all believers.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians say Christianity was distinct from Judaism?
Ignatius gives the clearest statement: Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism embraced Christianity. Origen and Tertullian also treat Christianity as a distinct movement, even when discussing its Jewish roots or similarity.
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians (Short Version) Direct teaching
... exist. Therefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to the principles of Christianity. For anyone called by any other name besides this is not of God. Lay aside the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be salted in Him, lest anyone among you becomes corrupted, since by your savor you will be judged. It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus and then follow Judaism. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism embraced Christianity, so that every tongue which believes might be gathered together to God.
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
...n the other hand, I indicated to you that many who belong to the pure and pious faith, and are true Christians, think differently. Moreover, I pointed out to you that some who are called Christians, but are godless, impious heretics, teach doctrines that are completely blasphemous, atheistical, and foolish. But to show that I’m not saying this just to you, I will prepare a statement of all the arguments that have passed between us, as best as I can, in which I will record myself as admitting the same things I admit to you. For I choose to follow not humans or human doctrines, but God and the doctrines delivered by Him. For if you have encountered some who are called Christians, but do not admit this truth, and dare to blaspheme the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; who say there is no resurrection of the dead, and that their souls, when they die, go to heaven; do not think they are Christians—just as one, if he would rightly consider it, would not accept that the Sadducees, or similar sects like the Genistæ, Meristæ, Galilæans, Hellenists, Pharisees, and Baptists, are Jews (do not listen impatiently when I tell you my thoughts), but are only called Jews
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
..., and who boast because of that that they are Christians, and yet would order their lives, like the Jewish multitude, according to the Jewish law. These are the twofold sect of Ebionites. They either acknowledge with us that Jesus was born of a virgin, or deny this and maintain that He was begotten like other human beings. What does that avail as a charge against those who belong to the Church, and whom Celsus has called those of the multitude? He adds also that certain of the Christians are believers in the Sibyl, probably because he misunderstood some who blamed those who believed in the existence of a prophetic Sibyl, and who called those who held this belief Sibyllists.
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Tertullian, Apology Background
...have answered well enough the charges of the many crimes on which these fierce demands are made for Christian blood. We have fully presented our case. We have shown how we can prove that what we say is true, from the trustworthiness and antiquity of our sacred writings, and also from the confession of the powers of spiritual wickedness themselves. Who will dare to refute us, not with skill in words, but, as we have made our demonstration, on the basis of reality? But while the truth we hold is made clear to all, unbelief meanwhile, even at the very time when it is convinced of the worth of Christianity, now well known both for its benefits and from the intercourse of life, takes up the idea that it is not really something divine, but rather a kind of philosophy. "These are the very things," it says, "that the philosophers advise and profess: innocence, justice, patience, sobriety, and chastity." Why then are we not allowed the same freedom and immunity for our teachings that they have, when we are compared with them in what we teach? Or why are they not also forced to the same acts, by refusing which our lives are put in danger, if they are so much like us? For who forces a phil
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Tertullian, Apology Supporting witness
And as Christianity is nearly allied to Judaism, from this, I suppose, it was taken for granted that we too are devoted to the worship of the same image.
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
and when they heard Him, they did not understand from His words the divinity that was in Him, and which transferred God's providential care, hitherto exercised over the Jews, to His converts from the heathen.
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Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness
For since they call in question all pious and apostolic doctrine, after the manner of the Jews, they have constructed a workshop for contending against Christ, denying the Godhead of our Saviour, and preaching that He is only the equal of all others.
Did the early Church have disputes about circumcision and Jewish customs?
Acts and Paul show that believers from Judaism debated whether Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep Moses' law. Origen and Irenaeus confirm that this controversy was remembered as a real early Church issue.
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Acts 15:5 Direct teaching
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
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Acts 15:1 Direct teaching
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
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Acts 11:26 Supporting witness
and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
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Galatians 2:9 Supporting witness
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Did early Christians warn against Judaizing?
Ignatius explicitly says it is absurd to profess Christ and then follow Judaism, and the long version says where Christianity is, Judaism cannot be. Other writers describe Judaizing tendencies as an error or a sign of weak doctrine.
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Acts 6:1 Supporting witness
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
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Acts 11:19 Supporting witness
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
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Acts 15:4 Supporting witness
And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.
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Acts 11:1 Supporting witness
Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
At all events, while the apostles were still preaching, and while eye-witnesses of (the works of) Jesus were still teaching His doctrine, there was no small discussion among the converts from Judaism regarding Gentile believers, on the point whether they ought to observe Jewish customs, or should reject the burden of clean and unclean meats, as not being obligatory on those who had abandoned their ancestral Gentile customs, and had become believers in Jesus.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
For when certain men had come down from Judea to Antioch—where also, first of all, the Lord’s disciples were called Christians, because of their faith in Christ—and sought to persuade those who had believed on the Lord to be circumcised, and to perform other things after the observance of the law;
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness
and [maintained] that the apostles preached the Gospel still somewhat under the influence of Jewish opinions, but that they themselves are purer [in doctrine], and more intelligent, than the apostles.
Common Questions
Did the early church require Christians to keep Jewish law?
No. Acts 15 and writers like Ignatius and Irenaeus show that many early Christians rejected making circumcision and Jewish law required for believers in Christ.
Did early Christians think Judaism and Christianity were the same?
No. Ignatius says Christianity did not embrace Judaism, and later writers treat the church as distinct, even while linked to Israel’s Scriptures.
Were there Jewish Christians in the first century?
Yes. Acts 15 and related passages show Jewish believers in Jesus, but they also show debate over whether Gentiles had to follow Jewish customs.
Source Index for Jewish Christianity and the Early Church
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 205 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 115
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 90
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
Related Resources
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The Ebionites and Jewish Christianity
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