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== Christianity vs. Judaism ==
Christianity and Judaism are two Abrahamic, monotheistic religions that share common origins in the Middle East.<ref name="ref1" /><ref name="ref2" /> Christianity originated as a sect within Second Temple Judaism during the first century CE.<ref name="ref3" /> While both faiths worship the God of Abraham, there are fundamental theological distinctions between them.<ref name="ref1" /><ref name="ref4" /> 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.<ref name="ref1" /><ref name="ref5" />

=== Comparison Table ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Category !! Judaism !! Christianity
|-
| '''Nature of God'''
| God is a single, indivisible entity.<ref name="ref3" /> 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.<ref name="ref1" />
|-
| '''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.<ref name="ref3" /> || Jesus is the Messiah who fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.<ref name="ref1" /> 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.<ref name="ref3" /> || 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.<ref name="ref1" />
|-
| '''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.<ref name="ref3" /> 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.<ref name="ref1" />
|}

[[File:Venn_diagram_Differences_between_Christianity_versus_Judaism_comparison.png|thumb|center|800px|alt=Venn diagram for Differences between Christianity and Judaism|Venn diagram comparing Differences between Christianity and Judaism]]

=== Concept of God ===
Judaism professes a belief in the strict oneness of God.<ref name="ref3" /> 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.

<ref name="ref1" />=== Scriptures ===
Both religions hold the Hebrew Bible as sacred scripture, though Christians refer to it as the Old Testament. The<ref name="ref1" /> 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<ref name="ref3" /> does not recognize the New Testament as scripture. Additionally,<ref name="ref3" /> 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<ref name="ref1" /> 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<ref name="ref1" /> Judaism, Jesus is often seen as a historical figure, a teacher, or a prophet, but not as the Messiah. Jewish<ref name="ref1" /> 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.

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="ref1">[https://www.gotquestions.org/difference-Christianity-Judaism.html "gotquestions.org"]. Retrieved November 12, 2025.</ref>
<ref name="ref2">[https://www.islamicspain.tv/interfaith-coexistence/beliefs-and-common-stories/ "islamicspain.tv"]. Retrieved November 12, 2025.</ref>
<ref name="ref3">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_Judaism "wikipedia.org"]. Retrieved November 12, 2025.</ref>
<ref name="ref4">[https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-the-Jewish-and-the-Christian-God "quora.com"]. Retrieved November 12, 2025.</ref>
<ref name="ref5">[https://reformjudaism.org/learning/answers-jewish-questions/what-are-main-differences-between-jew-and-christian "reformjudaism.org"]. Retrieved November 12, 2025.</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Comparisons]]

Differences between Christianity and Judaism - Revision history

Dwg: Article written and Venn diagram created.