Was Jesus a Jew?

[aChristian]

The answer is yes and no.

The word "Jew" has several meanings; it refers to ethnicity on the one hand and religion on the other. Is Jesus an ethnic Jew? Of course, because he is a descendant of Jacob the son of Isaac. But is he a religious Jew? No, because he does not share the faith of the general (Talmudic) Jewish faith but the Christian faith. Jesus clearly shows his dislike for Judaism in the New Testament, he calls the Pharisees, the great scholars in Judaism to which Gamaliel belonged, devil worshippers (John 8:44).

In Christianity, Bible figures such as Jesus, Moses and King David are ethnic Jews but not religious Jews. If Moses were alive today, he would be praying in a church and wearing a cross necklace.

 

[rosends]

Jesus was, if the gospels are to be believed, the son of a Jewish woman, making him a Jew. He also quoted Pharisaic teachings and told his followers to do as Pharisees teach (even if the Pharisees, themselves, don't follow their own teachings). He had a knowledge of Jewish law and reasoning. Moses and David were very religious in their spirituality and their adherence to Jewish law. If Moses was alive today, he'd be very old, but a very old Jew, praying in a synagogue.

 

[PureX]

Jesus was a Jew and he stayed a Jew. But his message and promise wasn't just for his fellow Jews. And Jews then and now are not evangelical. They don't believe anyone has to be a Jew to find their place with God. So Jesus was not claiming anyone had to become a Jew, nor would he claim anyone has to become a religious Christian, today. The revelation, example, and promise of Christ is for everyone, regardless of their religion or lack of it.

Unfortunately we humans like to turn everything, including their religion into a contest with winners and losers, and lose sight of the true gift of Christ as a result.

 

[Windwalker]

But is he a religious Jew? No, because he does not share the faith of the general (Talmudic) Jewish faith but the Christian faith. Jesus clearly shows his dislike for Judaism in the New Testament, he calls the Pharisees, the great scholars in Judaism to which Gamaliel belonged, devil worshippers (John 8:44).

In Christianity, Bible figures such as Jesus, Moses and King David are ethnic Jews but not religious Jews. If Moses were alive today, he would be praying in a church and wearing a cross necklace.

Well, one could make the simple counter argument that all those whom Jesus countered were the ones who were not truly practicing the religion. They were just being religious, not being spiritual. True religion is a religion of the heart in other words.

If all anyone does is adhere to the external forms, and has no internal realization and transformation, they are "religious but not spiritual", and therefore not following true religion. True religion transcends religiousness, might be another way to put this.

 

[mangalavara]

In Christianity, Bible figures such as Jesus, Moses and King David are ethnic Jews but not religious Jews. If Moses were alive today, he would be praying in a church and wearing a cross necklace.

Keep it up. Someday, you’ll start researching why Judaism rejects Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah. Then, you’ll become a Noahide and fall in love with Judaism.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

The answer is yes and no.

The word "Jew" has several meanings; it refers to ethnicity on the one hand and religion on the other. Is Jesus an ethnic Jew? Of course, because he is a descendant of Jacob the son of Isaac. But is he a religious Jew? No, because he does not share the faith of the general (Talmudic) Jewish faith but the Christian faith. Jesus clearly shows his dislike for Judaism in the New Testament, he calls the Pharisees, the great scholars in Judaism to which Gamaliel belonged, devil worshippers (John 8:44).

In Christianity, Bible figures such as Jesus, Moses and King David are ethnic Jews but not religious Jews. If Moses were alive today, he would be praying in a church and wearing a cross necklace.

Halakha (Jewish law) defines a Jew as anyone born of a Jewish mom or who has made a formal conversion to Judaism. Since Mary was a Jew, that would make Jesus a Jew. Jews make no distinction between born jews and converts -- indeed halakha forbids even asking a Jew if they are a convert.

Jews are a tribal people, an ethnicity, not a race, and not a religion. Although we do HAVE a religion. Some Jews follow that religion, and some Jews don't.

 

[DNB]

The answer is yes and no.

The word "Jew" has several meanings; it refers to ethnicity on the one hand and religion on the other. Is Jesus an ethnic Jew? Of course, because he is a descendant of Jacob the son of Isaac. But is he a religious Jew? No, because he does not share the faith of the general (Talmudic) Jewish faith but the Christian faith. Jesus clearly shows his dislike for Judaism in the New Testament, he calls the Pharisees, the great scholars in Judaism to which Gamaliel belonged, devil worshippers (John 8:44).

In Christianity, Bible figures such as Jesus, Moses and King David are ethnic Jews but not religious Jews. If Moses were alive today, he would be praying in a church and wearing a cross necklace.

Jesus was both an ethnic Jew, as his genealogy is clearly stipulated in Scripture. But, obviously, he was a religious Jew also, as his claim to fulfill the Law demonstrates his devotion and reverence for the Mosaic Law. Also, he continuously cited Old Testament text and the patriarchs as grounds for both his purpose, and his acting under the auspices of God.

Raising the point about the Talmud is anachronistic, obviously, as its formation did not occur until two centuries after Christ's death.

Jesus did not call all Jews devil worshippers, only a very selected few, namely those who wanted to persecute and kill him. He was friendly towards Nicodemus, and the New testament states that many Jews believed in him during his lifetime. He told his disciple to initially only preach to the lost children of Israel, and told the Syrophoenician woman that he came to serve the Jews (paraphrase), and told the Samaritan woman by the well, that only the Jews know who they worship and that salvation is from the Jews.

Jesus revealed himself to Paul, 'a Pharisee of Pharisees', and empowered and protected him during his evangelization period.
Jesus, for all intents and purposes, was a Jew who's words that 'not one jot or tittle will fall away from the Law, until all is revealed' exhibits the fact that he was the only perfect Jew that ever lived - it was he who fulfilled every precept of the law, particularly loving God with all his heart, mind and soul.

 

[DNB]

Jesus was a Jew and he stayed a Jew. But his message and promise wasn't just for his fellow Jews. And Jews then and now are not evangelical. They don't believe anyone has to be a Jew to find their place with God. So Jesus was not claiming anyone had to become a Jew, nor would he claim anyone has to become a religious Christian, today. The revelation, example, and promise of Christ is for everyone, regardless of their religion or lack of it.

Unfortunately we humans like to turn everything, including their religion into a contest with winners and losers, and lose sight of the true gift of Christ as a result.

Jesus died for a reason, his death was not in vain that whether one believes in him or not, they will gain the approbation of God.
Jesu said that no one comes to the Father, the only true God, unless via him.
You must accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour in order to be saved, according to Christian Biblical dogma.

 

[syo]

Jesus is myth. He isn't an historical figure. Never was.

 

[Palehorse]

The answer is yes and no.

The word "Jew" has several meanings; it refers to ethnicity on the one hand and religion on the other. Is Jesus an ethnic Jew? Of course, because he is a descendant of Jacob the son of Isaac. But is he a religious Jew? No, because he does not share the faith of the general (Talmudic) Jewish faith but the Christian faith. Jesus clearly shows his dislike for Judaism in the New Testament, he calls the Pharisees, the great scholars in Judaism to which Gamaliel belonged, devil worshippers (John 8:44).

In Christianity, Bible figures such as Jesus, Moses and King David are ethnic Jews but not religious Jews. If Moses were alive today, he would be praying in a church and wearing a cross necklace.

Jesus was a Jew...Jesus was also a bunch of mexicans...CHRIST...was born immaculate conception...whatever that is...

 

[Dawah]

Jesus was like all prophets devoted to God Allah alone and so he was a muslim, because islam means devotion in arabic.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

Jesus was like all prophets devoted to God Allah alone and so he was a muslim, because islam means devotion in arabic.

To be a Muslim you have to be able to say, "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad was his prophet." Jesus was unable to make such a profession since he lived before Muhammad. Thus, Jesus cannot be a Muslim.