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Introduction | Roman
paganism | Judaism
Paul the innovator | Triumph
of Christianity | Find out more
The story of the gradual transformation of paganism into Christianity starts with Judaism, which was basically the faith of Jesus's disciples and the other earliest Christians.
Despite the periodic upset, Judaism survived in the broader Roman society very well. However, the Jews' understanding of religion was very different from the pagans'.
One god
Judaism viewed itself as a sort of city or commonwealth on its own, with
just one god as its king. Hence its loyalty was exclusive: the followers of
this god were loyal to him and to him alone. Jews told stories about this divine
king, who was fundamentally loyal and benevolent to his followers, if strict
at times.
Being different
The divine king also had particular expectations of his 'chosen people',
mainly imparted through the laws of Moses. Observing these made the Jews quite
distinctive. Moral, dietary, temporal, dress and even physical differences followed,
which tended to make the Jews band ever more closely together. Perhaps the most
important law in this respect was endogamy – you had to marry your own.
As a result of these religious expectations, the Jews formed close-knit communities,
and loyalty to them was also expected.
Flexible, portable and indestructible
Central to Judaism at the time of Jesus was a set of scrolls – the
Talmud (the first five books of the Old Testament) and other works – and
regular meetings to discuss them and pray. Thus, because it was textually based,
Judaism was essentially flexible and portable. Despite the importance of the
temple in Jerusalem, which was in any case declining, the religion was not primarily
tied to a particular locale or temple like paganism, so it could relatively
easily survive their destruction.
Salvation
Judaism was a religion of salvation. Jews expected God to come and provide
a new heaven and a new earth that all the pious and righteous would enjoy when
resurrected from the dead. However, this great day had not yet taken place and
so current political and historical reversals of fortune, although galling,
did not ultimately matter. One simply had to be patient. Low status was not
a sign of failure.