This is a complex theological question that has been debated for centuries. While Jews and Christians share some fundamental beliefs about God, there are also significant differences in how He is understood and worshipped within the two faiths.
Shared Beliefs About God
Jews and Christians both believe in one omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God who created the universe. This sets them apart from polytheistic faiths that believe in multiple gods.
The God of the Hebrew Bible known as YHWH, or Yahweh, is recognized by both Jews and Christians as the one true God. Yahweh made a covenant with Abraham, the patriarch of the Jewish people, and promised that through his descendants all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).
Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah promised throughout the Old Testament. So in essence, Christians worship the same God that spoke to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As Jesus said, “salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22).
The ethical and moral teachings of Judaism and Christianity overlap significantly. Both emphasize care for the poor, oppressed, and marginalized. The Ten Commandments and the Great Commandment to love God and neighbor are central to both faiths.
In short, Christians and Jews worship the God who created the universe, established a covenant with Israel, and demanded moral righteousness from His followers. He is understood as just, merciful, and actively involved in human history in both religions.
Differences in Concepts of God
However, Jews and Christians diverge in how they understand God’s identity and requirements for right relationship with Him.
While Christians believe Jesus is God incarnate (John 1:1, 14), Jews see this as incompatible with monotheism. Jews reject the Christian concept of the Trinity—God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For Jews, God is absolutely one.
related to this, Jews do not see Jesus as divine. Belief in a messiah figure is fundamental to Judaism, but he is human, not God. Jews do not accept the Christian claim that Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the messiah.
Judaism traditionally emphasizes obeying the Law of Moses as key to righteousness and holiness before God. Christians believe people are made righteous through faith in Christ, not by works of the Law (Galatians 2:16).
Jewish worship is grounded in the synagogue and practices like daily prayer, Sabbath rest, and Torah study. Christian worship revolves around Jesus’ death and resurrection, enacted through baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The two faiths have very different symbols and rituals.
God’s requirements for salvation differ between the two faiths. For Christians, belief in Christ is necessary. For Jews, righteousness comes through keeping the Law’s commandments. Both cannot be fully true.
Implications of the Differences
The divergent views of God have significant implications for interfaith relations. While mutual respect is possible, Jews cannot accept the central Christian claim that Jesus was God incarnate. And Christians cannot deny their belief that Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6).
For Jews, the worship of Jesus as divine is idolatry. But Christians see knowing Christ as the only way to truly know the God of Abraham. This creates an irreconcilable theological difference between the two religions.
Despite sharing common roots and ethical values, Jews and Christians have fundamentally different perspectives on the identity of God, the path to righteousness, and the nature of worship. Though there is some overlap in beliefs, the divergence is deep and reflects radically different systems of theology.
In the end, Christians see God’s supreme self-revelation coming through Christ and the New Testament. Jews find God in the Torah, prophets, and wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible. The God worshipped by each is shaped largely by these different texts.
So in essence, Jews and Christians understand God differently based on disparate scriptures, commandments, rituals, and beliefs about salvation. Though there is shared history and ethical values, the theologies of the two faiths virtually render them distinct deities under the same name.
Passages on Jewish-Christian Differences
Several biblical passages highlight the key differences between Judaism and Christianity on how God is understood and worshipped:
- “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) – Jesus claims divinity.
- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) – Sonship of Christ and need for faith.
- “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” (John 14:6) – Exclusivity of Christ.
- “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20) – Righteousness is through faith, not law.
- “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Romans 3:28) – Faith versus law.
- “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” (Romans 8:7) – Christians not required to follow the Law of Moses.
While Jews and Christians share belief in the God of Abraham,differences in conceptions of God, worship, salvation, and scripture have significant theological implications. Though there is common ground, discrepancies in how God is understood make it difficult to equate the deities worshipped by Jews and Christians.
Historical Jewish Perspectives on Christianity
Throughout history, Jewish thinkers have interacted with and critiqued Christian concepts about God from a Jewish theological perspective. Here are some overview thoughts on different time periods:
Second Temple Judaism:
The earliest Jewish followers of Jesus continued practicing Judaism, but over time the Jesus movement became increasingly distinct. Some Jewish critiques during the late Second Temple period focused on the novelty of the incarnation concept and the abrogation of the Mosaic Law.
Middle Ages:
Medieval Jewish apologists like Saadia Gaon and Maimonides argued forcefully against the incarnation, though they affirmed ethical common ground. They articulated Jewish principles like God’s oneness and incorporeality in contrast to Christian critiques.
19th-20th Century:
Modern Jewish thinkers sought to reclaim Jewish concepts of God, oftencritiquing Christian supersessionism. Thinkers like Franz Rosenzweig, Martin Buber and Abraham Heschel articulated theologies focused on God’s interpersonal revelation rather than philosophical concepts.
Today:
Current Jewish theologians like Irving Greenberg and Michael Wyschogrod continue to critique Christology while exploring new interfaith paradigms. Some focus on ethical monotheism as a shared foundation while articulating distinctly Jewish theological viewpoints.
In general, Jewish thinkers throughout history have seen Trinitarian theology and incarnation as fundamentally incompatible with Judaism’s view of God’s oneness. Yet some in the modern era have found ethical and philosophical common ground while still maintaining theological distinction.
Common Objections from Jews
Here are some common Jewish objections to equating the Christian and Jewish Gods:
- Violates monotheism – The Trinity and divinity of Christ are seen as compromising absolute monotheism.
- Incarnation is impossible – God cannot take human form according to Jewish theology.
- Jesus cannot be the messiah – He did not fulfill traditional Jewish messianic prophecies.
- Righteousness is through the Law – Keeping commandments, not faith in Christ, leads to holiness.
- Supersessionism is false – Christians wrongly claim the church has replaced Israel in God’s covenant plan.
These objections center around critiques of Christology and soteriology from a Jewish monotheistic framework. They argue that the differences in conceiving of God and salvation prevent equivalence between Jewish and Christian understandings of God.
Common Objections from Christians
Here are some common Christian objections to equating the Jewish and Christian Gods:
- Rejects Jesus as God – Judaism denies what Christianity sees as God’s supreme self-revelation in Christ.
- Misunderstands messianic prophecies – Jesus fulfilled prophecies a Jewish messiah would according to the New Testament.
- Salvation requires Christ – Christians believe knowing Christ is the only way to salvation.
- Mosaic Law fulfilled in Christ – Christians see the Law as fulfilled, not binding on believers today.
- Worship regulated by Scripture – Christian worship regulated by the Bible, which Jews reject.
These objections center around Jewish rejection of Jesus’ divinity and the New Testament. Christians see knowing Christ as essential to knowing God fully. They believe Jews have an incomplete picture without accepting Christ as messiah and God.
Paths Forward for Interfaith Relations
Despite the significant theological differences outlined above, there are several promising paths forward for Jewish-Christian interfaith relations:
- Affirm shared ethical values – Both faiths share strong ethics around justice, compassion, etc. that can be jointly pursued.
- Collaborate on social issues – There are many opportunities for Jews and Christians to work together advancing social concerns.
- Develop meaningful friendships – Genuine relationships across faith lines help break down barriers.
- Honest, respectful dialogue – Discussing differences openly while affirming dignity and worth builds understanding.
- Focus on common roots – Recognizing shared heritage and scriptures can provide context for examining differences.
No consensus on theological equivalence is likely soon. But affirming common values, collaborating for good, and fostering mutual understanding provide a way forward in Jewish-Christian relations centered on respect for faith differences.