https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zi5yeMvAQU
BM of the Last Days Watchman channel claims that because Christianity originated from Judaism, Christianity is actually Judaism, but is this view correct, or is Bob Mitchell deceived beyond belief?
Short answer: No, that claim isn’t correct in the way it’s being presented. It mixes a true historical fact with a false conclusion.
Let’s separate things carefully.
What is true
Christianity began within Judaism
Jesus was possibly Jewish.
His first followers were Jewish.
The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) are Jewish texts.
Early Christian beliefs developed in a Jewish Second Temple context.
So it is absolutely correct to say:
Christianity has Jewish origins.
No serious historian disputes that.
Where the claim goes wrong
Saying “Christianity is therefore a Jewish religion and not Christian at all” is a category error.
1. Origins ≠ Identity
Many movements originate within another tradition and later become distinct.
Examples:
Buddhism arose in a Hindu cultural world → it is not Hinduism.
Islam draws heavily on Jewish and Christian figures → it is not Judaism or Christianity.
Christianity arose within Judaism → it did not remain Judaism.
Origins do not define final identity.
2. Christianity explicitly separates itself from Judaism very early
By the 1st century, core Christian beliefs already diverged from Judaism in ways that Judaism itself rejected:
Key differences:
Jesus is the Messiah → Judaism says no
Jesus is divine / Son of God → Judaism rejects this
The New Covenant replaces or fulfills the Mosaic Law → Judaism rejects this
Salvation through faith in Christ, not Torah observance → Judaism rejects this
These are not minor differences; they are foundational.
3. The New Testament itself recognizes the split
Ironically, the Christian scriptures explicitly show Christianity becoming distinct:
Acts 15: Gentiles are not required to become Jews
Paul argues fiercely against requiring Torah observance for Christians
Early Christians stop requiring circumcision, kosher laws, and temple worship
If Christianity were simply “Judaism,” none of this would make sense.
4. Judaism does not consider Christianity a form of Judaism
From a Jewish theological perspective:
Christianity is viewed as a separate religion
Traditional Judaism classifies Christian beliefs (especially the Trinity and incarnation) as incompatible with Jewish monotheism
So the claim fails from both sides:
Christianity doesn’t define itself as Judaism
Judaism doesn’t accept Christianity as Judaism
Why some teachers make this claim
This idea often appears in:
Hebrew Roots / Torah-observant Christian movements
Anti-institutional or anti-church rhetoric
Attempts to delegitimize historic Christian doctrine
They often conflate:
“Jesus was Jewish” (true)
with“Christian theology is therefore Jewish theology” (false)
A more accurate statement
A historically sound formulation would be:
Christianity emerged from Jewish messianic expectations but became a distinct religion once it proclaimed Jesus as the divine Messiah and redefined covenant, law, and salvation.
That is the mainstream scholarly consensus.
Bottom line
✔ Christianity has Jewish roots
✖ Christianity is not Judaism
✖ Christianity is not “a Jewish religion pretending to be Christian”
- ✔ Christianity is a distinct religion that emerged from Judaism
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