Jewish Christianity

By John Collins

Book Description

In this thought-provoking exploration of religious history, scholar Matt Jackson-McCabe challenges one of the most fundamental assumptions in the study of early Christianity. He reveals how the very concept of "Jewish Christianity" emerged not from ancient sources, but from the minds of Enlightenment thinkers who sought to separate Christian identity from its Jewish roots.

Jackson-McCabe traces a fascinating intellectual journey, showing how English freethinkers developed this category as a tool to distinguish what they saw as authentic Christianity from the Jewish cultural context that surrounded Jesus and his earliest followers. This scholarly detective work exposes how modern concepts have shaped our understanding of ancient religious movements in ways that may obscure rather than illuminate historical truth.

The author demonstrates how this centuries-old framework continues to influence contemporary scholarship, creating obstacles for those seeking to understand the complex relationships between Jewish and Christian communities in antiquity. Rather than accepting inherited categories, he advocates for fresh approaches that recognize Christianity and Judaism as socially constructed identities that evolved over time.

For readers interested in the intersection of spirituality, history, and critical thinking, this work offers valuable insights into how our modern perspectives can both help and hinder our quest to understand the origins of religious traditions. Jackson-McCabe invites us to question assumptions and embrace more nuanced ways of exploring the past.