An Intellectual History of
Judaism and Christianity

HILR Fall 2015

SGL: B Ruml


11. Three “Other” Christianities

What's the main difference between Judaism and Christianity?

cosmic monism v. cosmic dualism

What's another major difference between Judaism and Christianity?

belief is required for efficacy

The Apostolic Council (c. 50 CE)

  • Gentiles should not follow the Law.

Matthew 5:17-20

  • The commandments must be followed.
  • Who was the audience?

Matthew 19:17

  • The rich man is told to keep the commandments.
  • Was the rich man Jewish?

The Ebionites: Jewish Christians

  • Jesus was (the human) messiah adopted by God.
  • Resurrected and exhalted to heaven.
  • Aramaic Gospel of Matthew (no virgin birth).
  • Harmonized Gospel of the Ebionites.
  • Against continued sacrifices (vegetarians?).

The Marcionites (Marcion active 140-160)

  • Pauline.
  • Two Gods: the Hebrew creator God who gave Moses the Law; the God of Jesus who came into the world with Jesus;
  • Jesus was not part of the material world; only appeared to be human;
  • The first canon: 10 letters of Paul and redacted Luke;
  • Extremely successful.

The Gospel of Thomas

  • Like Q, a collection of sayings;
  • Ehrman argues that it's Gnostic;

Gnosticism

  • Next step beyond apocalypticism?
  • An evil material world;
  • Salvation comes from the knowledge of one's divine origins;
  • Jesus brings that secret knowledge;
  • Only to the elect who have the divine spark within them.

Revising the role of Messiah

What were the consequences of a requirement of belief?

Was this a good thing?

See you next week!