Meaning of JUDEO-CHRISTIANS

These are Christians from Judaism, in contrast to Christians from Gentiles.

In the transition period until the destruction of the Temple, Judeo-Christians followed the observance of the Law of Moses and the Temple ritual, as observed in the book of Acts.

However, they complied with the decision of the Council of Jerusalem regarding the freedom of Christians from the Gentiles (see COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM), by explicitly declaring that salvation was by the grace of God, which applied the value of death. of Christ to every believer in Him (cf. Acts 15:7-11).

The Epistle to the Hebrews was addressed to them to exhort them to stand firm in Christ, superior to all Jewish ritual and institutions, which were only a shadow of the spiritual realities in Christ (cf. Heb. 8:1-7, etc.; see HEBREWS [EPISTLE TO THE]).

It should not be confused, however, with "Judeo-Christians", who were Christians coming from Judaism, and who maintained their Jewish ways while being believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 21:17-24), but who recognized Christian freedom ( cf. Acts 21:25), with "Judaizers", who were all those, Jews or Gentiles, who considered the observance of circumcision and the Law necessary for salvation, in addition to faith in Christ (cf. Gal. 3 :1-18, etc., see GALATIANS [EPISTLE TO THE]).

Among the leaders of Judeo-Christianity were James, Cephas and John (cf. Gal. 2:9).