Why did the church disconnect from its Jewish heritage? How did it lose the idea that the Messiah would literally restore Israel and rule for 1,000 years? These questions go hand in hand with why the church became persecuted.

If you missed Part 1 of this series, you can catch up here.

The Church Abandons the Jewish People

As the decades passed after Jesus’ ascension, Roman oppression began to interfere with Jewish life in Judea. The Jewish people suffered heavy taxation, unfair tariffs, favoritism towards aristocracy, and the corrupt priesthood. Finally, they had endured enough and openly revolted against Rome. A loose and somewhat antagonistic confederacy formed among all notable factions—except one. The early church, now with some established Gentile members, believed they were seeing the times that Jesus had prophesied. This would end in disaster.

Almost to a man, the Christians fled Jerusalem, many heading for Petra. Judea became embroiled in open revolt, and despite some early, shocking Jewish victories, Rome’s might ultimately prevailed. Many Jewish people had been slaughtered, and livelihoods were lost. But perhaps just as terrible in the Jewish mind, the Temple had been destroyed. The defeat was total. The significance of the Christian “sect’s” absence had not gone unnoticed either.

As the Jewish representation in the church declined, some of the unique Jewish thought and mindset disappeared.

When the Jewish people were slowly admitted back into Jerusalem, many Christians also returned. However, the church included more Gentiles now. The Jewish people viewed them with more suspicion, as these Christians had not been fellow collaborators. A gulf was widening.

Because Jewish representation in the church declined, some of the unique Jewish thought and mindset disappeared. The church sadly failed to realize it was losing vital heritage and perspective. These believers only seemed to retain that they, the faithful of God, had maintained that aforementioned “unbroken line” back to Abraham and that the Messiah would return to set up His Kingdom. As the faithful of God, they would gain the inheritance.

Jewish Heritage Erased

As the decades again flew by, more Gentiles joined the fold. More Jewish thought and perspective was lost. The Jewish people weren’t completely without representation, but their numbers dwindled.

Then came the Bar Kochba Revolt in AD 132. The Jewish people were oppressed again, but now they had a brilliant and charismatic leader: Simon Bar Kochba. Simon was hailed as the Messiah who would liberate the Jewish people and restore the land of Israel.

Immediately, the Christians rejected Simon Bar Kochba as the Messiah. They would have no part in this revolt. Once again fleeing to safer areas, the “faithful of God” sat this one out. As before, the Jewish people scored some impressive victories early on. Simon set up a provisional government and even minted coins.

Unfortunately, Rome again descended upon the rebellious province in overwhelming force. The Judean countryside was devastated. Tens of thousands of Jewish people were killed; many others were enslaved and forcibly relocated. But Rome wanted to impose further humiliation to ensure the Jewish people would never forget the consequences. The Romans renamed Judea after the Jewish people’s historical enemies, the Philistines; hence, they coined the name Palestine. They leveled Jerusalem entirely and rebuilt it as a pagan city called Aelia Capitolina. 

The Romans renamed Judea after the Jewish people’s historical enemies, the Philistines; hence, they coined the name Palestine.

The period of the Jewish Diaspora technically began after the first revolt, but now it had government backing, and many Jewish people were dispersed throughout the Roman Empire. However, this time the devastation had brought contemplation to the Jewish mind and the church. What was the Jewish people’s place in God’s plan? What was God trying to show His people? Indeed, who were His people?

To the onlooker, it seemed something had gone horribly wrong. The Jewish person’s world had collapsed. The Temple was gone. The priesthood was gone. Only the rabbis and sages remained, and they were puzzled. How had they been so badly mistaken? How had they erred with their thinking?

Judaism was in crisis. From this crisis arose new schools of Jewish thought to answer these questions. In Jewish minds, the older ways of understanding lacked coherence and unity. The old system and understanding had failed them. Judaism had now struck out on a different path. If the Jewish people were to survive, they needed to adapt. 

The Jewish-Christian Split

Where was the church in all of this? The church had observed similar things. The beliefs and mindsets of the Jewish people had failed them. The way that the Jewish people had understood the coming of the Messiah had been misplaced; they had made the wrong choice. Something was inherently wrong with Jewish ideals.

The church believed the Jewish people were to be pitied and prayed for. It was hoped that they, along with others, would come to know the truth of Jesus as taught through His church. They would be welcomed with open arms if they became Christians. They would also be heirs of the promise of the “faithful of God” and the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16).

As the years moved along, more Gentiles entered the church. With them came Western thought and philosophy. Jewish thought prevailed only in limited areas, and by then it wasn’t even recognized as Jewish. As Judaism peeled off into its own new world, jettisoning problematic teachings, the church likewise diverged to forge its own destiny. Doubtlessly, a number of believers had not forsaken their ancient roots, but their influence was minimal.

In light of the perceived failures of literalism, more thought was given to allegory. It appealed to the intellect and was admirably used to fend off pagan influence. It also managed to gain Rome’s ire. No longer could Christianity be viewed as a Jewish sect. The Christians were seen as a new phenomenon subject to inquisition and persecution. As these Christians soon showed that they would not bow to Caesar, the Romans’ suspicions were justified. The split between the Jewish people and Christians was complete.

Holy Scripture remained very much revered at this point. The church bishops by and large were very clear on certain issues, one being that a person cannot work his way into heaven. However, the pragmatic approach of the Jewish mind was missing. The connection was gone because it was viewed as leading to error. By the time Athanasius of Alexandria attended the Great Council of Nicea in 325, the idea that the biological descendants of Abraham were still God’s Chosen People was gone. It wasn’t that the church had “replaced” Israel; in their minds, the church was the continuation of Israel. Even today, the Eastern Orthodox Church avoids using the word replaced, whereas much more recent denominations use that word.

Thus, the literal meaning of Israel—and the great promise of the Millennial Kingdom—became tragically superseded.

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About the Author

Tim Harrison

Tim Harrison is General Maintenance and Grounds Keeper for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. He is involved in many of FOI's program ministries including teaching Bible for FOI Equip, a free online learning resource.