In the Early Church Judaizers

it held paul accused judaizers of teaching observance of law endorsed christ in gospels. relationship of paul of tarsus , judaism still disputed today. these groups taught people needed adhere law taught christ in order saved.

according eusebius history of church 4.5.3-4: first 15 bishops of jerusalem of circumcision , although in likelihood stating jewish christians (as opposed gentile christians), , observed biblical circumcision , rest of torah well.

the issue source of controversy in church, issue coming head during council of jerusalem. according account given in acts 15, determined gentile converts christianity did not have go through circumcision secure place in world come; in addressing second question whether or not should obey torah, encouraged gentiles abstain things sacrificed idols, , blood, , things strangled, , fornication,

paul addressed question in epistle galatians in condemned insisted circumcision had followed justification false believers (galatians 2:4):

but titus, me, not compelled circumcised, though greek. because of false believers secretly brought in, slipped in spy on freedom have in christ jesus, might enslave – did not submit them moment, truth of gospel might remain you. , supposed acknowledged leaders (what makes no difference me; god shows no partiality) – leaders contributed nothing me. on contrary, when saw had been entrusted gospel uncircumcised, peter had been entrusted gospel circumcised (for worked through peter making him apostle circumcised worked through me in sending me gentiles), , when james , cephas , john, acknowledged pillars, recognized grace had been given me, gave barnabas , me right hand of fellowship, agreeing should go gentiles , circumcised. asked 1 thing, remember poor, eager do. ... ourselves jews birth , not gentile sinners; yet know person justified not works of law through faith in jesus christ. , have come believe in christ jesus, might justified faith in christ, , not doing works of law, because no 1 justified works of law. (galatians 2:3–10, 15-16 nrsv)

also paul warned galatian church gentile christians submit circumcision alienated christ: 2 indeed i, paul, if become circumcised, christ profit nothing. 3 , testify again every man becomes circumcised debtor keep whole law. 4 have become estranged christ, attempt justified law; have fallen grace. (galatians 5:2–4). epistle titus 1:11, attributed paul, is, according biblical scholars, condemnation of these practices. paul against practice of circumcising oneself, , not law in torah, law circumcise 1 s son, hence why brings issue of abraham. commonly mistaken paul grouping of jewish law unrequired self-circumcision circumcision faction attempting press on fresh converts. paul says law upheld. (romans 2:13, 3:31, galatians 3:12).

the influence of judaizers in church diminished after destruction of jerusalem, when jewish-christian community @ jerusalem dispersed romans during great jewish revolt. romans dispersed jewish leadership in jerusalem in 135 during bar kokhba revolt. traditionally believed jerusalem christians waited out jewish–roman wars in pella in decapolis. these setbacks didn t mean end jewish christianity, more valerian s massacre of 258, (when killed christian bishops, presbyters, , deacons, including pope sixtus ii , antipope novatian , cyprian of carthage), meant end roman christianity.

circumcision of jesus, sculpture in cathedral of chartres.

christian groups following jewish practices never vanished, although had been designated heretical 5th century. old testament practices still adhered among gentiles day, including circumcision (see biblical law in christianity). coptic churches continue practice circumcision,. critics charge may reflect ancient egyptian influence or response culture of islamic majority (see abrahamic religions , circumcision controversy in christianity). in torah-submissive christian groups include ethiopian orthodox church, dietary laws , saturday sabbath observed well.

the jewish encyclopedia makes following observation:

r. emden (), in remarkable apology christianity contained in appendix seder olam (pp. 32b-34b, hamburg, 1752), gives opinion original intention of jesus, , of paul, convert gentiles 7 moral laws of noah , let jews follow mosaic law— explains apparent contradictions in new testament regarding laws of moses , sabbath.

coptic orthodox , ethiopian , eritrean orthodox churches continue practice male circumcision.

marcion

in 2nd century, marcion opposed judaizers. according 1911 encyclopædia britannica article on marcion:

it no mere school learned, disclosed no mysteries privileged, sought lay foundation of christian community on pure gospel, authentic institutes of christ. pure gospel, however, marcion found everywhere more or less corrupted , mutilated in christian circles of time. undertaking resolved reformation of christendom. reformation deliver christendom false jewish doctrines restoring pauline conception of gospel, paul being, according marcion, apostle had rightly understood new message of salvation delivered christ. in marcion s own view, therefore, founding of church—to first driven opposition—amounts reformation of christendom through return gospel of christ , paul; nothing accepted beyond that. of shows mistake reckon marcion among gnostics. dualist was, not gnostic.

but gnostics, marcion believed jewish god yahweh had created world, lesser in status unreachable higher god, , evil (see dualism). against view, irenaeus of lyons s against heresies 3.12 section 12 ridiculed think wiser apostles because still under jewish influence.

judaizing teachers

the judaizing teachers group of jewish christians taught converts christianity must first circumcised (i.e. become jewish through ritual of proselyte) in order observe law of moses (as oral traditions of authorities making proselyte ritual mandatory gentiles secure place in world come) in order justified. group active in church of 1st century ad prior destruction of temple of jerusalem in great jewish revolt. although such requirements may have made christianity less appealing religious choice gentiles, evidence afforded in paul s letter galatians exhibits significant number of galactic gentile converts appear readily disposed adopt these nomistic requirements; indeed, paul strenuously labors throughout letter (cf. gal 5:4; 4:21; 5:2,3) dissuade them doing so.

paul saw these teachers being both dangerous spread of christianity , propagators of grievous doctrinal error. many of letters included in new testament (the pauline epistles) contain considerable material disputing view of group , condemning practitioners. in 2 corinthians 11:5 , 12:11 called opponents super-apostles. also, in 2 corinthians 11:13-15, paul refers judaizers false apostles. paul publicly condemned peter seemingly ambivalent reaction judaizers, embracing them publicly in places concepts popular while holding private opinion teachings erroneous, example 1 cor 9:20–23.

the catholic encyclopedia: judaizers notes: paul, on other hand, not did not object observance of mosaic law, long did not interfere liberty of gentiles, conformed prescriptions when occasion required (1 corinthians 9:20). shortly after circumcised timothy (acts 16:1–3), , in act of observing mosaic ritual when arrested @ jerusalem (21:26 sqq.).

judaizing teachers more condemned in epistle of barnabas. (although did not become part of christian biblical canon, circulated among christians in first 2 centuries , part of apostolic fathers.) whereas paul acknowledged law of moses , observance when used correctly ( law good, if 1 uses lawfully , 1 tim 1:8), epistle of barnabas condemns jewish practices, claiming jews had grossly misunderstood , misapplied law of moses.