Replies

Then in the late fourth century a nasty split developed between Jews and Christians after John Chrysostomos, a bishop from Antioch, decried the "Judaizers" (apparently those who celebrated both Christian and Jewish holidays). Everything I wrote above is based on the television program, "Kindom of David," which was shown on "public" television a couple of nights ago. And no, I don't take as gospel anything I hear on public TV. So anyone who knows better, please correct the above.

The disputes do go back farther than that, to the late 1st century C.E. After the destruction of the second temple at the hands of the Romans in 70 C.E., Jews were upset that the Nazarene sect had not assisted in the resistance. Further, by the 90's the theological divide was becoming more marked. Nazarenes were upset that the Jews were not accepting Jesus as the messiah, and the idea that he would be returning. Jews were alarmed at the evolving Christology of the Nazarenes, which was turning Jesus from a rabbi and messianic claimant into a godlike figure. By the 90s C.E., Christians were no longer welcome in the synagogues, and Jews were subject to greater criticism in Christian writings.

This animosity did not last permanently, though. At the time John Chrysostom became bishop of Antioch, he was horrified to find Jews and Christians living in fellowship, and began his campaign against the "Judaizers". This continued into the councils of the 4th century, and became the official position of the church.

OK, thanks.

Wasn't it mainly the Zealots who were "upset that the Nazarene sect had not assisted in the resistance"?

The Zealots were upset (to put it mildly) with more than just the Nazarenes -- Johanan ben Zakkai and his group (Pharisees?) were also targeted, for example.

So as far as I know (and I admit I don't know much), early relations between Nazarenes and other Jewish groups weren't especially strained, with perhaps the exception of the Zealots.