At a Glance
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Judaism
Covenant faithfulness, Torah observance, and repentance
GodOne God — no Trinity, no Son, no incarnation
ScriptureThe Torah and Talmud — the New Testament is rejected
JesusA false prophet — not the Messiah, not divine
SalvationCovenant faithfulness + repentance + good works
AtonementAnimal sacrifice (historical); prayer and repentance now
SinMan has a good and evil inclination — free will to choose
The MessiahStill to come — a political, earthly deliverer
EternityOlam Ha-Ba (the World to Come) — focus is on this life
PrayerTo God alone, in Hebrew, through the synagogue liturgy
AssuranceNot a central concern — focus is on obedience now
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Sovereign Grace
God alone saves, by grace alone, through Christ alone
AuthorityScripture alone — Sola Scriptura
GodThe triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
SalvationGrace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone
JustificationComplete, instantaneous, eternal — Romans 5:1
AtonementFinished once for all at Calvary — John 19:30
JesusGod the Son, crucified, risen, and reigning
EternityHeaven or hell — by God’s sovereign grace
AssuranceThe believer may and ought to know he is saved — 1 John 5:13
The ChurchAll elect believers; no earthly headquarters
PrayerTo God alone through Christ alone — 1 Tim 2:5
Detailed Doctrine-by-Doctrine Comparison
Topic
Judaism Teaches
Scripture Teaches
God & the Trinity
JudaismJudaism affirms strict monotheism. God is one and indivisible. The Christian Trinity is considered polytheism or idolatry. God has no Son in any literal sense. The incarnation is impossible.
GraceThe one God of Scripture eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Old Testament itself reveals the plurality of persons in the Godhead — Let us make man in our image (Genesis 1:26). Christ declared, Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58).
Jesus as Messiah
JudaismJudaism rejects Jesus as the Messiah. He did not fulfil the messianic prophecies (rebuild the Temple, gather all Jews to Israel, bring universal peace). His death on a cross, under Roman law, disqualifies him as a candidate. The Messiah is still awaited.
GraceJesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament, foretold by Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms. His suffering and death were themselves prophesied: He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). He rose from the dead, as the Scriptures foretold.
Scripture & Authority
JudaismThe Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) is authoritative Scripture. The Talmud, compiled by the Rabbis, is the authoritative interpretation of the Torah and governs Jewish life. The New Testament is rejected entirely as a human fabrication.
GraceThe entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God. The New Testament is the fulfilment, not the contradiction, of the Old. All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Christ said, Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me (John 5:39).
Sin & Human Nature
JudaismMan possesses both a good inclination (yetzer hatov) and an evil inclination (yetzer hara). These are in constant conflict, and man’s task is to strengthen the good. There is no doctrine of original sin in the Augustinian sense.
GraceMan fell in Adam and is now born with a corrupt nature, wholly unable to do spiritual good. There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God (Romans 3:10–11). This is not merely a tendency to evil — it is death.
Salvation & Atonement
JudaismSalvation in Judaism is not primarily about personal deliverance from sin and hell but about covenant faithfulness. Atonement was historically through the Temple sacrifices. Since the Temple’s destruction in AD 70, atonement is through prayer, repentance, and righteous deeds — particularly on Yom Kippur.
GraceAll the Temple sacrifices pointed forward to the one perfect sacrifice of Christ, who offered himself without spot to God. Without shedding of blood is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The Temple sacrifices are now abolished in him.
The Messiah
JudaismThe Messiah, when he comes, will be a human political leader — a descendant of David — who will gather all Jews to the land of Israel, rebuild the Temple, bring universal peace, and usher in an era of knowledge of God. He will not be divine.
GraceThe promised Messiah has come. He is Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, who fulfilled over 300 messianic prophecies. His first coming was to redeem his people from sin. His second coming will be in glory to judge the living and the dead. Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
Eternity
JudaismJudaism’s primary focus is on this world and on righteous living in the present age. The World to Come (Olam Ha-Ba) exists in Jewish theology but is not as central as in Christianity. There is no developed doctrine of hell equivalent to the Christian teaching.
GraceScripture declares the certainty of heaven and hell, resurrection and judgment. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matthew 25:46). The focus of Christian hope is the resurrection of the body and eternal life with God.