Why were early Christians expelled from the Synagogue?

[Elijah John]

Why were early Christians expelled from the Synagogue?

For believing Jesus is the Messiah?

For believing Jesus is God?

Or both?

[shnarkle]

[Replying to post 1 by Elijah John]

The gospels and the book of Acts remain our most detailed source of information about first century Christianity (The gospel of John has been dated by some as early as the end of the first century). If we hold to the bible narrative the Chrstians were viewed as Jewish Apostates promoting rebellion against the law. The religious leaders evrntually threatened anyone accepting Jesus as the Messiah with expulsion.

It's interesting that Paul corrects this misinterpretation, not only by his own letters, but in his actions as well. He points out that the law is NOT done away with at all, but simply the "curse" or that "which was added because of transgressions" and only for those who no longer sin.

The problem is essentially in their insistance that Christ had arrived, and they not only missed it, but were instrumental in carrying out his murder. The other problem was in that this new sect of Judaism was proactive in acquiring new converts so they were taking over. The acts of the Apostles documents the whole town coming out to the synagogue on the Sabbath just to hear Paul speak.

[brianbbs67]

Here's a good history of the breakup from the New World Encyclopedia. I think they have Paul wrong, but the history is sound. Rome, gentiles, took over the faith after Jerusalem fell as the center. And have mislead the world ever since.

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/ent ... Christians