Who Were the Judaizers?
Despite its ubiquitous usage in the church, the word "Judaizer" is only found once in the New Testament, in Galatians 2:14. In its broadest sense, a "Judaizer" is a pejorative label given to someone who influences others to observe some form of Jewish religious lifestyle.
Despite its ubiquitous usage in the church, the word "Judaizer" is only found once in the New Testament, in Galatians 2:14. In its broadest sense, a "Judaizer" is a pejorative label given to someone who influences others to observe some form of Jewish religious lifestyle.
Through the lens of Jewish and Christian conflict, this dichotomy often portrays "Judaizers" as Jewish people who try to persuade Christians to convert, and/or encourage observance of the Mosaic law. For many Pastors, this appears to undermine the 'freedom of the Gospel'.
Leveraging this idea, many church fathers have painted the Jewish people in an overwhelmingly negative light. Though we know Christianity did not exist when the book of Galatians was written, we'll seek to identify the "Judaizers" within the context of a synagogue community.
"Jews"
We should address a few important distinctions. The word for "Jew" (ioudaios) in the New Testament has itself been under academic debate with many scholars calling for a technically accurate translation that reflects the wide range of socio-political, and religious meanings. This has been discussed in this article.
Antagonists of Paul
Another distinction is that there may have been a few groups opposed to the work of Paul, and for different reasons, thus giving the unified perception of Judaizing. They are;
1) Some Jews. Likely some of the Pharisees affiliated with the school of Shammai, who may have maintained a distance from Gentiles as a means of preserving ritual purity. Pagan Gentiles would have incurred a high degree of impurity (tumah) through their participation in the Roman cultic practices, which would be problematic for a religious Jew. Peter himself reflects a similar assumption in Acts 10 upon meeting Cornelius.
We cannot understate the importance of purity at this time. This was a predominant factor in the disputes held between the (2) schools of Pharisees¹. The apostles themselves had a similar debate, the end result of which yielded the restrictions of the Jerusalem Council², which were centered around matters of purity.
2) Some Gentiles. The second group seems to have been Gentiles (some proselytes) who encouraged other Gentile followers to formal conversion to Judaism. This group seems to include Gentiles who were not aligned with the Jesus movement, yet were in the synagogue community; and even Proselytes (Gentiles who formally converted to Judaism).
It is this latter group we will focus on.
Gentile Judaizers
In his book, "The Irony of Galatians", Dr. Mark Nanos makes a compelling case that the members of the community persuading conversions [to Judaism] are a party of Gentile converts. Dr. Nanos calls them the "Influencers".
Observing a similar theme, Josephus refers to this group as "Sympathizers", and sometimes "Judaizers". He writes that the "Judaizers" were at one point in every city in Syria⁵. Even after the Jews were exiled from Roman cities, Josephus tells us that these Judaizers remained, continuing their campaign amid the Roman Empire.
Josephus (War 2.463) in describing the massacre in Syria just prior to the outbreak of the great revolution against the Romans, notes that though all the cities believed that they had rid themselves of the Jews, still had their Judaizers, who aroused suspicion...". There here is an evident distinction between Jews and ambiguous Judaizers. - "Jew & Gentile in the Ancient World", Louis H. Feldman. (page 350)
Perhaps surprising to some, it seems these Gentile sympathizers found the lifestyle and customs of the Jewish people to be more enticing than Roman culture - which put them in a precarious status within the Empire.
Fourth-century church father John Chrysostom remarked on this phenomenon in his own time as he sought to counter a widespread interest in Judaism within the church. Seemingly motivated by the dedication of the Jewish people, many Christians were also inspired by the lifestyle of Jesus, who [to them] was clearly Jewish in lifestyle and observance. One scholar writes;
“ Apparently, the Jews were attracting so many Christians to their synagogues and to their practices that Chrysostom (Adversus Judaeos 8.4.933-34) defensively says that Christians should not spread the information lest it lead to a stampede toward Judaism.
In particular, it was women, as we have seen elsewhere, who were drawn to Jewish practices; and so we find that Chrysostom (ibid 2.3.860) charges Christian husbands with the responsibility of keeping wives from going to the synagogue."
- "Jew & Gentile in the Ancient World", Louis H. Feldman. (page 405)³
What is interesting is that Chrysostom's polemics were composed just prior to the major Jewish holidays, with the probable intention of dissuading Christians from seeking some level of participation with the Jewish festivals⁴.
Modern Judaizers ?
Has this thread always existed within the greater church, though too small in number to reach an escape velocity of the norms of their time? Perhaps!
It seems we need to factor in perspectives and biases when understanding this term, accounting for a multi-dimensional concept. In this light, perhaps a significant subsect of this ambiguous group known as "Judaizers" can be viewed as allies to the Jewish people - those who recognize the enduring necessity of the Torah and the covenant with the descendants of Jacob.
I've come to know more and more Christians over the years who simultaneously, and boldly, attend a church while sitting at the virtual feet of various online Rabbis. Living in two worlds, often to the bewilderment of mainstream Rabbis and Pastors alike. I often imagine these might be considered the Sympathizers and Judaizers of our time.
Through the explosive popularity of "The Chosen", the growth of Messianic congregations (whose makeup tends to be predominantly Gentile), Noahide groups, and the proliferation of "Torah Clubs"⁶ - it seems we are entering new territory, and very rapidly.
One can only pray the leaders on both sides are open and prepared to wade into these murky waters as we prepare for the way for Mashiach.
Notes:
¹ See the article on the Pharisees
² Acts 15
³ Jew & Gentile in the Ancient World. Louis Feldman
⁴ Adversus Judaeos 1.5.851
⁵ Wars 2.463
