Scholars slightly differ in their interpretations on the
effects of the fall of Jerusalem on early Christianity, however most agree that the fall
of Jerusalem created internal conflicts among the Jews and Gentiles, particularly in
their beliefs and practices. Jewish Christians for example were divided from Gentile
Christians on their beliefs about circumcision and the teachings of the Torah, although
they saw the differing groups as other branches of Judaism. The fall of Jerusalem,
however, paved the emergence of Christianity as an entirely new religion separate from
Judaism.
In his book, Julius Scott quotes Jacob
Joc:
"The year A.D. 70 marked a turning
point in the history not only of Judaism but also of Christianity. The military defeat
which ended in the destruction of the Temple effected the young Jewish Church in several
ways:
(1)The fact that the war against
Rome took place without Christian participation widened the breach between the
nationalistically minded Jews and the believers in Jesus Christ.
(2)The destruction of the Temple
tipped the scales in favor of antinomian elements of Jewish Christianity and also solved
the perplexing problem concerning Christian participation in the Temple
cult.
(3)It detached the Jewish Church
from Jerusalem as a religious centre, and thus allowed a greater measure of freedom and
independence.
(4)It provided the
Messianic movement with a new and powerful weapon for propaganda
purposes."
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