Different Views of Jewish Law and Gentiles Who Want to Join the People of God
Gentiles are not welcome. (At least some Jews at the time took a hard separatist position.)
Gentiles are welcome if they keep all the commandments, including circumcision and
avoiding pork. (At least some Jews at the time allowed Gentiles to join as equals
under equal requirements.)
Gentiles are welcome if they keep those few commandments God gave to Noah (the ancestor
of all nations), not the commandments given only to the Israelites at Sinai. (Acts
15, the most radical break in the Jesus movement from Essenes and other Jewish groups.)
Being Christian means not being Jewish, so none of the laws are binding on any Christians
even if they were born Jewish. (Not the original intent of Paul’s letter to the Galatians,
but it was interpreted that way in later generations.)
Different Views of Sexuality in Early Judaism and Christianity
“Be fruitful and multiply” is the first commandment that God gives to humans. A man
and a woman together can create life, which is the closest a mortal can ever come
to God, the creator of all life. (The dominant view in Rabbinic Judaism)
Women/sex/desire are defiling and are incompatible with spiritual holiness. (The more
strict Essenes, Qumran Community, and early Christian monasticism)
Abstinence from sex is the highest ideal, but monogamous sexual relationships are
okay. (The less strict Essenes, Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians)
Children are necessary to perpetuate the species or spread a religion. (Only works
if you think the physical world will last another generation)
Sex is pleasurable for me and demonstrates my power to control the bodies of others.
(Jewish and Christian sources were consistently critical of unrestrained and/or abusive
sexuality)