Primary Texts from 100 to 1000 CE

In the mid-first to early fourth centuries, Christianity was not recognized as a legitimate religion in the Roman Empire, although Jewish traditions and rituals had imperial approbation. Christians were subject to periodic local persecutions by imperial officials and were generally regarded with disdain by ordinary residents of the Empire and mocked by the intelligentsia. Intimidated by the Synagogue’s high social status, Christian leaders tried to claim that they understood the Hebrew Scriptures better than Jews, which seemed incredible to pagans. Bishops faced the task of proving to Jews, pagans, and their own congregations that the Church was the true Israel, that Judaism was a pretender to that title, and that the Church need not follow the Mosaic law — all of this using Jewish sources as proof-texts. The era demanded an exposition of the Christian faith that included a detailed refutation of Judaism. The fourth century was a turning point. In 313 Constantine I granted Christianity permanent toleration status and in 380 Theodosius I made it the preferred religion of the State. By the end of the fourth century, irked by Judaism’s durability and the appeal it held for many Christians, church leaders set out to counteract Judaism’s influence both rhetorically and legally. After the fall of the western Roman Empire ca. 476, and the beginning of the early Middle Ages, Christendom emerged in which Jewish rights under Roman law diminished and sporadic anti-Jewish assaults occurred. Note that the dates of many of the texts below are estimated.