Definition and Overview of Judaism as a Religion

Judaism is a religion with a rich history and a distinct set of beliefs and practices. The term "Judaism" itself refers to a religion ^[1]. The people associated with this religion are called "Jews," a name derived from "Judah" ^{[3, 4]}. Initially, "Jew" referred to a member of the kingdom of Judah after the division of the Israelite tribes, distinguishing them from the kingdom of the ten tribes ^{[3, 4]}. However, after the Babylonian Captivity and the subsequent Restoration, the term "Jew" expanded to encompass all members of the Hebrew nation ^[4]. The land where Judaism originated and was primarily practiced was known as Judea, also called "Jewry" in some texts ^{[5, 6]}.

At the core of Jewish belief is monotheism, the affirmation of one God ^{[7, 10, 12]}. This God is understood as the Creator and Lord of the universe, who brought all things into existence from nothing ^[7]. A foundational statement of this belief is found in Deuteronomy 6:4, often recited by Jews: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord" ^[10].

Jewish religious life is guided by both written and oral law. The written law is summarized in the Pentateuch, while the oral law, known as the Talmud, serves to complete and explain the written law ^[2]. The Talmud is a vast collection of writings detailing the civil and religious laws of the Jewish people ^[2]. Observance of these laws is central to Jewish practice.

Historically, Judaism has been distinguished from other groups. For instance, in the New Testament, "Jew" often denotes nationality as distinct from Gentiles ^[8]. Full converts to Judaism, known as proselytes, were Gentiles who underwent circumcision and committed to observing Jewish law to become full members of the Jewish community ^[9]. The apostle Paul's "former way of life" before his conversion to Christianity is described as "the Jews' religion," indicating a distinct religious system ^[8]. However, in the Christian understanding, distinctions like "Greek nor Jew" become irrelevant in the "new creation" brought about by Christ ^[11].

Sources

STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=G2454 — A religion”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Talmud — (i.e. doctrine, from the Hebrew word "to learn") is a large collection of writings, containing a full account of the civil and religious laws of the Jews. It was a fundamental principle of the Pharisees, common to them with all orthodox modern Jews, that by the side of the written law, regarded as a summary of the principles and general laws of the Hebrew people, there was an oral law, to complete and to explain the written law. It was an article of faith that in the Pentateuch there was no precept, and no regulation, ceremonial, doctrinal or legal, of which ”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jew — (a man of Judea). This name was properly applied to a member of the kingdom of Judah after the separation of the ten tribes. The term first makes its appearance just before the captivity of the ten tribes. The term first makes it appearance just before the captivity of the ten tribes. (2 Kings 16:6) After the return the word received a larger application. Partly from the predominance of the members of the old kingdom of Judah among those who returned to Palestine, partly from the identification of Judah with the religious ideas and hopes of the people, all the m”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jew — The name derived from the patriarch Judah, at first given to one belonging to the tribe of Judah or to the separate kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 16:6; 25:25; Jer. 32:12; 38:19; 40:11; 41:3), in contradistinction from those belonging to the kingdom of the ten tribes, who were called Israelites. During the Captivity, and after the Restoration, the name, however, was extended to all the Hebrew nation without distinction (Esther 3:6, 10; Dan. 3:8, 12; Ezra 4:12; 5:1, 5). Originally this people were called Hebrews (Gen. 39:14; 40:15; Ex. 2:7; 3:18; 5:3; 1 Sam. 4:6, 9, ”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jewry — (the country of Judea), the same word elsewhere rendered Judah and Judea. It occurs several times in the Apocalypse and the New Testament, but once only in the Old Testament-- (Daniel 5:13) Jewry comes to us through the Norman-French, and is of frequent occurrence in Old English.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Judea, Modern — One of the divisions of the Holy Land under the Romans -- Lu 3:1. Comprised the whole of the ancient kingdom of Judah -- 1Ki 12:21-24. Called The land of Judah. -- Mt 2:6. Jewry. -- Da 5:13; Joh 7:1. A mountainous district -- Lu 1:39,65. Parts of, desert -- Mt 3:1; Ac 8:26. Jerusalem the capital of -- Mt 4:25. Towns of Arimathea. -- Mt 27:57; Joh 19:38. Azotus or Ashdod. -- Ac 8:40. Bethany. -- Joh 11:1,18. Bethlehem. -- Mt 2:1,6,16. Bethphage. -- Mt 21:1. Emmaus. -- Lu 24:13. Ephraim. -- Joh 11:54. Gaza. -- Ac 8:26. Jericho. -- Lu 10:30; 19:1. Joppa.”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — CHAP. XXV.--THE JEWISH RELIGION. (part 1): Since, therefore, we have explained even the diversities among the Jews, it seems expedient likewise not to pass over in silence the system of their religion. The doctrine, therefore, among all Jews on the subject of religion is fourfold-theological, natural, moral, and ceremonial. And they affirm that there is one God, and that He is Creator and Lord of the universe: that He has formed all these glorious works which had no previous existence; and this, too, not out of any coeval substance that lay rea”
Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 1:13: heard--even before I came among you. conversation--"my former way of life." Jews' religion--The term, "Hebrew," expresses the language; "Jew," the nationality, as distinguished from the Gentiles; "Israelite," the highest title, the religious privileges, as a member of the theocracy. the church--Here singular, marking its unity, though constituted of many particular churches, under the one Head, Christ. of God--added to mark the greatness of his sinful alienation from God (Co1 15:19). wasted--laid it waste: the opposite of "building it up."”
Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 13:43: 13:43 Full converts to Judaism (also called proselytes) were Gentiles who had gone through the rite of circumcision to become full members of the Jewish community, observing the Jewish law (see also 2:11; 6:5; Matt 23:15). • The grace of God is a key concept in the New Testament to describe God’s unmerited favor shown preeminently through Jesus Christ.”
Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 6:4: Here is, I. A brief summary of religion, containing the first principles of faith and obedience, Deu 6:4, Deu 6:5. These two verses the Jews reckon one of the choicest portions of scripture: they write it in their phylacteries, and think themselves not only obliged to say it at least twice every day, but very happy in being so obliged, having this saying among them, Blessed are we, who every morning and evening say, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. But more blessed are we if we duly consider and improve, 1. What we are here taught to believe conce”
Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 3:11: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew - In which new creation no inquiry is made what nation the persons belonged to, or from what ancestry they had sprung, whether in Judea or Greece. Circumcision nor uncircumcision - Nor is their peculiar form of religion of any consideration, whether circumcised like the Jews, or uncircumcised like the heathens. Barbarian, Scythian - Nor whether of the more or less tractable of the nations of the world; for although knowledge, and the most refined and sublime knowledge, is the object to be attained, yet, under the teaching and”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 41: § 3. Preface to the Ten Commandments. “I am Jehovah thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Theism and Monotheism, the foundation of all religion, are taught in these words. The first clause is the preface or introduction to the decalogue. It presents the ground of obligation and the special motive by which obedience is enforced. 276 It is because the commandments which follow are the words of God that they bind the conscience of all those to whom th”

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