In New Testament times, Judaizers were Jewish people who demanded that Christian behave as Jews. The Apostle Paul roundly condemned the practice as unnecessary.
The purpose is to defend the doctrine of justification by faith (righteousness coming only through faith, not by law-keeping) against Judaizers (Jewish legalists; those who sought to enforce the Mosaic Law on Gentile Christian converts). Paul does this by defending his own apostleship, giving examples of Abraham, human law, and Abraham's sons, and by describing the characteristics of a Christian life based on spiritual freedom (sonship) rather than bondage to law (slavery).
There are quite a number of mentions of their ideas as they are effectively refuted or warned against particularly in Paul's letters. Acts 15, where the whole question of legalism was discussed, especially in relation to the Gentile believers goes into some detail on the matter. 1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. From Paul's letters it is obvious that just circumcision alone was not the only issue in other places, but it certainly symbolized what they stood for in terms of performance of works to earn salvation rather than salvation by grace through the finished work of Christ. They thus sought to return (if in fact they had ever left it) or add works to faith in order to please God and earn salvation. In this sense they were returning back again to Judaism, rather than moving on to the full personal trust in the finished work of the savior Jesus Christ. Galatians also deals at length with this whole issue as does Romans. Paul evidently understood, being a former Pharisee, how the Judaizers considered the keeping of the Law of Moses, as symbolized by circumcision, as being an additional and essential part of faith.
i know i am spelling this wrong but i think its "judaziers"
Being an early Christian was a very large risk. From the outset, Christians were persecuted both by the Judaizers and the Roman government.
Just took a test on this. the answer is Judaizers
Actually it was the "Judaizers" an early Christian sect in Jerusalem. Paul rebuked Peter for appearing to support the "Judaizers" ideas instead of clearly opposing them. The Bible appears to suggest that Peter was somewhat "two faced" and hypocritical, changing views and actions depending on which Christian groups he was visiting.
The correct spelling of the plural term is Judaizers, those early Christians who believed that Christians should adopt some of the practices of Judaism, most notably circumcision and dietary laws of the Jews.
They are Jews who opposed the Gentiles in the faith.Another answer:More specifically, biblical judaizers (especially from among the Pharisees) insisted that converted Gentiles needed to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. Acts 15 deals extensively with the matter, and with its resolution.
Certain teachers in the church (Acts 15), who are commonly called Judaizers, were trying to impose the Law upon the Christians. Paul stressed that we are saved by Grace and that now the Gentiles are given Grace and not judged under the law, thus a conflict arose concerning meats sacrificed to Idols and the blood of strangled animals. Paul and Barnabas showed that God owned the preaching of the pure gospel to the Gentiles without the law of Moses; therefore to press that law upon them was to undo what God had done. The pagan society that Paul was preaching to looked at strangled meat (not blood drained) as a delicacy, but as the reason for this has long ceased, we are left free in this, as in the like matters. Let converts be warned to avoid all appearances of the evils which they formerly practiced.
In Judaism: Judaism argues that there are certain Divine Laws which apply to Gentiles (Non-Jews), called the Noahide Laws. The Noahide Laws do not contain any requirement for Gentiles to keep kosher, but there is a requirement that Gentiles not consume an animal while it still lives.In Christianity: This was an argument among Christians in the early days of the Church. A minority called Judaizers argued that all of the Old Testament Law was binding on new converts to Christianity and that a person had to convert to Judaism before becoming a Christian. Accordingly, Judaizers argued that the Laws of Kashrut applied to Christians. However, Apostle Paul and the majority of the Christian leadership disagreed holding that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament Law and, therefore, the ritual laws like Kashrut were no longer binding on Christians. Paul's view became the mainstream view as more and more Greeks converted to Christianity and had no intention to become kosher, observe the sabbath, or get circumcised.
The purpose is to defend the doctrine of justification by faith (righteousness coming only through faith, not by law-keeping) against Judaizers (Jewish legalists; those who sought to enforce the Mosaic Law on Gentile Christian converts). Paul does this by defending his own apostleship, giving examples of Abraham, human law, and Abraham's sons, and by describing the characteristics of a Christian life based on spiritual freedom (sonship) rather than bondage to law (slavery).
There are quite a number of mentions of their ideas as they are effectively refuted or warned against particularly in Paul's letters. Acts 15, where the whole question of legalism was discussed, especially in relation to the Gentile believers goes into some detail on the matter. 1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. From Paul's letters it is obvious that just circumcision alone was not the only issue in other places, but it certainly symbolized what they stood for in terms of performance of works to earn salvation rather than salvation by grace through the finished work of Christ. They thus sought to return (if in fact they had ever left it) or add works to faith in order to please God and earn salvation. In this sense they were returning back again to Judaism, rather than moving on to the full personal trust in the finished work of the savior Jesus Christ. Galatians also deals at length with this whole issue as does Romans. Paul evidently understood, being a former Pharisee, how the Judaizers considered the keeping of the Law of Moses, as symbolized by circumcision, as being an additional and essential part of faith.
Roman Catholic answer:The Council of Jerusalem was the first ecumenical council of the Church. It is recorded in Acts, chapter 15. There were many apostles present, including James, who was Bishop of Jerusalem, Peter, the first Pope, along with Paul and Barnabas. The central problem the church was having at the time was with the Judaizers who seemed to think that just following Jesus wasn't enough, new converts had to be converted to Judaism first, be circumcised and follow the whole law (the law of Moses). The decision was that you didn't have to be a Jew to convert to Christianity, a letter was written and sent to Antioch with Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas.
Paul wrote to the Galatians in order to correct the false teachings which had arisen with regard to the observance of the Law. It explains the concept of justification by grace through faith and how this is applied.