ons. They felt so threatened that they even felt that Jesus? preaching to the ?little people? might make them feel that they?re not so little after all. And this renewed sense of self-confidence could lead to the revolutionary power of these people. They didn?t want to think that the ?little people? could rise up against them and exercise the greater power. So this created even more tension between the Jews and the Christians. ?Changes were also evident among believers in Jesus as the Gentiles assumed dominance.? (Page 145) Raymond Brown notes that before 65, the leaders were all Jews, but that after 100 non-Jews such as Ignatius and Polycarp became the prominent figures. This goes to show that the power of the two religions were splitting, and followers were being forced to make decisions about who they wanted to follow. The power no longer belonged to just one group of people, and this was clearly shown. As the end of the first century was approaching, new factors changed the picture. Of enormous significance was the Jewish revolt against Rome, which resulted in the fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Temple, and the end of the Qumran settlement. The ranks of the priesthood, Sadducees, and Essenes were decimated, and the central institution, the Temple, lay in ruins. Tensions between the two sides also rose due to some incidents that took place that further split the lines of separation. In conclusion, by the end of the first century, the look of Judaism was beginning to fade, and the emergence of Christianity started to take form. ?In summary, it is clear that ?Jesus? Renewal Movement? evolved into ?Christianity? through a gradual, lively, and complex process.? (Page 147) However, Judaism and Christianity had not yet fully separated. Their separation was soon to follow though. ...
