The term Jew refers to those persons who are descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. Jews have the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel as their God. Jews view the Old Testament (psalms, law, prophets) as the authoritative basis for their religious beliefs and practices. The term Israelite is synonymous with Jew for most if not all purposes.
The term Christian refers to those persons who may or may not be descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. Christians however do also have the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel as their God. Christians view the New Testament as the authoritative basis for their religious beliefs and practices. However, some Christians view at least some of the Old Testament as part of their religious beliefs and practices.
The term Muslim refers to those persons who may or may not be a descendants of Abraham and Ishmael. Muslims have the God of Abraham and Ishmael as their God. Christians view the Quran as the authoritative basis for their religious beliefs and practices. Muslims view the Muhammad, the writer of the Quran, to be their prophet. In Islam, God is referred to using the word Allah. (However, one should note that Christians in Arab speaking countries also use the word Allah to refer to God as the word Allah simply means God and preceded Islam.)
There are numerous religions in the world. I focus on three of them: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. First came Judaism, then Christianity followed by Islam. All three have the God of Abraham as their God.
The terms Judaism, Christianity, Islam are words used to group persons having similar religious beliefs as distinguished from one another in some major way.
The word Judaism is found in the Bible in Gal 1:13-14. It is the Greek word Ioudaismos (G2454) translated as Jews’ religion in the KJV. The word Judaism is the English form of the Greek word Ioudaismos. The word can also be found in one of the KJV Apocrypha books, 2 Maccabees 2:21.
So then just as Judaism is described as the Jews religion, Christianity is the Christians religion, and Islam is the Muslim religion. These words do not indicate the degree to which Jews, Christians, and Muslims are faithful to their respectful religion. Just as Jews do not always adhere to their religion’s beliefs, commandments and laws, neither do Christians and Muslims always adhere to their respective religion’s beliefs, commandments and laws.
Of course, the Bible does not command any person to use the word Judaism or any of the other words. It is a matter of personal preference.
Also, the word Judaism, Christianity, and Islam may be used by various individuals in different ways with different meanings. Therefore, one should be mindful that what one person mean by the word may not be what you or others mean by the word.
Christianity is superior to both Judaism and Islam in that Christianity gives man a more certain and greater hope than Judaism and Islam. Thus all humans should accept Christianity and reject those portions of Judaism and Islam that are inconsistent with Christianity. Judaism is rooted in the Old Covenant as primarily described in the Old Testament. Judaism rejects Jesus as the prophetic Messiah.
Christianity considers the Old Covenant but is rooted in the New Covenant as described in the New Testament. Christianity supersedes Judaism just as the New Covenant supersedes the Old Covenant.
Islam is similar to Judaism in that Islam is akin to the Old Covenant as described under the Old Testament. Islam also incorporates some aspects of the New Testament. Islam does recognize Jesus as a great prophet and teacher. However, Islam does not recognize Jesus as the Messiah in the same way that Christians do. Certainly Islam has some good doctrines and principles as does Judaism and the Old Testament. But Christianity’s New Covenant spiritually supersedes Old Covenant doctrines of both Islam and Judaism.
Both Judaism and Islam reject Jesus Christ as the one true Messiah; they reject Jesus Christ and him crucified for the sins of the world and subsequent burial, resurrection, appearance, and ascension. There is a group called Messianic Judaism/Jews. They are really Christians since they accept Jesus as the Messiah; however, they tend to emphasize some Jewish elements, e.g., some Jewish Holidays.
For more info on Islam see Why Not Islam.
For more info on difference between Judaism and Christianity see Compare Christianity and Judaism.
