Origines Judaicae

work by Toland

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July 19, 2026

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Origines Judaicae (1709), meaning "Origins of the Jews," was a work by the Irish-born freethinker John Toland. In this book, Toland proposed that the Jewish people originated from Egypt. Toland was a controversial figure whose rationalist philosophy challenged traditional religious views and prompted historians to examine the biblical canon. His earlier work, Christianity Not Mysterious (1696), argued that biblical doctrines could be understood through human reason, causing significant public outcry. Toland's writings stimulated discussions about the New Testament and explored rationalistic interpretations of religion.1

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John Toland
In Origines Judaicae (1709; “Origins of the Jews”), Toland claimed that the Jewish people were of Egyptian origin. During his last years, spent primarily in political pamphleteering in England, he wrote Reasons for Naturalizing the Jews (1713) and Nazarenus (1718), in which he discussed the role…
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In Origines Judaicae (1709; “Origins of the Jews”), Toland claimed that the Jewish people were of Egyptian origin. During his last years, spent primarily in political pamphleteering in England, he wrote Reasons for Naturalizing the Jews (1713) and Nazarenus (1718), in which he discussed the role…
Read More