Christianity emerged from Judaism. This article inquires how dialogue was conducted with the Jewish confession that the Lord is One. According to this article this did take place frequently, as is evident in the use of the Shema in many New Testament passages (e.g., Romans 3:27-31), and it was also a flashpoint of debate between the church and the synagogue in the first century.

The Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 is a call for exclusive covenant commitment to Yahweh. The importance of the Shema can be seen in its reflection in the Gospels. Block discusses the problem of the Shema and the significant factors in its interpretation. He concludes that the Shema should be interpreted as a monotheistic confession.