How long could Christianity survive as a cult within Judaism without Saint Paul?

Without Saint Paul to reform the Christian cult within Judaism into it's own religion, how long would this cult last within Judaism before it is either eradicated by the Roman authorities or it's followers simply return to mainstream Judaism?
 
It could theoretically last up to present day, but it would never be anything more than a small subsect of Judaism, much like the modern Samaritans. Without Paul opening the faith to gentiles, Christianity will remain a faith for Jews only. As a result, it's probably going to be ignored by the Romans, much like they ignored other non-proselytizing faiths. Something else would likely evolve to fill the gap in Mediterranean culture, most likely the Isis cult or Sol Invictus, though cases could be made for the Bacchus and Mithras cults as well. If Rome keeps up polytheism or goes to henotheism then Judaism and its sects are going to be mostly left to do their own thing as long as they don't interfere with Rome. Of course, Christianity will probably still spread, but it will be a lot less successful. You'll also see more spread in Judaism, which might splinter into more sects without Christianity coming to power. Or it might be subjected to heavy persecution by the Jewish priesthood and population and driven extinct within a century or less. So basically, Paul-less Christianity could survive as long or as short as you want it to. It's a very flexible PoD.
 
On the other hand, @ArchimedesCircle, someone else could always open up "The Way" (as early Christianity was called) to Gentiles. According to the Book of Acts, Peter made a couple steps in that direction by preaching to Cornelius the Roman, and some other unnamed believers preached in Cyprus. Peter was later pulled back by other Jewish believers' disapproval according to Galatians, but there was still the possibility of reaching out to Gentiles.

Also, remember that in the First Century, there were numerous Gentile converts to Judaism across the Empire, and even more "God-Fearers" like Cornelius himself who were very interested in the religion but didn't want to get circumcised and follow the whole Law. A Way which - even without Paul - would be inclined to loosen the requirements would almost certainly appeal to them.
 
On the other hand, @ArchimedesCircle, someone else could always open up "The Way" (as early Christianity was called) to Gentiles. According to the Book of Acts, Peter made a couple steps in that direction by preaching to Cornelius the Roman, and some other unnamed believers preached in Cyprus. Peter was later pulled back by other Jewish believers' disapproval according to Galatians, but there was still the possibility of reaching out to Gentiles.

That's true and a definite possibility, but I feel like saying "If you stop this guy someone else will do the same thing later" is something of a cheating answer.
 
They already were spreading the word. Jews just got first dibs, but other people were not ignored. Actually fun to look in the New Testament, seeing how often non-Jews are the ones to come up to Jesus or to actually thank him for what he did for them. I believe when he healed ten lepers and told them to go give their thanks at the temple, only one of them (A Samaritan) first thanked him. Anyways, with Pentecost languages were already being learned and they would have spread around the world, going along with Jesus's teachings that there were no longer Jews and Gentiles. Pentacost happened in Acts, just a few versus after Matthias was made the replacement of Judas. Matthias being the one who introduced Paul to the other Apostles and who went with him on some of his travels.
 
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What do you mean? There was already a large Jewish diaspora throughout the Middle East and Rome; do you mean no further diaspora after the Jewish Revolt and the Bar Kokhba Revolt?

Yes. Excuse me, I thought diaspora in this context was for the dispersal after the revolt, rather than the more generic way we use it today. I'll try to use large D Diaspora for this in future.

If there are fewer Jewish people throughout the Roman Empire, Christianity may never take off among people in the Roman Empire, and so never become more gentile. As I understand it there are a few different strands of Judaism that could be noticed from that time anyway, it's possible that there could be more messianic strains in an alternate timeline.
 
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