Did the Roman Christian Empire Create a Legal Hierarchy Between Christianoi and Yahudim?

4th–6th c. · multiple Roman laws

What the ancient record says

Yes, but "hierarchy" must be explained, no single law states a complete hierarchy; it emerges from the cumulative structure. Documented: marriage, intermarriage prohibited.

Conversion, toward Yahudi practice could bring severe criminal penalties; toward Christianity received protection. Public office, Yahudim excluded from certain offices.

Civic burdens, some burdens could remain even where privileges were restricted. Slave ownership, religious identity affected who could own particular slaves.

Synagogues, existing could be protected, new construction could be prohibited. Testimony, later legislation, Yahudi identity could affect witness competency against orthodox Christianoi.

That is legal hierarchy here: the law did not treat religious communities as possessing identical rights and disabilities; one identity increasingly occupied the privileged legal position of the state, others restricted positions. Not every law only hurt Yahudim, some protected them from violence, protected synagogues, preserved communal rights; that does not eliminate the hierarchy, it shows the subordinate community remained legally recognized rather than outlawed.

Not created in one day, the system developed over generations; Constantine did not enact every later restriction; different emperors added provisions; councils added canons; preachers reinforced social boundaries; law formalized them. Precise instead of "Rome hated the Yahudim": we can identify which emperor, year, law, right, restriction, penalty, that is evidence.