Religious Tradition Study 1 - Christianitymmccyear11-12studiesofreligion2u.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/... · Web viewThis divine essence is expressed through its embodiment in all three

Religious Tradition Study 1 - Christianity

This is one of 5 options available for study of Religious Traditions in the Preliminary Course. Studies of Religion I candidates must study 2 of the 5 Religious Traditions. Studies of Religion II candidates must study 3 of the 5 Religious Traditions.

22 indicative hours of study are allocated to each of the Religious Tradition Studies

Judaism in the 1st century

It is important to begin by examining Judaism in the first century since it was in the first century CE that Christianity branched off from its parent religion Judaism. The power and organisation of Judaism was largely centred in Jerusalem. The authority of Judaism was divided amongst a number of groups who sought to control the direction of the religion. This lack of unity was, in part, the result of centuries of political domination by the Greeks and then the Romans in Palestine and particularly in Jerusalem. Traces of this sectarian rivalry can be detected in the Gospels. The most influential group during the time of Jesus were the Sadducees who had majority representation on the Sanhedrin (Jewish Council). Two other prominent groups were the Zealots, a group of political activists seeking to overthrow the Romans through military methods, and the Pharisees who were devout lay people seeking a more pure expression of Judaism. The influence of the latter sect grew after the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. It was this powerful and prominent influence o f the Pharisees which is reflected in the Gospels.

Messianic expectation

For centuries Jews expected God to intervene in their history by sending the Messiah to Earth. This belief, a cental tenet of Judaism, is referred to as the Messianic expectation. This expectation was particalarly heightened during the time of Jesus partly because Jews suffered economic deprivation and great hardships under Roman rule. Consequently, Jews of the first century eagerly awaited the coming of the Messiah who would free them from oppression. However, speculation on the exact nature of the Messiah varied. Many believed that the Messiah would be a political figure in the tradition of King David who would overthrow the Roman rulers and liberate the oppressed Jews. Jesus was born a Jew in this context and lived in Palestine at the beginning of the first century. He sought to renew the Jewish religion in the spirit of the prophets of Israel but did not intend to lead a breakaway from Judaism. It is in witnessing these efforts that his followers come to believe that he was the Messiah.

Studies of Religion Pre HSC Religious Tradition – Christianity 1

Jesus did not intend to found a new religion

Jesus is typically known as the founder of Christianity. Yet, Jesus was born a Jew, lived as a Jew and died a Jew. Jesus sought to renew Judaism in the spirit of the prophets by opposing the legalism of Judaism during his time and calling people to return to the demands of the covenant. There is no evidence to suggest that he intended to found a new religion. Given that he sought only to renew Judaism from within it is not surprising that he left very few instructions except to preach, baptise, heal the sick, feed the poor and forgive.

Reign of God

The main focus of Jesus' preaching was the reign (kingdom) of God, which is understood as God's vision or dream for humankind. The reign of God envisages a world where God's values (love, peace, cooperation, tolerance and justice) are realised. Essentially, Jesus sought to show how this could be done. By announcing this reign of God Jesus was inaugurating it and inviting others to join in its development. The reign of God will reach completion at the end of time when God's dream for humankind becomes a reality. Until then it is the responsibility of the followers of Jesus to live in accordance with these values and to lead others to them.

Principal events in the life of Jesus

Much of what we know about Jesus is derived from the Gospels. Even though the Gospels were not written to provide a historical explanation of the life of Jesus the Gospels do provide an historical framework through which we can examine the principal events in the life of Jesus. Traditionally Jesus is believed to have been born of a virgin in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth. Modern scholarship suggests that the infancy narratives were written to make theological statements about Jesus' heritage. These statements emphasise the claim that Jesus is the Messiah. Historically Jesus is known to have travelled from Nazareth to Galilee, where he was baptised by John the Baptist. He then preached around the region of Galilee and attracted disciples some of whom were women. Jesus began this ministry when he was about thirty years old little is known of his life before this time. Jesus taught in parables mostly concerning the reign of God. In essence this mes sage challenged the temporal and the material and consequently Jesus attracted a significant following from those who were socially disadvantaged. Frequently, the Gospels depict Jesus as a healer or a miracle worker as a way of highlighting the power of God in action. Jesus' preaching brought him into conflict with the Jewish authorities.


Pharisees

The clash between Jesus and the Pharisees however, reflects the situation at the time the Gospels were written rather than the situation at the time of Jesus. At the time of the writing of the gospels conflict existed between the Christians and the Pharisees because the Pharisees regarded the Christian sect as heretical. Thus when we read of the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees we are reading something that is more a reflection of the times of the gospel writer rather than the situation that prevailed a generation earlier during the life and ministry of Jesus.

Death and resurrection

Jesus' ministry took him to Jerusalem, where he stayed for the Passover. He was arrested and sentenced to death by crucifixion. He was placed in a tomb on the eve of the Passover and appeared to his disciples after being raised on the third day. Gospels written so that people would believeEven though the Gospels provide a historical framework by which we can analyse the principal events in the life of Jesus it is important to remember that the Gospels were not written with the intent of providing an accurate historical explanation of the life of Jesus.

Modern Biblical hermeneutics

The synoptic problem, which describes the attempts to understand the relationship between the synoptic gospels, highlights the point that the gospels were written for different target audiences. Thus it is futile to attempt to form a composite picture of the historical Jesus by ironing out the contradictions in the Gospel. In the same way, the achievements of modern biblical scholarship show us that each Gospel should be appreciated on its own as it reflects the needs of a particular target audience. Consequently, we need to be wary of attempts to examine the historical events in the gospel accounts in the life of Jesus as a precise way of studying the life of the historical Jesus.

Jesus Inaugurates the Reign of God

Jesus is the embodiment of the reign of God

Jesus is seen as the model for Christian life through his embodiment of the reign of God. The synoptic gospels portray Jesus as emerging from obscurity in Galilee and announcing the inauguration of the reign of God (Mark 1:14-15). This reign of God, often referred to as the Kingdom of God, can be understood in simple terms as the realisation of God's vision or dream for the world. Jesus' preaching of the reign of God points to a future yet already present reality where the values of love, justice and peace prevail in a world living in accordance with God's plan. The reign of God is central to the preaching of


Jesus and is at the heart of his life and ministry. Following his death and resurrection Jesus was recognised as the embodiment of the reign of God and those who seek to bring about the reign of God are encouraged to model their lives on the example of Jesus. This modeling can be identified according to four significant aspects of Jesus' life and ministry.

Jesus lives a life of prayerChristians model Jesus' attitude to prayerThe first significant aspect is the prayerful nature of Jesus' life. The gospel portraits of Jesus show him to be a man of prayer, frequently communing with God in a familiar and intimate manner (Luke 10:21). He often withdraws from the pressures of daily life to pray in a quiet place (Luke 5:16) and does so especially as he approaches key moments in his ministry such as the calling of his disciples (Luke 8:12-15). Jesus' prayer includes the traditions of the Jewish liturgy and often draws on the tradition of the Hebrew Scriptures (Matthew 27:46). Jesus is also found at prayer in times of personal crisis as well as in the face of the needs of others (Matthew 26:39). Finally Jesus teaches his disciples some important principles of prayer and famously he teaches them how to pray. Christians throughout history have closely studied Jesus attitude of prayer and have sought to model their lives on a variety of lessons drawn from Jesus' example.

Jesus lives a life of service to others

Ministry of Jesus is characterised by service to others

From the outset, the ministry of Jesus is characterised by service of others. It is notable that the early scenes from the ministry in the synoptic gospels are littered with examples of healing miracles where Jesus seeks to bring the healing power of God into contact with the need of others (Mark 1:23-45).

While it appears that Jesus initially saw his ministry as directed solely to the needs of the people of Israel, an encounter with a determined Gentile woman seems to have transformed his understanding (Mark 7:24-30).

A number of the sayings attributed to Jesus including the famous Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) and the Golden Rule (Matthew 8:12) highlight this attitude of service.

Another important example is the account of the last supper in John’s gospel where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples as an example of service to one another (John 13:1-15).

Christians have always embraced an ethos of service to others and have done so as a direct consequence of the example provided in the life and ministry of Jesus.


Jesus acts as an advocate for the poor

Ministry of Jesus is characterised by advocacy for the needy

In the Jewish tradition, there is a strong ethical dimension which calls upon people to stand up for the needs of the poor and disadvantaged. This tradition is embraced emphatically in the ministry of Jesus who makes this a central characteristic of his ministry. The gospels provide many examples of Jesus taking the side of the poor and oppressed (John 9:1-41). In many cases the cause of the oppression is the harsh requirements of religious observance and Jesus is strident in his indictment of religious extremism which leads to the oppression of those who are vulnerable. While advocacy for the poor has always been present in the Christian tradition, recent developments such as Liberation Theology have brought this important dimension into sharper focus. This is particularly so for the majority of Christians who now live among the poorer countries of the world.

Jesus loves and forgives othersJesus' attitude of love and forgiveness is a model for Christian life The final example which highlights the role of Jesus as a model for Christian life has to do with an attitude of love and forgiveness of others. There are numerous examples in the gospels where Jesus' love for others is shown (John 8:2-11). Furthermore he is shown as being ever willing to forgive the failings of others. Most poignantly this is seen in the post resurrection appearances with the disciples who had abandoned him (John 21:1-14) and in the famous prayer for the forgiveness of his own executioners (Luke 23:34). Christians have modeled these attributes in a number of ways. Some denominations have incorporated sacraments or other ceremonies to ritualise the importance of forgiveness. Finally the famous prayer, the Lord's Prayer incorporates the petition asking for forgiveness as we also forgive others (Luke 11:4).

Jesus movement and the New Testament period

There are two major periods within the history of the early Church. The death of Jesus marks the beginning of the Jesus movement which lasted approximately from 30-60 CE. The New Testament period which followed this is quite extensive and lasted from approximately 45-110 CE. The characteristics of the Church changed quite considerably during this latter period. There are two divisions within the New Testament period, firstly the period of the Proto-Pauline letters which is followed by the period of the Deutero-


Pauline letters. A considerable variety existed in the characteristics of these early Christian Churches due to the absence of precedent and a lack of centralised leadership stemming from the infancy of the Christian movement.

Characteristics of the Jesus movement

The term 'Jesus movement' describes a period where the infant Christian community saw itself as a sect which existed within the Jewish tradition. These earliest communities were characterised by their gender inclusive nature and eschatological vision, that is, they believed that they were living in the last days before the Parousia, the second coming of Christ. As a result little emphasis was given to laying down the infrastructure of the movement. So for the first forty years after Jesus' death the Churches were scattered in different areas and existed without a centralised code of Christian behaviour and practice.

Paul and Peter

Paul and Peter were the two most significant leaders in the early Church. Small groups of Palestinian Jews followed Jesus through the preachings of Peter. Larger groups of Diaspora Hellenistic Jews and Gentile Christians followed Jesus through the preachings of Paul. Paul is regarded by Brendon Byrne and others as the second founder of Christianity. Where Jesus set down the foundational message of Christianity concerning the reign of God, Paul helped to set up the structure of this new religion and hence confirm the status of Christianity vis-à-vis Judaism. This was because Paul recognised that Jesus' message was not intended solely for people of the Jewish faith and consequently he utilised Hellenistic philosophy to help communicate many of Jesus' ideas. This included the introduction of the Pauline theology of salvation, justification and law into Christian life and belief.

Divisions in the early Church

The existence of a varied community which contained Jewish Christians of Palestinian background, Jewish Christians of Hellenistic background and Gentile Christians in the period of the early Church was a source of disagreement and conflict. In fact one of the most important controversies in the early Church arose because the original Jewish nature of the Christian Church was challenged by the conversion of the Gentiles. The debate regarding the inclusion of the Gentiles resulted in the formation of the Council of Jerusalem in 49 CE. This amounted to an early attempt to overcome differences within the Church. Paul's argument that Gentiles do not need to become Jews and undergo circumcision in order to become Christians prevailed at this council. Despite this formal solution, divisions of this nature continued for some time. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE the Pauline group of Diaspora Jewish converts to Christianity and the Gentile Christians became more closely knit. At the same time as the Palestinian group fragmented.


Reasons for the formalisation of the early Church

The Christian Churches became more formalised from 70 CE onwards. This was the result of unforeseen events which significantly changed the character of early Church communities. The delay of the Parousia, the second coming of Christ and the death of the Apostles meant that there was a need to institutionalise the charism of the movement by introducing more regulated practices. This formalisation of the Christian identity meant that Christianity was increasingly seen as a distinct and separate religion from Judaism. This was partly because during this period the Christian Churches came into great conflict with Judaism.

Conflict with Judaism

Jews persecuted Christians because they were seen as a threat to the purity of Judaism, for three main reasons: firstly, Christians spoke of and emulated Jesus, as God which made the Christians sound like they were polytheistic. Secondly, Christians and Jews could not interact as Christians were not seen as ritually pure due to their association with the Gentiles. Thirdly the Christians had refused to support the Jews in their attempts to overthrow the Roman occupation.

Roman persecution

The continued but sporadic persecution of Christians by the Romans during the second and third centuries meant that secret signs and meeting places had to be devised for the protection of Christians. The Romans persecuted the Christians because they appeared to be neglectful citizens in that they were pacifists who refused to join the army during a war ravaged age and because they refused to serve on the judiciary. The Christian monotheistic practice also offended Roman sensibilities as Romans worshipped many gods. On top of this there were rumours that Christians were incestuous and cannibalistic. These rumours developed as a result of the secretive nature of the Eucharistic celebrations.

Constantine

Prior to the 3rd century CE, Christians occupied a small, insignificant part of society. The efforts of Constantine in the fourth century meant that Christianity became a powerful and dominant religion. Constantine who is typically known as the founder of Christendom helped the religion to gain the privileges, wealth and influence that it did not previously have during the age of persecutions.

East/ West Schism

This first schism, known as the Great Schism or East West Schism was formalised in 1054 CE. This formally divided the Christian Church into two major groups known today


as Catholic (Western Christianity) and Orthodox (Eastern Christianity). The Catholic Church is predominantly Roman Catholic though there are other groups such as Maronite and Melkite which are known as Eastern Rite Catholic. In the Orthodox tradition a number of Churches exist including Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Antiochean (Syrian) Orthodox and Coptic (Egyptian).

Reformation

The next major schism occurred in the 16th century in the Western or Catholic Church. This Western schism is known as the Reformation and led to the formation of the Protestant Churches which separated from the Roman Catholic Church. The Protestant Churches following the reforms of Martin Luther included the Lutherans and Presbyterians. The Church of England (Anglican) also separated from Roman Catholicism at this time though it did so for different reasons.

As time went on the fragmentation of Western Christianity continued with various reforms and realignments taking place within the Protestant and Anglican groupings. For example the Baptist and Congregationalist Churches formed from within the Protestant tradition while the Methodist and Salvation Army groups grew from within the Anglican tradition.

The most recent fragmentations within Western Christianity have come through the development of Pentecostal Churches which have mostly emerged within the last 150 years from within Protestant groups.

Anglican Church

OriginsThe Church of England or Anglican Church stems from the 16th century schism known as the Reformation. During this time the King of England, Henry VIII, formalised the separation between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.

Head of Church

Today the Anglican Church is found in many countries throughout the world, principally in those with close historical ties to England. The nominal head of the Anglican Church is the English Monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. However authority in the Anglican Church is more practically expressed in the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury, currently Archbishop Rowan Williams.

Principal beliefs and sacraments

The key elements of the Anglican Church are summed up according to the statements of the Lambeth conference in 1920 which stressed the centrality of the bible and confirmed that it contained everything necessary for salvation. It also highlighted the


Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed and statements which accurately and reliably expressed the Christian faith. Lambeth also confirmed that two sacraments are to be celebrated as part of the Christian faith. These two sacraments are Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Finally, Lambeth affirmed the importance of the historical line of succession of Bishops known as the "historic episcopate".

Subdivisions withing the Church

Within the Anglican Church there are two recognizable groups with their own particular emphases. The larger of the two groups is known as High Church Anglican, sometimes referred to as Anglo Catholic. The second group is known as Low Church Anglican, sometimes referred to as Evangelical Anglican. High Church Anglicans are recognizable through the retention of a number of Roman Catholic rituals and practices. These include the use of vestments, incense and their ministers being known as Priests. Low Church Anglicans are more closely aligned with the Protestant tradition with Ministers leading congregations and worship carried out with very little adornment. While the majority of Anglicans throughout the world belong to the High Church group, it is worth noting that the Anglican Church in Sydney is predominantly Low Church. It is the Low Church or Evangelical Church which has had considerable historical influence in the development of religious expression in Australia due to the prominence of the Anglican Church in colonial times in NSW.

Catholic Church

OriginsThe Catholic Church teaches of itself that it is historically and in terms of its teaching in line and continuity with that of the first disciples of Jesus. It is the largest and most widespread of all the Christian denominations.

Principal beliefs

A key belief of the Catholic Church is that God's teachings have been preserved and safeguarded through the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the teaching authority of the Church. In particular this authority is exercised through the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope, currently Pope Benedict XVI. The Bishops of the local Churches, known as Dioceses, exercise this authority in unity with the Pope.

Head of Church

Catholics believe there is a direct and unbroken line from the Apostle Peter as the first Bishop of Rome to his current successor Benedict XVI. Catholics also believe in an historic episcopate with each Bishop continuing in a direct line from the Apostles who are regarded as the first groups of Bishops of the Church.


Subdivisions within the Church

Most Catholics in the world belong to the Roman Catholic Church although there are other Eastern Rite Catholics such as the Maronites and Melkites.

Ecumenical councils

Throughout history when the Church faced significant questions and challenges it has assembled the leaders of the Church in councils known as Ecumenical Councils. The most recent of these councils was the Second Vatican Council held from 1962 - 1965. Many of the priorities and directions of the Catholic Church in recent decades have stemmed from the documents of Vatican II. It included important statements on Liturgy, Priesthood, Ecumenism, Religious Freedom, the Role of the Church in the Modern World and the role of the Laity.

Bible and Church teaching work in conjunction with each other Catholics regard the Bible as the normative text for Christian teaching, however, they understand that the tradition of the Church has an indispensable role in interpreting and explaining the meaning of sacred scripture. The teaching tradition of the Church is regarded as an important element within the Catholic Church. Catholics regard Scripture and Tradition as two pillars which work hand in hand to explain the central elements of Catholic teaching.

Sacraments

The Catholic Church teaches that there are seven sacraments which are celebrated in the Church. These are Baptism, Penance Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick. Of these sacraments, Eucharist is considered to be the source and summit of the Christian life. Accordingly it plays a central role in the lives of Catholics.

Orthodox Churches

Subdivisions within the Church

The Orthodox Churches can be divided into two distinct groups. The larger is known as the Eastern Orthodox Churches. This group of approximately 20 Churches is organized under the leadership of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople currently All Holiness Bartholomew. The smaller group of 5 Orthodox Churches is known as the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Tradition and scripture are of equal value


The Orthodox Churches derive their beliefs from the sacred scripture and the sacred tradition of Church teaching. They regard scripture and tradition to be of equal value. The Christians of the Orthodox Churches share the basic Christian beliefs in the unity of God in the Trinity of persons.

Head of Church

They believe that the Church is a sacred institution founded by Jesus Christ to provide for the salvation of human kind. For Christians in the Orthodox Churches, the clergy hold office in a line of descent from the Apostles who are regarded as the first Priests and Bishops.

SacramentsOrthodox Christians believe in seven sacraments which were inaugurated by Jesus Christ to assist in living the Christian life. The seven Sacraments are Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Eucharist, Ordination, Marriage, Confession and Holy Unction.

Divine Liturgy

The Divine Liturgy plays a central role in the lives of Orthodox Christians. Worship in Orthodox Churches is characterized by the chanting of prayers and the frequent use of incense which symbolizes the prayers ascending to God Also of great importance is the expression of faith contained in the Nicene Creed and the teaching of the seven Ecumenical Councils.

Saints and icons

The Orthodox Christians honor the saints and ask in prayer for their intercession. Foremost among the saints is Mary the mother of God. Orthodox Churches characteristically feature depictions of saints known as icons. These sacred icons are venerated by Orthodox Christians, though it is not the image itself which is venerated, rather the person who is represented in the icon.

Pentecostal Churches

Characteristics

The term Pentecostal refers to a group of Christian Churches which are identified through their ecstatic worship and emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Their name clearly derives from the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Origins

Modern Pentecostalism emerged from within Protestant congregations in America in the late 1900's and is now a world wide phenomena and is one of the fastest growing of Christian groups.


Organisation

Some Pentecostal Churches are single, independent congregations. Others belong to collections of Pentecostal groups such as the Assemblies of God, Four Square Gospel and Christian City Church.

Principal beliefs

Whether standing alone as a single congregation or being affiliated with other similar Churches Pentecostals have a number of distinguishing features. They are generally characterized by lively worship and an emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as prophecy, healing and speaking in tongues. Additionally the usually feature emphatic preaching based on literal interpretations of biblical texts.

Demographics

Another feature of many Pentecostal Churches is their belief that they are living in the final days before the second coming of Christ, the parousia. Consequently, in many Pentecostal services there is a strong emphasis on preaching about the end of the world. Many Pentecostal congregations are quite small in numbers which allows for a closer and more personal sense of community. In contrast, a number of Pentecostal groups now attract large numbers in stadium like gatherings. In comparison to other Christian denominations many Pentecostal congregations have comparably young congregations. The majority of Pentecostal Christians have previously belonged to other Christian denominations, mostly Protestant.

Head of Church

While the Pastors of Pentecostal Churches may have authority in their own congregation there is little authority or established doctrine outside of the individual congregation. The commonalities among Pentecostal Churches depend on a similar interpretation of certain biblical texts rather than any formalised or centralised doctrine.

Pentecostal Churches are also less inclined to have formalised rituals than other Christian denominations. There are usually no sacraments or equivalent rituals practised in Pentecostal Churches although some customs relating to prayers for conversion, repentance and healing may include ritual elements.

Protestant Churches

Origin


The Protestant Churches trace their origins back to the 16th century schism in Western Christianity known as the Reformation. There are a number of groups within Protestantism, some have their origin at the time of the Reformation while others have stemmed from further fragmentations later in time.

Lutheran Church

Principal beliefs

Taking its name from the catalyst of the Reformation, the Lutheran Church is mostly concentrated in the Germanic and Scandinavian regions of Europe as well as in North America. The Lutherans place considerable emphasis on the fundamental teachings of Luther such as justification through faith which refers to the need for a person to have personal faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

CharacteristicsThere is a strong emphasis on bible based preaching in the Lutheran Church and two sacraments, Baptism and Eucharist are celebrated. Lutheran churches also have a strong tradition of hymn singing.

In Australia, the largest group of Lutherans is found in South Australia, a result of German immigrants settling in the mid 19th century.

Calvinist Churches

Origins

Also known as Reformed Churches these Churches follow the teachings of 16th century French reformer John Calvin. Leadership in these churches is often in the hands of an elder or presbyter. It is from this practice that the term Presbyterian Church comes.

Demographics

The Presbyterian Church, the national Church of Scotland is the most significant Calvinist Church in Australia.

Principle beliefs

Calvinist or Reformed Churches have a strong emphasis on bible based preaching which emphasizes a temperate lifestyle. Two sacraments are celebrated in the Calvinist Churches, these are Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Free Churches


From within the Church of England a number of new Churches arose during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The main examples of these are the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Salvation Army and the Quakers (Society of Friends). Pentecostal Churches can also be seen as a more recent group arising from within this tradition of Protestantism.

Baptist Church

Two principal characteristics of the Baptist Church are their belief in the priesthood of all believers and their practice of believers' baptism. They believe that all Christians participate fully in every aspect of Church life. They also believe that only people who are able to understand and personally accept the Christian faith should be baptised. Accordingly they do not baptise babies or children.

Methodist Church

The Methodist Church was founded by two Church of England clergymen John and Charles Wesley. In some parts of the world the Methodist Church is known as the Wesleyan Church after its founders. The Methodist follow a very simple method of Christian worship comprising Hymn singing, prayers, bible readings and a sermon. They rarely use a formal order of service other than for the service of Holy Communion.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army was founded by William Booth, a Methodist Minister in the early 1800's. If follows the lines of military organization with ministers known as "Officers", members known as "Soldiers" and the meeting place known as a "Citadel". There is no set form of worship in the Salvation Army with the worship leader free to determine the form. It is common, however, to find a significant emphasis on music in Salvation Army worship. The Salvation Army is most widely recognised for its outstanding commitment to the welfare of others.

Society of Friends (Quakers)

The Society of Friends (Quakers) is a group who believe that God speaks directly to the heart of the individual believer. They have no formal dimension to worship, nor do they have creeds, ministers or sacraments. Perhaps the most well known aspect of the Quakers is that they are pacifists, categorically rejecting anything to do with war and or the use of violence.

Summary Points: OriginsStudents learn about:

The historical and cultural context in which Christianity began


Students learn to:

Outline the historical and cultural context in which Christianity began

Power was centred in Jerusalem during first century Judaism Fierce sectarian rivalry existed between the different Jewish sects, particularly

between the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Zealots who sought to control the direction of the religion

The Messianic expectation, a central tenet of Jewish belief reached a high point during the time of Jesus. Jewish speculation that the Messiah was to be a political saviour was the result of centuries of political oppression by the Romans

Jesus who sought to renew the Jewish religion in the spirit of the prophets, came to be seen as the Messiah by his followers

Students learn about:

Jesus Christ

Students learn to:

Examine the principal events of Jesus' life

Whilst Jesus is typically known as the founder of Christianity, he did not seek to establish a new religion. Rather he intended to oppose the legalism of Judaism and reform the tradition in the spirit of the prophets

The main focus of Jesus' preaching was the reign of God The reign of God envisages a world where God's values such as love, peace and

cooperation are realised. This vision, that was inaugurated through Jesus' ministry, will be completed at the end of time. Until then it is the responsibility of the followers of Jesus to live in accordance with these values and to lead others to them. Subsequently, the reign of God is considered to be a present yet future reality

Jesus is believed to have been born of a virgin in Bethlehem Jesus travelled from Nazareth to Galilee where he was baptised by John the

Baptist He preached around the region of Galilee and attracted disciples some of whom

were women and many were socially disadvantaged Jesus taught in parables mostly concerning the reign of God In the Gospels he is frequently depicted as a healer or a miracle worker Jesus' preaching brought him into conflict with the Jewish authorities Jesus' ministry took him to Jerusalem where he stayed for the Passover He was arrested and sentenced to death by crucifixion He was placed in a tomb on the eve of the Passover and appeared to his disciples

after being raised on the third day The synoptic problem and modern biblical scholarship reminds us that the

Gospels were written for a particular target audience as a way of passing on the


faith of the community rather than with the intent of providing an accurate historical account of the life of Jesus


Jesus Christ

Students learn to:

Explain why Jesus is the model for Christian life

Jesus is the model for Christian life because he embodies the reign of God, that is God's dream for humankind that lies at the heart of Jesus' life and ministry

The reign of God refers to the realisation of God's vision for the world, where the values of love, justice and peace prevail. Jesus inaugurated God's dream for the world through his ministry, and showed people how to bring about the reign of God, which will be completed at the end of time

Jesus' embodiment of the reign of God can be identified according to four significant aspects of Jesus' life and ministry: Jesus lives a life of prayer, Jesus lives a life of service to others, Jesus acts as an advocate for the poor and Jesus loves and forgives others

The Gospel portraits of Jesus show him to be a man of prayer, often withdrawing from the pressures of daily life to pray in a quiet place, and does so especially as he approaches key moments in his ministry and during times of personal crisis

Jesus also teaches his disciples some important principles of prayer such as the importance of praying for the needy

The Christian ethos of service to others is the directly modelled upon Jesus' life and ministry which is characterised by its service to others

A number of the sayings attributed to Jesus including the Beatitudes and the Golden Rule highlight this attitude of service

Jesus emphatically identifies with the strong ethical tradition in the Hebrew scriptures by making advocacy for the poor and disadvantaged a central characteristic of his ministry

Whilst advocacy for the poor has always been present in the Christian tradition, recent developments such as Liberation Theology has brought this important dimension into sharper focus

Jesus' attitude of love and forgiveness for the failings of others is most evident firstly in his forgiveness of the disciples who abandoned him and secondly in the famous prayer for the forgiveness of his own executioners

Some denominations have incorporated sacraments and other ceremonies to ritualise the importance of forgiveness

Jesus Christ



The development of early Christian communities

Students learn to:

Describe the early development of Christian communities after the death of Jesus

The Jesus movement which lasted from approximately 30-60 CE describes a period immediately following the death of Jesus where the infant Christian community saw itself as a sect which existed within the Jewish tradition

Little emphasis was placed on laying down the infrastructure of the movement because the followers believed that they were living in the last days before the Parousia, the second coming of Christ.

Small groups of Palestinian Jews followed Jesus through the preaching of disciples such as Peter in and around Palestine

Larger groups of Diaspora Jews and Gentiles responded to the preaching of Paul Paul is typically considered as the second founder of Christianity because he

helped to set up the structure of this new religion and hence confirm the status of Christianity vis-à-vis Judaism

The Council of Jerusalem in 49 CE formally resolved the debate which divided the Pauline and Palestinian groups. The Council accepted Paul's argument that Gentiles need not undergo circumcision in order to become Christians. This Council is an attempt to overcome differences within the infant Church. Despite the formal resolution of the problem the tensions between the two early communities continued for some time

The New Testament period which lasted from approximately 45 to 100 CE saw the gradual formalisation and centralisation of the Christian Churches which meant that this new religion was increasingly seen as distinct and separate from Judaism. The need to institutionalise the charism of the movement came about as a result of the delay of the Parousia and the death of the Apostles

In the 2nd and 3rd century Christians were persecuted by Jews and Romans alike


Principal Beliefs of Christianity Students learn about:

The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ The nature of God and the Trinity Revelation Salvation

Students learn to:

Outline the principal beliefs regarding the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ Explain the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for Christians Outline the beliefs about the nature of God and the Trinity Examine the Christian understanding of revelation Describe the Christian understanding of salvation

Jesus died for our sins

Jesus was crucified by the Roman authorities for being a political threat to the Roman Empire. Crucifixion was a form of execution commonly used by the Romans during the first century CE. Christians have traditionally believed that Jesus died for our sins. Jesus was sent by God to save all of humankind. This belief that Jesus died for our sins has on numerous occasions given rise to some questionable explanations. The concept that Christ died to save us from sin implicitly suggests that God would be appeased with the execution of an innocent person. Even more questionable is the inference that Jesus became human simply in order for him to be sacrificed because Jesus as the perfect example of humankind is the only person of sufficient value to pay this ransom. The unstated suggestion here is that there is a debt which needs to be paid to Satan in order to ransom humankind. This in itself is a dubious proposition.

Reflections on the death of Jesus


More adequate reflections on the idea of Jesus' death include a belief that death itself is an integral part of the human condition and one which is shared by Jesus. Another way of appreciating the importance of the death of Jesus is by seeing it as an example of the unconditional love of God. A further way of examining and understanding the importance of the death of Jesus is by seeing his selflessness even unto death as a clear model for discipleship. At a more symbolic level the death of an innocent person can be recognised as the ultimate consequence of selfishness.

Belief in the resurrection is a fundamental tenet of Christianity

The fundamental Christian belief in the resurrection of the body is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This belief is exemplified in the Nicene Creed which testifies not only to the resurrection of Jesus but also to the resurrection of the dead as a fundamental Christian belief. Jesus' resurrection and ascension are depicted slightly differently in the Gospels of John and Luke. John's Gospel depicts the resurrection, ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit as a simultaneous occurrence. Luke separates the event into three distinct occurrences spread over a number of weeks and culminating in the Pentecost where the divine is integrated with the human. The resurrection carries the meaning of eternal life which overcomes the limitations of human mortality.

Nature of risen Jesus

Theologians have long debated the nature of the risen Jesus. Here theologians are caught in a predicament because it is difficult to write about the resurrection of Jesus without denying either some form of a physical resurrection or denying some aspect of spiritual resurrection. It is difficult to depict the physical resurrection without reference to some form of resuscitation of the human body even though the resurrection is in fact a transformation.

Belief in the Trinity is a central tenet of Christianity

Christians believe that God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. In other words, God is all-knowing, all powerful and always present. Christians also believe that God is One but embodied in three persons, God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit as sanctifier. Belief in the Trinity is a central tenet of Christianity. God's promise of salvation has been fulfilled through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In other words, God is revealed as the trinity. God the Father is revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures, God the Son in the Christian scriptures and God the Spirit is revealed through the Church.

Trinitarian doctrine


This plurality in God is evident in the way Jesus calls God "abba" which means Father. Similarly early Christian practice indicates a liturgical use of this Trinitarian formula, "In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit". The Trinitarian doctrine states that there are three co-eternal, equal persons in one God. This doctrine was further developed and defined at the councils of Nicaea in 325 CE and Constantinople in 381 CE. The difficulty is reconciling monotheism with the notion of the three persons.

The various heresies and the councils which followed reflect a process of refining the understanding of the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In the fourth century there was considerable debate and discussion on how God was One and yet also three persons. In other words, how can unity co-exist with the notion of trinity? As this issue was debated a further question emerged, that is, the question of whether God is three only in terms of economy or is God three at an intra-divine level (immanence).

Cappadocian theology

In response to this, during the second half of the fourth century, the Cappadocian Fathers led by people such as Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus and Gregory, the younger brother of Basil, Bishop of Nyssa, made important contributions. These theologians claimed that God was of one essence (ousia) but three separate and distinct persons (hypostaseis). This divine essence is expressed through its embodiment in all three persons. It follows then that because there is a single divine essence which unites the three persons, the three persons actually dwell within each other, a state known as circumincession.

Furthermore, because the three persons are of one essence the actions of any particular person can be attributed to all persons. However, whilst this divine essence and nature is a common denominator for all three persons, the three persons had unique attributes which distinguished them. That is, fatherhood for the Father, sonship for the Son and sanctifying power for the Holy Spirit. Implicitly, Cappadocian theology adopts the concept of mutual relations which is the idea that the terms Father and Son are not names or titles but rather expressions of a relationship. For example, the Father is only Father in relation to the Son.

Whilst there is a numerical order in the procession of Father, Son and Spirit, such an order does not imply "greater than" or "before" in a temporal sense. In fact, Cappadocian theology asserts the notion that all three persons are co-equal and co-eternal. The notion that the three persons are co-eternal means that there was never a time when the Son and the Spirit did not exist alongside the Father. The notional of co-equality suggests that the notion of trinity is compatible with the concept of unity within community.

In the development of this Trinitarian theology the West tended to focus on the immanent trinity, that is, the interrelationship between the Father, the Son and the Spirit. The East on the other hand, tended to focus on economic trinity, that is, the role of trinity in relation to ourselves.


These differences in the conceptualisation of the Trinity between the East and the West continued in the filioque controversy. Essentially, this debate is concerned with whether the Father breathes forth the Holy Spirit through the Son, as the East argues or whether both Father and Son breathe forth the Spirit, as Western Christianity claims.

God is revealed to humankind through human history

Christians believe that God is revealed to human kind in and through the experiences of human history. God is understood to be intimately involved with all aspects of human life and accordingly human beings learn about God through divine revelation which occurs continuously as God relates to human kind and indeed to all of creation.

God is the source of revelation

Christians understand that God is the source of revelation. In other words it is a self revelation of God that provides the knowledge of the divine encountered in human experience. While there is only one source of revelation, this revelation takes place through a number of related vehicles.

Holy Spirit

The first of these vehicles is God's own Spirit dwelling within human beings. The Spirit enlivens the faith of Christians and brings to them a knowledge of God. The role of the Holy Spirit is paramount in the process of revelation as the Spirit inspires and guides Christians in all things. The Holy Spirit has inspired the writing of the Christian sacred text, the Bible and continually inspires the Christian Church to teach in fidelity to the truth of the Bible.

Bible

The second vehicle through which revelation is communicated is the sacred text, the Bible. Christians believe that the Bible is inspired by God and as such is the normative text for Christian life. Different groups within the Christian tradition understand this inspiration in different ways, however, all Christian groups believe that the Bible is the fundamental and normative text.

Teaching tradition of Church

The third vehicle is the teaching tradition of the Church. In the course of history the Church has continually taught in the name of God and Christians believe that this teaching tradition is also inspired by the Holy Spirit. Across the various denominations of Christianity there is considerable difference in the understanding of the importance of this tradition. In the Orthodox and Catholic denominations there is a clear emphasis on the role of the teaching tradition of the Church, particularly through the office of the Pope and the Patriarchs. In the Protestant denominations there is less emphasis on this role and greater emphasis on the teaching of the Bible in its own right.


Informal vehicles of revelation

Other vehicles of revelation can be seen in less formal areas such as the understanding of God being revealed in nature or in the loving relationship between spouses or parent and child. While these vehicles have significance they play a lesser role in Christian understanding to the main vehicles of Scripture and Tradition under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Revelation is an ongoing process

Revelation is understood to be an ongoing process and Christians believe that revelation is still unfolding in human experience. Some writers have sought to encapsulate this idea by speaking about the Church today writing the "Fifth Gospel" or the "Third Testament". These images help members of the Church today to understand the ongoing nature of revelation and to realise that their understanding of God is not simply a matter of studying ancient historical themes.

"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Excerpts such as this one from John's gospel and many other similar statements reflect the core of the Christian understanding of salvation.

Christian belief in salvation

Expressed in its most simple terms Christians believe that salvation is offered as a gift from God through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Access to this gift of salvation comes through faith in Jesus.

These simple expressions of salvation are universally accepted by Christians. However, in practice there is considerable difference in its understanding among Christian groups.

Personal faith

The groups of Christians known as "born again" Christians believe that salvation is achieved through an individual's personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour in a moment of personal conversion. They regard this moment as being "born again". Such Christians would regard such a personal conversion as the only possible way of achieving salvation. This belief is based on the Johannine account of Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus. (John 3:1-8)

Good works

In contrast to this view other Christians who wish to highlight the obligation to act on behalf of the poor and dispossessed would refer to the accounts of the day of judgement where Jesus separates the "sheep from the goats" (Matthew 25:31-46). The key indicator


of salvation here is not personal faith but the way a person has treated the 'least of these" (Matthew 25:40).

Faith and good works

In between these views lies the understanding that the requirement is a sincere faith which is enlivened with good works. This is similar in sentiment to the ideas expressed in the letter of James where the writer claims that faith without works is dead (James 2:17)

Jewish roots of Christian belief in salvation

In an historical sense, the Christian understanding of salvation draws deeply from the Jewish tradition of Moses and the Exodus. In this monumental event, the Hebrew people experienced the saving intervention of God taking them from slavery and setting them free. From this foundational experience, the Jewish tradition of a God involved in human concerns was born. It also taught the Hebrews that God's saving action was one of liberation.

Anawim

The Prophetic tradition of the Hebrew scriptures continues to call the people of Israel to be faithful to their covenental relationship with God. In particular the prophets remind the people of their obligation to care for the anawim who are the poor and defenceless members of society. The prophets remind the people of God's liberating intervention in their slavery and call them to avoid any actions that will lead to a loss of liberty for themselves and for others. In this call there is particular obligation to be advocates on the part of the most vulnerable members of the community.

Jesus is the fufilment of the promise of salvation

In his own preaching, Jesus identifies closely with the Hebrew prophetic tradition. In fact in announcing the time of salvation he emphatically identifies himself as the fulfilment of the promise of salvation.

Central elements of belief in salvation

In this brief survey of salvation history Christians recognise the central elements of their understanding of salvation. Firstly that God is the one who saves. Secondly that God's saving action is liberating and has a particular concern for those who are the most vulnerable in society. Thirdly that Jesus in his life and ministry embodies the saving action of God. Finally that Christians are called to accept the gift of God's saving action through their faith in Jesus and their own actions on behalf of those in need.


Summary PointsStudents learn about:

The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ

Students learn to:

Outline the principal beliefs regarding the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ

The Christological controversies of the fourth and fifth centuries were debates regarding the nature of Christ, and in particular the issue of his humanity versus his divinity

Docetism is a position which undermines the integrity of the humanity of Jesus because it claims that Jesus is fully divine but not truly human, because he is God merely adopting the appearance of being human

Arianism is the belief that Jesus is superior to the rest of creation but not equal to God because Jesus was created by God and thus is not eternal unlike God

The Council of Nicaea in 325 was called to fight against Arianism. The Council developed the Nicene Creed which stats that the Father and the Son are of one essence and hence Jesus is fully divine. The Council of Constantinople reaffirmed this decision

Nestorius undermined the unity of Jesus by claiming that Mary was the Mother of the human Jesus but not the divine Jesus, to suggest that there were two persons within Jesus

The Council of Ephesus in 431 CE rejected this view and confirmed the notion that there was only one person in Jesus and therefore Mary could rightfully be called the Mother of God (theokotos)


The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Students learn to:

Explain the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for Christians

Christians have traditionally believed that Jesus died for our sins This belief has given rise to some questionable explanations like the idea that God

would be appeased with the execution of an innocent person


Other questionable inferences include the idea that Jesus became human simply for him to be sacrificed because he is the only person of sufficient value to pay a ransom to God or Satan

More adequate reflections on the death of Jesus highlight the notion that death is an integral part of the human condition and one which is shared by Jesus

Other ways of appreciating the importance of the death of Jesus include seeing the death of Jesus as evidence of the unconditional love of God, or seeing Jesus' selflessness even unto death as a model for discipleship

The fundamental Christian belief in the resurrection of the body, as evident in the Nicene Creed is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Whilst Jesus' resurrection and ascension are depicted slightly differently in the Gospels of John and Luke, both stress the importance of the resurrection as carrying the meaning of eternal life that overcomes the limitations of human mortality

Theologians have long debated the nature of the risen Jesus. The difficulty is reconciling the physical resurrection with the spiritual resurrection, without downplaying either aspect


The nature of God and the Trinity

Students learn to:

Outline the beliefs about the nature of God and the Trinity

The doctrine of the Trinity states that God is One existing as three persons, God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit as sanctifier

The belief in the trinity is a central tenet of Christian belief God's promise of salvation has been fulfilled through the life, death and

resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, thus God is revealed as trinity

God the Father is revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures God the Son is revealed in the Christian Scriptures God the Spirit is revealed in the Church The Trinitarian doctrine states that there are three co-eternal, equal persons in

God, which is the notion of unity within community The Trinitarian doctrine was further developed and defined at the councils of

Nicaea in 325 CE and Constantinople in 381 CE God was always trinity, however gradually this reality became known through

revelation Jesus calls God "abba" (Father) and speaks of the spirit which indicates a plurality

in God Early Christian practice indicates liturgical/baptismal use of the formula "In the

name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit"


The difficulty is reconciling the concept of monotheism with the notion of God existing as three persons

Cappadocian theology taught that God was of one essence (ousia) but three persons (hypostaseis)

The divine essence is common to all three, however the three persons have attributes or properties which distinguished them eg Fatherhood, sonship and sanctifying power

Once essence means that the actions (creation, redemption, sanctification) are attributable to all

Mutual relations is the concept that the terms Father and Son are not titles but expressions of a relationship and thus all three persons are co-equal


Revelation

Students learn to:

Examine the Christian understanding of Revelation

God is intimately involved with all aspects of human life and thus God is revealed to humankind in and through the experiences of human history

The revelation is understood to be an ongoing process God is the only source of revelation God's revelation takes place through a number of vehicles One vehicle is God's Spirit that dwells within human beings which enlivens the

faith of Christians by bringing to them a knowledge of God The revelation is also communicated through the Bible, which Christians believe

is inspired by God Similarly, the teaching tradition of the Church is believed to have been inspired

by the Holy Spirit Even though all Christian groups believe that the Bible is the normative text, they

understand this inspiration in different ways In comparison with Protestant denominations, Orthodox and Catholic

denominations place a greater emphasis on the teaching authority of the Church, which is seen to be adjunct with the sacred scripture in communicating the revelation


Salvation

Students learn to:

Describe the Christian understanding of salvation.


Essentially, Christians believe that salvation is a gift from God, that is offered through the death and resurrection of Jesus

This gift is accessed through faith in Jesus The Christian understanding of salvation draws heavily from the Jewish tradition

of Moses and the Exodus, where the Hebrew people are liberated from slavery due to the saving intervention of God

From this, the Hebrew prophetic tradition calls the people of Israel to be faithful to their covenantal relationship with God

In particular the prophets remind the people of their obligation to care for the anawim who are the poor and defenceless members of society

In his own preaching, Jesus' association with the Hebrew prophetic tradition is clear in his emphatic identification of himself as the fulfilment of the promise of salvation

The major aspects of the Christian belief regarding salvation are as follows: Firstly God is the one who saves, secondly God's saving action is liberating and has a particular concern for those who are the most vulnerable in society. Thirdly that Jesus in his life and ministry embodies the saving action of God. Finally that Christians are called to accept the gift of God's saving action through their faith in Jesus and their own actions on behalf of those in need

There is a considerable difference in the understanding of salvation among Christian groups. "Born again" Christians believe that salvation is solely dependant on an individual's personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour in a moment of personal conversion

On the other hand, other Christians believe that the key indicator to salvation is not personal faith but works of merit, especially in the way a person has treated the most vulnerable people in society

In between these views lies the understanding that the requirement is a sincere faith which is enlivened with good works

Christianity: Sacred Texts and Writings

The focus of this study is the Principal Beliefs of Christianity.

Syllabus reference pages 20-21.

Sacred Texts and Writings of Christianity Students learn about:

Bible

Students learn to:

Identify the importance of the Bible in Christianity Examine extracts from the Bible which demonstrate the principal beliefs of

Christianity


Bible is the normative for Christianity

The Bible, which is a collection of books, is of critical importance in Christianity. It is normative for Christianity as it identifies the key beliefs and determines ethical, legal, ritual and spiritual foundations. Thus Christianity is commonly known as a religion of the book, as is Judaism and Islam. The Bible is foundational to Christianity because the Bible is regarded as the word of God.

Nature of the sacred text

For Christians the Bible includes the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament, sometimes referred to as the Hebrew Scriptures, is very similar to the Jewish sacred text the Tenak. The Old Testament can be roughly divided into four sections. The first five books are known as the Pentateuch. The second group of books, the Historical books, are books with an historical character. Thirdly there is a collection of the writings of the Prophets and finally other writings such as the Psalms and Proverbs which are broadly classified as Wisdom literature. The New Testament contains four Gospels, an account of the development of the early Church knows as the Acts of the Apostles, a series of letters to Churches or individuals written by Paul and other early Church leaders and an apocalyptic work called the book of Revelation or the book of the Apocalypse.

Deutero Canonical or Apocryphal books

All books of the New Testament and the vast majority of Old Testament books are accepted by all Christian groups and thereby are considered as part of the canon of scripture. A small number of books in the Old Testament have a disputed status in the canon. These books, written in Greek in the late Old Testament period, are accepted by Catholic and Orthodox Christians, however are regarded as Deutero Canonical books by some other Christian denominations. This means belonging to a second canon or second collection. In Protestant groups these books are not accepted as part of the canon of scripture and are referred to as apocryphal books or apocrypha. These books are often found in bibles but designated as Deutero Canonical or Apocryphal books.

Bible is inspired by God

Christians believe that the Bible is inspired by God and thus carries the authority of God. Consequently, the Bible provides a special connection between God and humans and provides human beings with deep spiritual insight into their religion. The belief that the Bible is inspired by God is a belief held in common by all Christians, yet, the understanding of this inspiration differs from group to group. Some Christians believe the


inspiration of scripture amounts to God dictating a word for word account which was then recorded and passed on in the Christian communities. Such beliefs are in the realm of a fundamentalist understanding which also insists that every aspect and every detail of the bible must be held to be true in a literal sense. Such an understanding is likely to be found among the evangelical groups within Protestantism.

Other Christian groups understand that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit came in and through the human insights and understanding of the authors of the text who were reflecting and passing on the faith of their community. In this way the writers were indeed authors in the true sense of the word and brought their own unique gifts to the task of writing. In and through this human activity, the inspiration of the Spirit is present and the result is a sacred texts which fully and profoundly expresses the revelation of God. This understanding affirms that the Bible carries all that is necessary for human salvation but does not require that the reader accept every aspect in a literal sense. This understanding is found among the Catholic and Orthodox strands of Christianity as well as the High Church Anglicans and some Protestant denominations

Bible contains salvation history

The Bible depicts the hand of God intervening in human history. In other words, the Bible contains the salvation history from the origins of creation through the covenant with the people of Israel, the teaching of the prophets and finally the new covenant inaugurated through the life and ministry of Jesus.

Model for Christian life action

Christianity draws many of its practices and teachings from the Bible. The Bible conveys an understanding of a model of life and action. These actions are based on broad principles rather than specific teachings that outline what is required of Christians on a day to day basis. In this way, the Bible is a source of unity for Christians as it provides a link to a communal religious heritage. Since the Bible provides a model for action the fundamental source of ethical guidance is derived from the Bible and in particular the New Testament which contains the four Gospels. Thus the Bible provide guidance for individual Christians as well as for Christian communities.

Different application of the Bible across the spectrum of Christianity

The Bible, while being of critical and equal importance to all Christian denominations, is nevertheless used differently across the spectrum of denominations. The Catholic and Orthodox denominations believe that the revelation of God comes through scripture in the light of Tradition. In other words, tradition or Church teaching illuminates the meaning of scripture. In contrast, Protestants do not place the same emphasis on tradition as a means of illuminating the meaning of the sacred text because. That is, the teaching


authority of the Church is seen as relevant, but they are more directly related to Biblical teaching. Instead, Protestants reaffirm the concept of sola scriptura which means 'scripture alone', in using a more direct application of the Bible. Thus, personal conscience and individual interpretation of the Biblical texts are more pronounced in Protestant Churches.

Within Protestantism, there are also variations regarding the application of the Bible. High Church Anglicans adopt a position that is similar to the Catholic and Orthodox stance in their belief that scripture and tradition go hand in hand. Low Church Anglicans embrace a more fundamentalist approach to the Bible.

Stemming from its significant impact on beliefs the Bible also has a vital role in determining the rituals and practical dimensions of Christianity. The Bible for example underpins study from a theological perspective. It provides guidelines for ritual, prayer and worship, the latter being strongly based on scripture.

The following areas are identified as principal beliefs of Christianity

The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

The nature of God and the Trinity Revelation Salvation

For each of these principal beliefs three extracts from the New Testament will be examined.

The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ

Matthew 16:13-20

This extract from Matthew refers to an event which is also recorded in the other synoptic gospels. It occurs at a time when Jesus is beginning or about to begin his journey to Jerusalem where ultimately he will be arrested and executed.

Jesus asks the disciples what the people are saying about him. More exactly he asks "who do people say that the son of man is" (Mt16-13). Various responses are forthcoming before Jesus asks a second question. "Who do you say that I am" (Mt 16:15). Peter gives the answer "You are the messiah.the son of the living God". Peter's response is affirmed by Jesus who claims that such an insight has been revealed to him by the Father.

The extract very clearly affirms the belief of the Mattheaen community that not only was Jesus the chosen one of Israel - the Messiah, he was also the Son of God. To claim sonship was tantamount to claiming equality with God. Thus the extract demonstrates the belief in the divinity of Jesus. While making no explicit reference to the humanity of


Jesus it nonetheless affirms this reality with the human Jesus of Nazareth being heralded as Son of God.

John 1:1-14

The beginning of the gospel of John speaks poetically about the origins of creation and how Jesus, the word, was with God in all eternity (Jn 1:1-3).

The passage uses the imagery of the light breaking into the darkness to allude to the great act of salvation in Jesus. It then speaks of the role of John the Baptist as the forerunner to Jesus before returning to focus on the role of Jesus as the word.

In verse 14 it describes how Jesus, the eternal word of God, came to dwell among us and be one with us. Literally the text says "he pitched his tent among us". This is a powerful image highlighting the full humanity of Jesus.

Hebrews 4:14-16

This extract from the letter to the Hebrew begins with a statement affirming the divinity of Jesus "we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens" (Heb 4:14). It then goes on to explain that in Jesus the high priest there is also the dimension of him having experienced all that is associated with human existence (Heb 4:15).

In other words, Jesus is fully human and thus able to understand the exact nature of the human condition. Yet, he is also fully divine and thus able to intercede for human kind. He has both the power to save and the compassion to empathise with human need.

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Luke 9: 22

This extract from the gospel of Luke comes immediately after Peter's declaration of faith in Jesus as the messiah. It is one of three passion predictions which are found in the synoptic gospels. These passion predictions have Jesus announcing the circumstances of his coming death as he journeys towards Jerusalem.

The significance of this passage is that is shows that Jesus' death and resurrection were a necessary part of his mission. In other words these predictions, placed in the mouth of Jesus by the synoptic writers, identify the inevitability of his death and at the same time the certainty of his resurrection.

Thus the communities writing the gospel affirm their faith in Jesus dying on the cross and then being raised on the third day as a central and indispensable part of their gospel message.


1 Corinthians 15:12-19

This extract from Paul's first letter to the Church at Corinth is the first part of a long discussion on the matter of the resurrection. It is important to note that many of Paul's teachings come in response to questions from the community of in order to challenge beliefs and practices that have arisen which are contrary to the gospel.

In this situation Paul seems to be challenging an idea among the Corinthians that there will be no resurrection of the dead. Paul affirms in the strongest possible terms that the resurrection is an integral part of Christian belief. Paul argues that "if Christ was not raised, your faith is worthless (1Cor15:16)

1 Corinthians 15:35-44

The second part of Paul's discussion on the resurrection deals with the manner of the resurrection. Once again it is clear that he is responding to matters that have arisen in the Church at Corinth. Paul uses the analogy of a seed dying and a plant sprouting to affirm that resurrection is a transformation of the body and not merely a resuscitation of the body.

He finishes his discussion by affirming the eternal or incorruptible nature of the resurrected body in contrast to the mortal human body which is subject to decay. He also affirms the strength, glory and spiritual character of the resurrected body (1 Cor 15:42-44)

The nature of God and the Trinity

Luke 3:21-22

This passage from Luke's gospel is an account of Jesus being baptised by John. It is an event which is found in each of the synoptic gospels and perhaps alluded to in a passage from John's gospel (Jn 1:31-34).

The passage is significant because through the mind of the author it provides a glimpse into the three persons of the trinity. Jesus has been baptised and while he is at prayer the Spirit descends on him in the form of a dove. At the same time the voice of the Father is heard declaring that his favour rests on Jesus his son (Lk 3:22).

Thus is Luke's simple description there is testimony to the three persons of the trinity in relationship at the time of the baptism of Jesus.


John 16:5-16

This passage from John forms part of the long prayer prayed by Jesus on the night before his death. This particular part of the prayer focuses on Jesus' departure and the subsequent coming of the Spirit.

The passage includes reference to the Father and Spirit in the prayer of Jesus once again affirming the belief in the trinity held by the writer through the description of the three persons of the trinity in relationship.

1 John 5:1-12

The extract from the first letter of John is another example reflecting the faith of the early Church in the trinity of Father, Son and Spirit.

The first verse in this section identifies a relationship between Jesus and the Father (1Jn 5:1). The same verse highlights the closeness of the relationship between the believer and these two persons of the trinity speaking of faith in Jesus and love of the Father.

Later in verse 6 the writer speaks of the role of the Holy Spirit in giving testimony to Jesus and affirming the truth of this testimony.

Finally in verses 11 and 12 the writer again speaks of the testimony of the Spirit and refers to the relationship between Jesus and the Father thus affirming the tradition of belief in the trinity.

Revelation

John 20:30-31

This extract from the gospel of John deals with the purpose of scripture. Scripture is recognised as a key vehicle of revelation.

In this extract the writer indicates that the reason the gospel account has been prepared is to provide an incentive to believe in Jesus. In other words it identifies the rhetorical character of the text. It is not written to provide documentary evidence or biographical detail. It is written in order that the hearer or reader may be convinced and thus led to faith. With this in mind it is possible to understand the historical character as incidental to the main purpose.

The gospel can be therefore understood as a document of faith. It is a reflection of the faith of the early Church community and an invitation for the audience to embrace the same faith.


2 Timothy 3:15-16

This extract from the second letter of Paul to Timothy contains a number of statements which are at the heart of the Christian understanding of revelation.

Firstly it speaks of Timothy's life long knowledge of the sacred scriptures and affirms these as "the source of wisdom which through faith in Jesus Christ leads to salvation" (2 Tim 3:15). This verse also affirms the purpose of this "wisdom" as leading to salvation.

The following verse reflects the Christian belief that scripture is inspired by God and also highlights its usefulness for teaching and also for correcting errors in the community.

2 Peter 1:20-21

This passage from the second letter of Peter addresses the theme of prophecy and individual interpretation. It also takes up the theme of the inspiration of scripture.

The passage begins by denying that there is any element of personal interpretation found in the prophecy of scripture. This is followed by an affirmation that it is the inspiration of the Spirit which is the source of prophecy. The aspect of the inspiration of the Spirit is identified here as acting under the influence of God.

This passage affirms therefore that the scriptures contain that which God wishes to be passed on. This affirmation is tempered by the notion that scripture is written for the purpose of encouraging faith, not to provide historical, scientific or other perspectives.

Salvation

Matthew 25:26-31

This passage presents a scene from the last judgement when all people are to be called before God to give account of their lives. In this depiction people are separated into two groups. One of these groups is to be blessed with the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. The second group is those to be condemned to "the everlasting fire" (Mt 21:41).

In this judgement scene the factor which distinguishes the blessed from the condemned is their treatment of others and in particular the treatment of the most vulnerable in the community. These vulnerable ones are referred to as "the least of these brethren of mine" (Mt 25:40).

The implication of this passage is that eternal salvation is integrally connected to the treatment of others especially those who have the greatest need.


John 3:16-17

Perhaps the best known of all scripture texts is verse 16 of this passage from John. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not die but may have eternal life." (Jn 3:16). This verse conveys the relationship between the sending of Jesus by the Father and the gift of salvation.

This idea is further explained in verse 17 "that the world may be saved through him" which illustrates the fundamental Christian belief that salvation comes through Jesus.

Romans 5: 1-11

In his letter to the Romans, Paul goes to considerable length to explain his thesis about the way Jesus has brought salvation to humankind. One example of this explanation is his discussion of faith, hope and love in this famous section of the letter.

He begins by affirming the belief that it is through faith in Jesus Christ that we find peace with God (Rom 5:1). He goes on to explain that the event of Christ's death highlights the degree of God's love for humankind (Rom 5:8).

This love is at the heart of God's saving action and the assurance of this salvation brought by the love of God provides humankind with hope to experience eternal life with God (Rom 5:2).


The Bible

Students learn to:

Identify the importance of the Bible in Christianity

The books in the Bible are divided into two main collections, the Old Testament also known as the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament

The Bible is considered to be the word of God as it is inspired by God and thus provides deep spiritual insights for Christians into their religion

The exact nature of the inspiration is a topic of contention. Fundamentalist Christians interpret Biblical inspiration in a literal sense, in that

the inspiration of scripture amounts to God dictating a word for word account which was then recorded and passed on into the Christian communities

Catholic and Orthodox denominations, together with High Church Anglicans and some Protestant denominations believe that the Holy Spirit inspired human beings who came to an enlightened understanding of God and recorded these reflections as a way of passing their faith onto the community. Therefore, the Bible contains


all that is necessary for human salvation however the Bible should not be understood in literal terms

The Bible is important because it contains salvation history, the account of the history of creation that shows the action of God in human history culminating in the life and ministry of Jesus.

The Bible is normative for Christianity, highlighting key beliefs and determining the practical application of legal, ethical and ritual dimensions

The Bible is seen to provide guidelines for ritual, prayer and worship The Bible provides the model for life action particularly in relation to ethical

guidance The Bible underpins theological studies The application of the Bible differs across the spectrum of Christian

denominations Catholic and Orthodox denominations believe that tradition illuminates the

meaning of scripture, in that the revelation of God comes through scripture in the light of tradition

Protestant groups follow the teachings of Luther, who taught that the only source Christians should turn to for inspiration is the Bible.

The belief in "bible alone" is known as sola scriptura The belief in sola scriptura is particularly strong amongst evangelical Protestants High Church Anglicans believe that tradition and scripture go hand in hand


The Bible

Students learn to:

Examine extracts from the Bible which demonstrate the principal beliefs of Christianity

The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ o Matthew 16:13-20 - Jesus is the Son of God and therefore Jesus is fully

divine o John 1:1-14 - Jesus is fully human as well as being co-eternal with the

Father, in that he existed alongside God throughout all of eternity o Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus is fully human and is thus able to understand the

exact nature of the human condition. Yet, he is also fully divine and thus able to intercede for human kind. In other words, he has both the power to save and the compassion to empathise with human need

The nature of God and the Trinity o Luke 3:21-22 - Luke's description is testimony to the three persons of the

trinity in relationship at the time of the baptism of Jesus o John 16:5-16 - This segment of Jesus' prayer focuses on the

interrelationship between the three persons in the Trinity, especially the subsequent coming of the Spirit following Jesus' departure


o John 5:1-12 - This passage speaks of the interrelationship between the three persons of the Trinity. Firstly, there is a close relationship between the believer through the Holy Spirit that flows from the Father and the Son and secondly the Holy Spirit gives testimony to the truth of Jesus

Revelation o John 20:30-31 - The Scripture is recognised as a key vehicle of revelation,

in reflecting the faith of the early Church community and inviting the audience to embrace the same faith

o 2 Timothy 3:15-16 - The scriptures are a source of wisdom and lead us to have faith in Jesus who brings us the gift of salvation. Scripture is inspired by God

o 2 Peter 1:20-21 - The Holy Spirit inspires people to write the Scriptures with the intent of encouraging faith and not necessarily to provide historical and scientific evidence of God

Salvation o Matthew 25:26-31 - Eternal salvation is integrally connected to the

treatment of others especially those who have the greatest need o John 3:16-17 - This verse highlights the fundamental Christian belief that

salvation comes through Jesus o Rom 5:1-11 - Salvation comes through faith in Jesus, whose death reflects

God's saving action and hence God's love of humankind

Christianity: Core Ethical Teachings

The focus of this study is the Core Ethical Teachings of Christianity.

Syllabus reference pages 20-21.

Core Ethical Teachings of Christianity Students learn about:

The Ten Commandments New Testament ethics

o The Beatitudes o Jesus' commandment of love

Students learn to:

Outline the principal ethical teachings in: o The Ten Commandments o The Beatitudes o Jesus' commandment of love


Describe the importance of ethical teachings in the life of adherents

The major source of ethical guidance for Christians is the New Testament

The major source of ethical guidance for Christians is the New Testament which contains the Gospels. Thus, the teachings of Jesus Christ lie at the core of Christian ethics. Additionally, the Ten Commandments, contained in the Old Testament, and also know as the Decalogue are an important source of ethical guidance for Christians. There are two versions of the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament. One is found in Exodus 20:1-17 and the other in Deuteronomy 5:6-21.

Given that Christianity branched off from its parent religion Judaism, it is not surprising to find that the two tradition share common elements of scripture, namely the Tenach or the Old Testament. The ten commandments are at the heart of the covenant tradition in the Old Testament and provide and important background and context for the ethical teaching of Jesus found in the New Testament

Nature of the Ten Commandments

The first two commandments state the importance of worshipping God and God alone. Accordingly the use of magic and the worship of idols are forbidden. The third commandment relates to the importance of observing the Sabbath and keeping it sacred for God. The nature of the relationship between God and human beings mirrors the path that human beings should take when relating and interacting with each other. The remaining seven commandments present guidelines for human interaction and how human beings should treat each other. These commandments emphasise the importance of human life and the need to respect family and personal integrity. Importance of the Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments are a succinct summary of Christian ethics. They are frequently used as a framework for the key principles of Christian ethics. The Ten Commandments were not explicitly prominent in the teaching of the early Church possibly because Jesus did not explicitly cite each of the commandments. However, he did use the Ten Commandments as a backdrop for his own ethical teachings. Not only did he refer to and make use of these commandments in his teaching, he also used them as a means to highlight the requirements of the new covenant. This use of the commandments is particularly evident in his sermon on the mount (Mt 5-7) which is a foundational element of New Testament ethical teaching.


Key source of ethical guidance is the New Testament

The fundamental source of ethical guidance for Christians is the New Testament. The New Testament contains some of Jesus' most significant ethical statements. That is, the requirement to love God with all your heart, soul and strength and to love your neighbour as yourself, and the requirement that love is the basic condition of the Christian life. The voluminous mass of Christian ethics can be distilled into these core principles.

Beatitudes

The Beatitudes are regarded as a foundational passage for Christian ethics. The Beatitudes is the name given to the famous and definitive part of the Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes, as noted in Matthew 5:2-12 and Luke 6:20-26 the Sermon on the Plain, describes a life directed towards saintliness and holiness. Thus, the Beatitudes provide a model or a template for the Christian life.

The Beatitudes provide an ethical stance which stands in contrast to the dominant culture. They point to an inversion of values whereby the things that are often regarded as having no value according to the dominant culture are celebrated and affirmed in the reign of God. In another sense they provide a warning against an approach to life which values only material strength and power. The inference is that such values are illusory and temporary.

Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount provides other important guidance for Christian ethics. For example Luke 6:27 asks us to "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you". Similarly Matthew 5:39 instructs us that "When a person strikes you on the right cheek, turn and offer him the other". In essence, Christian ethics can be summed up as "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". (Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31) This passage, known as the golden rule, is the key concept which underpins all Christian ethical teachings.

Jesus' commandment of love

Jesus' commandment of love can be distilled into two categories, love of God and love of neighbour. Christianity draws on two central texts of the Old Testament to understand the covenantal notions of love of God and love of neighbour. Leviticus 19:18 advises the reader to "Love your neighbour as yourself". Deuteronomy 6:4-6 urges the reader to "Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts". Mark 12:31 affirms that "there is no commandment greater than these".

Love of neighbour is taken to a new level


In the ministry of Jesus this commandment to love your neighbour is raised to a new level when Jesus says that, "You have heard that it was said, 'love your neighbour and hate your enemy'. But I tell you 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you". (Matthew 5:43-44) Thus Christians are called to model their lives on the love of Jesus which in itself fulfils the requirement of love. Paul notes that love is the element which fulfils the law.

Love is the identifying characteristic of the Christian life

The requirement to love is conveyed in terms of a new commandment in John's Gospel. To love one another, as God loves each person is seen as the identifying characteristic of the Christian life which sets Christians apart from the rest of the world. The Gospel of John instructs Christians; "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another". (John 13:34-35) To love is to share the essence of God, as seen in 1 John 4:7-8, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love ”. Christians see in Jesus’ example of love the model which they are to follow. Jesus’ love is a love without limits, a sacrificial love which is seen in his self giving on the cross.

Similarly, Paul identifies love as the essential quality that gives life and meaning to all other virtues. In other words, all other virtues are futile, when they are separated from love. Thus, he calls Christians to live a life motivated by love. This can be seen in the famous and oft-quoted passage, 1 Corinthians 13. "I can speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal". Thus, Jesus' commandment of love offers fundamental guidance for Christians in the area of ethics.

Differences in the application of general Biblical principles

There are no identifiable differences among the various Christian denominations concerning their understanding of Jesus' commandment of love since all Christian denominations base their ethical guidance on Biblical teachings. There are some differences, however, regarding the application of these principles to particular ethical issues. But these differences are not overly significant. This difference stems from the fact that the Catholic and Orthodox denominations place a greater emphasis on the teaching tradition of the Church. Ethical teaching among the Protestant denominations is more directly linked to Biblical teaching. Hence there is a more direct application of the Biblical principles in Protestant Churches.


Importance of ethical teaching in the life of adherents

Followers of the Christian religion can be expected to place considerable value on the ethical teachings of the tradition in determining their response to a wide range of issues. These teachings provide guidance which enable to adherents of Christianity to make informed moral choices according to the principles of the tradition.

The guidance that is provided and the way in which adherents respond can be in general or specific terms and may be in a direct sense or through a broad overall direction.

General guidance

In the first instance the general direction of life for adherents of the Christian tradition will be provided through examples such as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21), The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:2-12 and Luke 6:20-26) and the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31). Texts such as these can be seen as the foundational principles underpinning the Christian ethical system. Accordingly it would be expected that Christians would strive to live their lives in line with the principles espoused in such passages. In this way it can be seen that the ethical teaching of Christianity provides broad, overall guidance to the followers of the tradition.

Life and ministry of Jesus

Another form of ethical guidance for Christians is found through the use of the example of the life and ministry of Jesus. Christians seek to model their lives on the life and ministry of Jesus and as such the ethical standards practised by Jesus in the course of his life become guides for the actions of Christians. In general terms the Christian ethos of caring for those in need can be directly attributed to the example of Jesus. Other examples from the life and ministry of Jesus include opposition to oppression and advocacy for the vulnerable together with qualities such as love and forgiveness.

Specific guidance

On a more specific level guidance is also given through the teaching of the Christian tradition in relation to current ethical issues.

Traditionally Christianity has been depicted as presenting ethical teaching on a fairly narrow range of issues usually associated with sexual morality and bio-ethics. While it is true that sexual morality and bio-ethics have been the focus of a considerable amount of Christian ethical teaching they are far from the only areas of concern.

Other areas of concern in recent times have been in the field of international economics including debt, trade and other instances of business ethics. Ecological concerns have also been the focus of a considerable amount of ethical teaching in the Christian tradition as has the use of force international conflicts.


In general terms Christian ethical teaching in areas such as sexual morality and bio ethics has been in line with conservative forces in society. In contrast the ethical teaching on issues of economic, ecological and military significance are more in line with progressive elements in society.

This diversity makes it difficult to gauge the effect of Christian ethical teaching in an overall sense. In reality it is common to find examples of Christian adherents embracing the teaching on one issue while rejecting it on another.

Thus while Christian adherents are usually influenced by Christian ethical teaching in terms of broad principles there is a great deal of diversity in the acceptance of ethical teaching on specific contemporary issues.

Summary Points: Core Ethical TeachingsStudents learn about:

The Ten Commandments New Testament ethics The Beatitudes Jesus' commandment of love

Students learn to:

Outline the principal ethical teachings in:

The Ten Commandments The Beatitudes Jesus’ commandment of love

Describe the importance of ethical teachings in the life of adherents.

The Ten Commandments o The Ten Commandments (Decalogue) contained in the Old Testament is a

critical source of ethical guidance for Christians o The Ten Commandments are a succinct summary of Christian ethics, and

emphasise the importance of human life and the need to respect family and personal integrity

o Christians frequently use the Ten Commandments as a framework for the key principles of Christian ethics.


The Beatitudes o The fundamental source of ethical guidance for Christians is the New

Testament, which contains some of Jesus’ most significant ethical statements.

o The Beatitudes which describes a life directed towards holiness is regarded as a foundational passage for Christian ethics.

o The Beatitudes provide a model for the Christian life because it warns against an approach which values only material strength and power, by pointing to an inversion of values whereby things that are often regarded as having no value according to the dominant culture are celebrated in the reign of God.

Jesus' commandment of love o Jesus’ commandment of love can be distilled into the primary covenantal

notions of love of God and love of neighbour. o In the ministry of Jesus, the commandment to love your neighbour is taken

to a new level because Christians are required not only to love their neighbour but also to love their enemies.

o John’s Gospel conveys this requirement to love in terms of a new commandment as love is identified as the defining characteristic of the Christian life.

o Love is seen as the fulfilment of the law because love is the essential quality that gives meaning to all other virtues.

o The Golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto do, is said to sum up Christian ethics.

o There are no identifiable differences between the various Christian denominations in how they understand Jesus’ commandment of love.

o In terms of applying these principles, differences do arise between the different Christian denominations in relation to the emphasis that should be placed on Church authority however these differences are not overly significant.

The importance of ethical teachings in the life of adherents. o Christians are expected to place considerable value on the ethical

teachings of the tradition in determining their response to a wide range of issues

o General ethical guidance is provided by the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and the Golden Rule


o The life and ministry of Jesus provides a model for life action of Christians. This is reflected in the Christian ethos of caring for the needy and the vulnerable

o Specific guidance is also provided in relation to contemporary ethical issues such as sexual morality, bioethics, international economics, ecological concerns and the use of force in international conflicts

o Generally speaking, Christian ethical teaching in areas such as sexual morality and bioethics have been in line with conservative forces in society

o Ethical teaching on issues of economic, ecological and military significance are more in line with progressive elements in society

o This diversity makes it difficult to gauge the effect of Christian ethical teaching in an overall sense

Specimen Questions

Outline the main ethical teachings of Christianity and assess their role in guiding the lives of adherents.

Analyse the relationship among the principal elements of ethical teaching in Christianity.

Sample ResponsesOutline the main ethical teachings of Christianity and assess their role in guiding the lives of adherents

The main ethical teachings of Christianity can be found in the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31), the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-7 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21) and the Beatitudes. The voluminous mass of Christian ethics can be distilled into the covenantal requirement to love God, and to love your neighbour, which is expressed in terms of a new commandment in the Gospel of John. In essence, this requirement of love can be further simplified as the Golden Rule.

These main ethical teachings are of critical importance in guiding the response of adherents to ethical dilemmas by offering a general model for Christian life that is founded on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. These general ethical principles arose out of the context of Jesus' advocacy for the vulnerable and core values from his ministry such as love and forgiveness. There is little difference in the understanding of these fundamental ethical teachings across the spectrum of Christian denominations. Differences arise, however, regarding the specific application of these general principles because of the different emphasis placed on the teaching authority of the Church in illuminating the specific meaning of these ethical principles.


All followers of the Christian religion can be expected to place considerable value on the ethical teachings of Christianity in guiding them to make informed moral choices. The application of the key ethical principles varies across the denominations in terms of what sort of specific ethical guidance it provides. Catholic and Orthodox denominations place a greater emphasis on the guidance of Church authorities in the area of ethics. This is because they believe that the revelation of God comes through scripture in the light of tradition. In other words, tradition illuminates the meaning of scripture. In contrast Protestant denominations place greater emphasis on the central role of the bible in providing ethical guidance. Even within Protestant denominations however, there are subtle variations regarding the way in which scripture guides the lives of the adherents. High Church Anglicans have an approach that is similar to the Catholic and Orthodox denominations in their belief that scripture a nd tradition go hand in hand. In contrast the Low Church Anglicans take a more fundamentalist approach to the Bible.

Despite these differences of application, there are very few identifiable differences across the Christian spectrum regarding the understanding of the primary ethical teachings that guide adherents. The general direction of life for adherents is contained in the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. The Ten Commandments offer a succinct summary of Christian ethics stressing the importance of human life and the need to respect family and personal integrity. The commandments also known as the Decalogue provide the backdrop for an understanding of New Testament ethics.

In the New Testament the Beatitudes is a critical passage that underpins the Christian ethical system. The Beatitudes, which are found in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, provide a model for Christian life by describing a life of advocacy for the poor and vulnerable and thus stressing the values of kindness, mercy, compassion and justice. The emphasis in the Beatitudes on an ethical stance which stands in contrast to the dominant culture, that values material strength and power, mirrors the counter-cultural nature of Christian ethics. For example, Jesus teaches us that the wealth of Christian ethical laws can be distilled into two primary categories, love of God and love of neighbour. Love therefore, as Paul notes in Letters to the Corinthians is the requirement that fulfils the law as it is the element which gives meaning to all other virtues.

This requirement of love is taken to a new level in the ministry of Jesus where the commandment to love your neighbour is extended to love for enemies. This can be seen in Luke 6:27 which urges us to "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you". The importance of this core requirement of love is evident in that the requirement is conveyed in terms of a new commandment in the Gospel of John. Here, love of neighbour as God has loved us is seen as the identifying characteristic of the Christian life. This requirement of love can be summed up as "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31). This concept, also known as the Golden Rule provides a broad principle that guides the lives of the adherents.

What is evident is that the main ethical teachings of Christianity are based on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Accordingly then, another primary source of ethical guidance for Christians is the life of Jesus. Jesus is the embodiment of the primary Christian virtues


mentioned above. These virtues flowed into his life of advocacy for the weak and vulnerable members of society. Therefore, it is safe to say that the general Christian ethos of caring for those in need is directly attributable to the example of Jesus.

The main ethical principles of Christianity readily flow into specific teachings and guidance on current ethical issues. Traditionally, many believe that Christianity only offers ethical advice on a narrow range of issues, usually associated with sexual morality and bio-ethics. This sort of teaching has been in line with more conservative forces in society. Other areas of teaching, however, teaching on issues of economic, ecological and military significance are more in line with the progressive elements in society. Considering the enormous diversity of issues traversed by Christian ethics it is difficult to accurately assess the overall effect of Christian ethical teachings.

In conclusion it is evident that there are significant similarities regarding the interpretation of the main ethical teachings, relating to the love of God and neighbour, love as the identifying characteristic of the Christian life and the Golden rule, a role reversal principal. This is because all Christian denominations base their ethical guidance on biblical teachings, and especially the New Testament which contains the four Gospels.

Accordingly, Christian adherents are guided in terms of broad ethical principles. When it comes to the specific application of these overall principles, however, there is an enormous diversity regarding the acceptance of ethical teaching on specific contemporary issues. On top of this, the different views regarding the acceptance of Church teachings on ethical principles means that there is an even greater diversity on how the general ethical principles are applied to specific situations Nevertheless, it is clear that Christian ethics do play a significant role in helping adherents make informed moral choices according to the principles of the tradition.

Outline and explain the principal ethical teachings contained in the Ten Commandments and the New Testament (scaffold)

Introduction (193 words)

The chief source of ethical guidance for Christians is the New Testament and the Gospels. The Old Testament, which contains the Ten Commandments, forms the background upon which Christians come to understand the ethical requirements of the New Testament. While the Ten Commandments underpin the principal beliefs in Christian ethics, the New Testament offers a further distillation of the ethical laws contained in the Old Testament into love of God and love of neighbour.

Furthermore, the New Testament takes the underlying covenantal requirement of love to a new level where firstly, Christians are required to love one's enemy and secondly, because of this, love becomes the identifying characteristic of Christian life. The Beatitudes are a widely used source of ethical guidance for Christians and the Golden Rule is said to sum up Christian ethics.


There is little recognisable difference amongst the Christian denominations regarding the importance of the main ethical principles. However, there are some differences of application when broad principles are employed to specific issues due to the differing opinion between the Protestant and Catholic Churches regarding the emphasis that should be given to the teaching authority of the Church.

Section 1 (150 words)

Give a brief summary of the contents of the Ten Commandments and state that the Decalogue is held in common by Jews and Christians alike. Explain the importance of these commandments in the context of Christian ethics. Explain the relationship between the nature of the commandments as a succinct summary of Christian ethics and the way it is used to structure Christian ethics in general. Evaluate the importance of the Ten Commandments by stating that they were not used regularly by early Christians, but were used more frequently in later Church history.


Emphasise the fact that the fundamental source of ethical guidance for Christians is the New Testament because it contains the Gospels. Provide a succinct summary of the key ethical statements contained in the New Testament, such as the Golden Rule and the requirement to love your neighbour and to love God. Link this to a brief statement about the role of the Bible as providing a model for life action.


Evaluate the importance of the Beatitudes by emphasising its role as a foundational passage in Christian ethics. Locate the Beatitudes, as being the definitive passage within the Sermon on the Mount. Give a brief summary of the contents of the Beatitudes and link this to the role of New Testament ethics as setting out a template for Christian life. State that the Sermon on the Mount also contains the Golden rule and cite the passage in the Bible for this principle. Evaluate the importance of the Golden rule by stating that it is considered to be the summation of Christian ethics.


Explain Jesus' commandment of love as the distillation of Christian ethics into love of God and love of neighbour. Provide a brief explanation of what these terms mean by citing relevant passages from the Bible. Link this to the question by demonstrating how these principles relate to the application of Christian ethics for believers.


Discuss how this requirement to love is conveyed in terms of a new commandment in John's Gospel. Evaluate the importance of this requirement as the identifying characteristic of Christian life and cite relevant Biblical passages to demonstrate this


point. Provide further explanation regarding the importance of this requirement of love, by showing that love is considered to be the essential quality which gives meaning and life to all other virtues. Cite relevant Biblical passages to strengthen this point.


Evaluate the importance of these principal ethical teachings in relation to their application by the different Christian denominations. Emphasise the fact that there are no identifiable differences among the different denominations concerning their understanding of these principles, rather these differences relate to the application of this knowledge to specific situations. State that Protestant denominations make more direct use of Biblical authority, whereas the Catholic and Orthodox Churches place a greater emphasis on the teaching authority of the Church. Briefly explain the reasons for the Protestant stance on Biblical authority by relating it to the causes of the Protestant Reformation.

Conclusion (184 words)

In conclusion, it can be seen that the major source of ethical guidance for Christians are the Ten Commandments and the New Testament, which contains the distillation of Christian ethics into the love of God and neighbour and the Golden Rule. This requirement to love is taken to a new level because love is seen as the identifying characteristic of Christian life. The Ten Commandments provide a backdrop to understanding the ethical teachings contained in the New Testament. The ethical requirements contained in the New Testament are an attempt to move away from a legalistic application of the law in its emphasis on the underlying principles of love, mercy, compassion, justice and peace. Another distinct characteristic of Christian ethics is its emphasis on love of neighbour and love of enemy. Whilst there are some recognisable differences amongst the different denominations regarding the specific application of the ethical principles these differences are not overly significant. It is clear that the principal ethical teachings are of great importance to all Christian denominations and that there are very few identifiable differences in their understanding of these concepts.


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