SOR 2 – Module 3 Notes – Christianity
Origins:
Syllabus Notes
the historical and cultural context in which Monotheistic religion that centers on the teachings of
Christianity began Jesus Christ
Began 2000 years ago, province of Judea in the Middle
East
Overarching in Judaism
Life of Jesus = shown through the Gospels (4 books)
Jesus was born into the first decade BC in Judea
Jesus built the foundation of Christianity, Paul made it
a religion
The Gospels were translated to form the Bible
Branching out into denominations
2 billions followers around the world
World's largest religion
Origins:
Began in Judea
Jerusalem as the main religious centre
Oppression of Greek rule = intervention of God
Roman Empire gained control over Judea in 64 BCE =
religious and political tensions arose
Jewish belief in Yahweh had been abandoned =
religion groups wanted to free Judea from Roman
Control
Jewish religious and spiritual unity was broken by
specific Jewish groups
No central Jewish authority
Active Jews that were religious were organized into
these groups
After Jesus came and was considered as a Messiah =
initially, His followers was a sect within Judaism, but
by the end of 1st century CE, it had become a separate
religion of Christianity.
Jesus Christ Principal Events:
examine the principal events of Jesus’ life Birth of Jesus - around 6 BCE in Bethlehem. Event of
the first Christmas. Luke 2:11-12
explain why Jesus is the model for Christian life – Ministry:
SUMMARY TABLE BELOW
o Began as a teacher and healer at the age of 30. all 4
Gospels, commenced with being baptised by John the
Baptist in the River of Jordan.
o Filled with the Holy Spirit, called his first disciples from
the Lake of Galilee:
o ‘Follow me’ he said to Simon, Peter, Andrew, James
and John, ‘and I will make you become fishers of men’
(Mark 1:16-20).
o He preached and taught intriguing parables such as
the:
o – Prodigal Son (Luke 5:11-32).
o – Good Shepherd (John 10: 1-21).
o Teachings:
Politically and socially radically inspired
Sermon on the Mount: Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
The Beatitudes, characteristics of those deemed
blessed by God
The Greatest Commandment: Commandment of Love
o Passion, arrest and death of Jesus:
Palm Sunday = Jesus entered into Jerusalem. Involved
public arguments with Pharisees and Sadducees
Last Supper with his disciples - Holy Communion
Sentenced to death and crucified = Good Friday
Resurrection and Ascension: ascension to heaven
the development of early Christian communities After the death of Jesus
Pentecost: birth of the Christian church when the Holy Spirit
descended on the Apostles (Act2:1-11).
Spreading the Gospel Message: “the variety of the disciples was
multiplying” (Acts 6:1). Spreading of the Gospel to Samaria
through Philip. Stephen also spread Christianity from its local
Jewish roots to reach across the entire world. The Synagogue of
Freedom argued with Stephen: Christianity was not just a Jewish
sect; Stephen was then condemned and stoned
Followers of Jesus: spreading of the Gospel established Christian
communities that became varied and included Gentiles and Jews:
Paul: larger groups of Diaspora Hellenistic Jews and Gentile
Christians followed Jesus through the preachings of Paul; his
letters established Christianity. Developed communities in the
Gentle world and corresponded through Epistles (letters). Went
on missionary journeys
Peter: Smaller groups of Palestinian Jews followed Jesus through
preachings of Peter
Christianity: Anglicanism: formerly the COE in Australia. Part of One Holy
– Anglicanism Catholic Apostolic Church of Christ. Obeys the commands of
– Catholicism Christ and administers sacraments, preserves order of bishops,
– Orthodoxy deacons and sacred ministry. Low Anglican: variety of Protestant
– Pentecostalism faith (Baptist +Evangelical); High Church: anglo-catholic
– Protestantism Catholicism: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by
Jesus Christ in his Great Commission; teachings drawn from
scripture; authority structured under the People; 7 sacraments;
different rites: Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopian, Chaldean,
Maronite, Roman and West Syrian. Increased focus on Mary and
the Saints. During Eucharist, transubstantiation occurs
Orthodoxy: United in faith; draw on elements of Greek, Middle-
Eastern, Russian and Slav culture; Divine Liturgy (celebration of
Eucharist) is a central role; only men are priests; celibacy is
normal; honour the Saints features in icons; Holy Scripture is
highly regarded; 7 Ecumenical Councils is highly regarded
Pentecostalism: emphasises direct personal experiences of God
through Baptism with the Holy Spirit. Direct experiences of God’s
presence(driven by the power of God moving within them); seen
as empowerment for divine healing, speaking in tongues. Very
active in evangelism; includes many different churches; use the
Bible as a reliable source
Protestantism: movement of religious groups in Europe that
oppose the doctrine of the Catholic Church and the authority of
the Pope; Lutheran + Uniting Church. Began 16th century
Reformation. Emphasis on authority of the Bible. Importance of
faith as opposed to idea of earning salvation through good works.
Recognition of Baptism + Holy Communion. Lutheran churches
have liturgical rituals similar to Roman Catholic Church. Baptists
and Presbyterians have developed less liturgical worship
Principal Beliefs:
Syllabus Notes
outline the principal beliefs regarding Definition: Full divinity and complete humanity of Jesus Christ
the divinity and humanity of Jesus Key points:
Christ Remaining fully divine and for the salvation of the worldà of the
Holy Trinity, God the Son, took a complete human nature and
became human in Jesus Christ
Scripture:
“The word became flesh and made his dwelling amongst us, We
have seen his glory of the One and Only who came from the father,
full of grace and truth” (John 1:14)
“But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son,
made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those under the
law, that we might receive the full right of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5)
àexpress belief through consecration of the Eucharist. Fully divine
and fully human nature represented by transformation
explain the importance of the death Definition: Tradition of Christianity based on the life, death and resurrection of
and resurrection of Jesus Christ for Jesus Christ.
Christians Key points:
Public ministry à message that people should love God, each other
and themselves
Crucified à 3 days after = rose from the dead and remained human
for 40 days until he ascended into Heaven
Provides hope for life after death as Jesus Christ – after truly
suffering, was raised to a new life and entered a transformed state
Christ sacrificed himself to triumph over death and bring new life to
all
Scripture:
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life; he that
believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall live” (John 11:25)
“Who by him do believe in God, that raised hum up from the dead,
and have him glory’ that your faith and hope might be in God” (1
Peter 1:21)
outline the beliefs about the nature of Definition: God as the Creator of all things
God and of the Trinity Considered as: Father of all, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit:
Key points:
Trinity à3 persons existing in a relationship of ‘intimate self-
surrender to each other
Creating (beginning new life to all creation); sanctifying (blessing
and making holy all creation): redeeming (turning all creation from
sin and darkness and more fully towards God)
Scripture:
“May be grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14)
àsign of the cross; acknowledge the presence of the Father, Son
and the Holy Spirit
examine the Christian Definition: Disclosure by God of what was previously unknown. Knowledge
understanding of revelation given by God to humans about people, events previously hidden or only partly
known
Key points:
Not only God’s self-communication, but a loving and free invitation
to join in friendship with God
God revealed his will and law to humanity
Primarily given in the written form of the Bible
See Christ’s life, death and resurrection, and sending of the Holy
Spirit as the climax of the process of divine self-closure
Scripture:
“For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God
gives the spirits without limit” (John 3:34)
àlive out this belief through hearing the Bible read during mass and
liturgies each week; details of events to how God revealed himself
to humanity
describe the Christian Definition: Being delivered from personal or collective suffering or evil
understanding of salvation Ask for God’s grace to help in their spiritual endeavours to assist in their
salvation
Key points:
Full realisation is delayed until the next life/afterlife. Only in
heaven, humans’ deepest desire for love, peace and justice will be
completely fulfilled. Salvation is therefore, ‘here now’ but ‘not yet
fully complete’
Obstacles in the present life make salvation difficult. Only through
the grace of God can humans attain salvation
Jesus Christ is central to salvation à through life, death and
resurrection that God offered salvation to all humanity
Reformation: 5 Solas to argue that Salvation through grace and faith
alone
Scripture:
“He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21) à
reconciliation offers opportunity to repent. Christ’s resurrection is
central to the belief that after death, resurrection to heaven is
possible for those that have been forgiven
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift
of God….” (Ephesians 2:8-9( à justified grace through faith is active
in charity and good works
Sacred Texts + Writings:
Syllabus Notes
identify the importance of the Bible in Christianity Refereed to as a canon: books of the Bible which are considered
to be authoritative as scripture by a particular religious tradition
Importance:
Source of belief and practise. Practise (prayer + ethical
teachings; two ways)
Sacred text; role in life of believers
Basis for Christian beliefs; used in liturgy, bases for prayer,
guidelines for behaviour of Christians
Celebrated the Eucharist, Mass or the Lord’s Supper
Nature of God and the ministry and teachings of Jesus
Central to thought, morality and ethics of believers
Examples:
Mark 2:28 (Major Christian Beliefs)
Ethical behaviour (Mark 12-28-24)
Old + New Testament: first and second testament; or Hebrew and
Christian Testament
examine extracts from the Bible which Foundation of principate beliefs
demonstrate the principal beliefs of Christianity Nature of God + Trinity Matthew 28:19 – “Father and
of the on and the Holy Spirit”
Divinity + Humanity John 1:14 – “…glory of the
One and Only who came
from the father, full of grace
and truth”
Death + Resurrection Luke 24:6-8 – “be crucified
and on the third day, be
raised again”
Revelation John 3:34 – “..God has sent
speaks the words of God, for
God gives the spirit without
limits”
Salvation Matthew 1:21 – “he will save
his peoples from their sins”
Core Ethical Teachings:
Syllabus Notes
outline the principal ethical teachings in: 10 Commandments:
– the Ten Commandments Christian and Jewish ethics are closely related
– the Beatitudes Most important set of laws as dictated by God
– Jesus’ commandment of love Represent the relationship with God and others
Interpreted as rules to live by and a guide to ethical
Behaviour
Divided into demands about worship and demands
regarding ethical Behaviour
Purpose is to ensure that a community can grow
Beatitudes:
Jesus' most famous sermons
Motives and calling for his followers to achieve a
particular set standard of Behaviour
Beatitudo means 'happiness'
List of people who are blessed
Reflect others in Hebrew scripture which offer hope
and comfort to those who have little
Suggests that if being guided by mercy, and driven to
be pure, they will achieve happiness and have the
chance to enter the kingdom of heaven
Reflect the importance of motives for social justice
issues
Commandment of Love:
Constant theme in Jesus' teachings
Relationships that guide ethical Behaviour
To connect with God --> the purpose of an individual
describe the importance of ethical teachings in the - Addresses a wide range of issues
life of adherents - Teachings provide guidance that enables
adherents to make informed moral choices
according the principles of the tradition
- Christians seek to model their lives on the
life and ministry of Jesus; guidance of
actions of Christians
- Live out God’s Kingdom of Earth, God’s will
for Christians to live. Leads them to the
Kingdom of Heaven
- Relationship and links to current ethical
issues
- Drawn from the Bible, conscience, tradition
and authority to form ethical decisions to
modern issues.
Prayer:
describe the different types of personal prayer Definition: The act, action or practice of praying to entities
beyond the world. In the Christian context this can include God,
Jesus, his mother Mary and the saints.
Explanation: Christians describe prayer as a conversation with
God. It is an important way in which they acknowledge the
existence of a relationship between God and humanity and, more
importantly, that God relates to each human being and all
creation with ongoing compassion and goodness.
Scripture References:
When seeking relief from his busy ministry (Luke 5: 16)
Before important decisions (Mark 14: 26-42)
In times of distress (John 12: 27-28)
During his crucifixion (Matthew 27:46)
During the temptations and fasting in the desert (Luke
4:1-13)
Types of Prayer:
adoration - praising God for his greatness and
admitting dependence on him
confession - owning up to sin and asking for
God's mercy and forgiveness
thanksgiving - thanking God for his many blessings, eg
health or children
petition - asking God for something, eg healing,
courage or wisdom
intercession - asking God to help others who need it,
eg the sick, poor, those suffering in war.
Importance of Prayer:
1. Communicating with God
2. Achieving inner peace
3. Reaffirms faith
4. Builds connection with God
5. Prayer as modelled by Jesus
6. Formal prayer reaffirms principal beliefs of Christianity
Nicene creed, mass (shows divinity and humanity of
Jesus Christ)
7. Link to the Bible (reflection of the Bible passages).
Some types of prayer involves Biblical reflection
8. Prayer is an ethical obligation within the relationship
with God (commandment of love and 613 mitzvot)