Lesson 5: Christianity

Christianity is a major world religion that stems from life, teachings, and death of Jesus of Nazareth
(the Christ, the anointed One of God). This religion has become the largest of the world’s religion.
Christianity is geographically the most widely diffused of all religions. It has a population of more than
2 billion believers and still increasing. It ms largest groups are the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern
Orthodox churches, and the various Protestant Churches. Moreover, there are numerous independent
churches, like those of Eastern Christianity, as well as many sects throughout globe.
Elements of Christianity
a.Founder: Jesus Christ (approx.c.7 BC-30 A.D.)
In Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the promised ‘Messiah’, and thus its central figure.
Actually a title for Jesus, the name ‘Chris’ comes from the greek word Christos, meaning ‘the anointed
one’, or Messiah in Hebrew.
Christ’s life, message, and ministry are chronicled in the New Testament, especially in the four
gospels. Jesus is depicted as a Jewish teacher from Galilee who performed many miracles of healing
and deliverance. He called 12 Jewish men to follow him, working closely with them, to be trained and
prepared to carry on the ministry. These men were later referred to as apostles.
By the order of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, Jesus Christ was crucified in Jerusalem, for
claiming to be the king of Jews. He was resurrected or brought back to life by God three days after his
death, appeared to his disciples, and then ascended into heaven.
Jesus preached that He is the way to God. The gospel writer John recorded the following when
Jesus spoke to his disciples about his approaching crucifixion and resurrection:
“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?’
Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through
Me.” (John 14:6)
With this one statement, Jesus excluded all paths to God but Himself. This statement excluded
all the religions that claim a path to God outside of Himself. Because Jesus Himself professed He was
the only way to God, those who believe in Him, the Christians, propagate this pronouncement.
Jesus’ mother was Mary, a virgin who has bethroted to Joseph, a carpenter. Christians believe
Jesus was born through Immaculate Conception’, and His lineage, through Mary, can be traced back
to the house of David.
Most scholars submit a date of Jesus’ birth “between 6 and 4 BC that (His) preaching began
around AD 27-29 and lasted one to three years. They calculate the death of Jesus as having taken
place between AD 30 and 36” (“Chronology of Jesus,” n.d.)
b.Sacred Texts: Biblee (old testament and New testament)
The old and new testaments comprise the Christian bible. The Roman Catholic and Eastern
Orthodox versions of the Old Testament are nonetheless a little larger because of their acceptance of
certain books and parts of books considered by Protestants as ‘apocryphal,’ that is, of unknown
authorship, or of doubtful authenticity.
The Old Testament is based principally upon the Hebrew Bible, a collection of religious writings
by ancient Israelites believed by most Christians (and observant Jews) to be the sacred word of God.
Because of the insertion of the apocryphal books, the Old Testament canon varies among churches.
Protestants have a version with 39 books, Catholics have a version with 46 books, and both the eastern
orthodox and oriental orthodox churches select the Old Testament version with 49 books.
Christians traditionally divide the Old testaments into four sections: (1) the Pentateuch (Torah),
the first five books; (2) the history books relating the history of the Israelites, from their conquest of
Canaan to their defeat and exile in Babylon; (3) the poetic and ‘wisdom’ books discussing, in different
forms, the questions of good and evil in the world; (4) and the books of the prophets, warning of the
costs of turning away from God.
The New Testament is the second major part of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the
teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in the first-century church of Christ. Christians
consider both the old and new testaments together as sacred scripture.
The New Testament serves as a reference for Christian theology and morality. Readings from
the New Testament (along with readings from the Old Testament) are parts of various Christian church
services.
In almost all churches professing to be Christians today, the New Testament consists of 27
books. The original texts were written in the first and perhaps the second centuries of the Christian era,
In the Greek language, which was then the common language in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The New Testament consist of the following (New Testament, n.d.):
(1) Four narratives of the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and referred to
as the ‘Gospels’ (or ‘Good News’) accounts;
(2) An account of the apostles’ ministries in the early church, called the ‘Acts of the Apostles’,
and probably written by the same writer as the Gospel of Luke;
(3) Twenty-one letters, often called ‘Epistles’ from Greek “epistole”,written by various authors
(but most of which by the apostle Paul), and consisting of Christian Doctrines, counsels,
instructions, and even conflict resolutions; and
(4) An Apocalypse, the Book of Revelation, which is a book of prophecy, involving some
instructions to seven local congregations of Asia Minor (Ephesus, Smyrna, Thyatira, Sardis,
Philadelphia, Laodicea), but mostly containing prophetical symbology, about the end times.
c. Doctrines: Trinity, Virgin Birth, Deity of Christ, Resurrection, Last Judgment
Trinity
The trinity is the religious belief that God is one God in three persons: the Father, the Son
(Jesus), and the Holy spirit. It refers to the teaching that “the one God comprises three distinct,
eternally co-existing persons; the Father, the Son (incarnate in Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
Together, these three persons are sometimes called the Godhead, although there is no single
term in use in Scripture to denote the unified Godhead” (“trinity”, n.d).
The Athanasian Creed, an early statement of catholic belief, pronounces, “The Father is God,
the son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God”
(“Trinity,”n.d). The three persons “are distinct from another: the Father has no source, the Son
is begotten of the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father. Though distinct, the three
persons cannot be divided from one another in being or in operation. God is not divided in the
sense that each person has a third of the whole; rather, each person is considered to be fully
God” (“Trinity,” n.d).
Some reject the doctrine of the Trinity as unscriptural. They teach that Jesus Christ Himself,
whom the Trinitarians consider as “God the Son,” declared that there is only one God, the Father.
The very term ‘Trinity’, as famous Bible Scholar Augustus Hopkins Strong affirms, “is not found
in Scripture. The invention of the term is ascribed to Tertullian.” (1907,p.30).
The catholic Jesuit priest Martin J.Scott asmits that Trinity is not that easy to understand: “No
one understands it. The most learned theologian, the holiest Pope, the greatest saint, all are
mystified by it as the child of seven” (God and Myself, 1917, p.118). Other ‘Christian’ religions
like the Unitarian Universalism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism and others do not share those
views on the Trinity.
Virgin Birth
The virgin birth of Jesus or simply ‘Virgin Birth’ designates the doctrine of traditional Christianity
that Jesus Christ has no natural father, but was conceived in the womb of his mother Mary
through the power of the Holy Spirit, and born while Mary was yet a virgin. This religious belief
that Mary was the sole biological parent of Jesus is based on the infancy narratives recounted
in the Gospel, particularly in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38.i it is believed to follow the
prophetic message in Isaiah 7:14.
Deity of Jesus
Also known as the ‘divinity of Christ,’ this doctrine states that Jesus Christ is God, and He was
and is the Son of God incarnate.
Christians believes that there is a personal God, Creator and Ruler of the universe, a God who
is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. So when someone says that Jesus Christ is God , or that
he believes in the ‘Deity of Christ,’ he means that “that same person who is known to history as
Jesus of Nazareth existed, before He became man, from all eternity as infinite, eternal and
unchangeable God, the second person of the Holy trinity” (“Deity of Jesus,” n.d.).
Theoepdia.com states that the deity of Jesus is considered “an essential doctrine and is a central
non-negotiable belief within Christianity.” Nonetheless, some Christian religions contest this
doctrine using biblical biblical pronouncement.
 The Holy Scriptures argue, for instance, that:
(1) God is eternal, has no beginning (origin) or end (Psalms 90:2), while Jesus came from God
(John 8:42)
(2) The everlasting God will not grow tired or weary (Isiah 40:28), but Jesus Christ got tired (John
4:6).
(3) God does not recognize any other God (Isaiah 44:8) while Christ deifies God: “Jesus cried
out in a loud voice. My God, my God, why have you forsake me? (Mark 15:34).
(4) God is omniscient or knows everything (I John3:20), while there is something Jesus does not
know: “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,
but the only Father” (Matt.24:36).
(5) God is not a man… nor a son of man” (Num.23:19), whereas Jesus is referred to as “Son of
Man” (Matt. 16:13-16).
(6) “God is spirit” (John 4:24), whereas Jesus proved He is not spirit: “Handle Me and see, for a
spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have” (Luke 24:38-39).
(7) While God declares that He is not man (Hos. 11:9) and that man is not God (Ezek.28:2),
Jesus explicitly described himself as “a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from
God” (John 8:40).
Indeed, Christ’s supposed divinity is a good topic for debate, especially that Jesus Himself said,
“Why do you call me good?...“No one is good except God alone” (Mark 8:38). Even Jesus’ resurrection,
which is submitted as a proof of His deity, is explained by some as providing all the more that He cannot
be God for it implies that he died.
Resurrection
Generally, ‘resurrection’ designates the concept of a living being coming back to life after death. The
resurrection of the dead is a standard eschatological belief in the Abrahamic religions.
The resurrection of Jesus, an instance of resurrection, is the chief focus of Christianity. It is true that
Jesus died and was buried, in common with all other men, but unlike other men, He returned from death
or Hades.
The bodily resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ is the crowning proof of Christianity. Christian
theologians argue that if the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion. But if it
did take place, then Christian faith is absolute truth.
In fact, Christ’s resurrection is deemed by some as the foundation of Christianity. Using the scriptures
nonetheless, some Christians disagree and use Christ’s resurrection itself as a proof that He is not
God. Jesus resurrection means that He died, while the Bible positively teaches that God does not die,
for He is immortal (1 Tim. 1:17). Proving that Jesus is not immortal, the Gospels report that He indeed
died on the cross (John 19:30,33). Contrary also to the claim that Jesus resurrected Himself, the book
of Acts clarifies, “Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead” (4:10).
It was God therefore, Jesus’ Father (Eph.1:3) and the creator (Mal.2:10), who resurrected or raised
Him (Christ) from the dead.
Last Judgment
The last judgment, also called Final judgment, Day of Judgment, judgment day, or the day of the
Lord, is part of the eschatological belief of the Abrahamic religions and even Zoroastrianism. In
Christianity, it is the final and eternal judgment by God, through Jesus Christ, of the people in every
nation resulting in the glorification or receiving of ultimate reward of some and the punishment of others:
“In Christian eschatology, the last judgment or judgment day is the ethical-judicial trial, judgment, and
punishment/reward of individual humans (assignment to heaven or to hell) by a divine tribunal (God) at
the end of time, following the destruction of humans’ present earthly existence.” (“Last Judgment,” n.d.)
The doctrine and iconographic features of the Last judgment are taken from many books of the Bible.
It appears most openly in the apocalyptic sections of the Gospel of Matthew.
d.God: Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit); Monotheism (Only One God – the Father)
The concepts of trinity and monotheism define Christianity’s theological belief. As previously
discussed, trinity expresses the belief that God is one being made up of three distinct persons who
exist in co-equal essence and co-eternal communion as the Father Son, and Holy Spirit.
The concept of the trinity chief to most Christian denominations and faith groups, although not all. Those
who reject this doctrine explain that the Bible categorically espouses monotheism while Trinity is not
authentically monotheistic.
Monotheism is the “belief in single God: the belief that there is only one God” (Monotheism, 2009). The
oxford Dictionary of the Christian church defines it as the “belief in one personal and transcendent
God.” Within theism, monotheism is opposed to polytheism and pantheism (the belief that God is
everything).
The term monotheism comes from the greek word (mono) meaning “Single” and (theos) meaning “god”.
It characterizes the traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – religions that had grown up in
opposition to polytheistic paganism.
Chritisn tradition hold that monotheism was the original religion of humanity, but was lost after ‘the fall
of man’ or after the first couple (Adam and Eve) transgressed the will of the single Omnipotent God.
Monotheism is well founded tenet of Muslims and Jews and elements of the belief are discernible in
other religions like Zoroastrianism.
Some Christian groups believe that “the doctrine of the Trinity is indeed incompatible with monotheism”
and thus “reject trinitarianism”(“Monotheism,” 2008).
e.Sects: Roman Catholic, Greek/Eastern Orthodox, Protestantism, etc.
Academically, Christianity is traditionally divided into its so-called three major branches: Roman
Catholism, Easthern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. There are however fast rising international
Christian religions, sects, or denominations which declare to be not in any way affiliated to these three
major religions.
Roman catholism is a Christian-professing church that has been a key spiritual force in the history of
western civilization. It claims to trace its history to Jesus Christ and the apostles. Over the course of
centuries it developed a highly sophisticated theology and an elaborate organizational structure headed
by the papacy, the oldest continuing absolute monarchy in the world (Roman Catholism,” n.d).
‘Eastern Orthodoxy’ is another major doctrinal and jurisdictional group of Christianity. Officially named
the ‘orthodox Catholic church,’ it is characterized by its claimed continuity with the apostolic church, its
liturgy, and its territorial churches. The majority of Eastern Orthodox Catholics live in Greece, Eastern
Europe, the Caucasus and Russia, with less numerous communities in the former Byzantine regions
of the Middle East, and around the Eastern Mediterranean.
‘Protestantism’ is one of the three major branches of ‘Christianity’ along with Roman Catholicism and
Eastern Orthodoxy, it is a religious movement that started in northern Europe in the early 16th century
as a reaction to medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices.
f. Issues: Ecumenism, Sexuality Issues (e.g. Contraception, Homosexuality, Ordination of
women)
Ecumenism
The term ecumenism designates the movement or tendency toward worldwide Christian unity or
cooperation. The concept, of the recent origin, stresses what is beheld as the universality of the
Christian churches.
Etymologically, the word ecumenism is derived from the greek words oikoumene (‘the inhabited world’)
and oikos (‘house’). The ecumenical movement strives to regain the apostolic sense of the early church
for unity in diversity, and it deasl with the frustrations, problems, and ironies of the modern pluralistic
world.
Sexuality Issues
Christianity also has position on sexuality and gender issues such as contraception, homosexuality,
and ordination of women. But then again, the stand on these issues vary depending on the Christian
sects’ interpretation of the Bible and assessment of the issues.
On contraception, ‘Christian’ churches’ teachings on birth control are usually based on various
understandings of the meaning of marriage, sex, and family.
Almost all churches disapprove of artificial contraception until the start of 20th century. Today, different
Christian churches hold varied views about the rightness and wrongness of using birth control.
On the other hand, the Roman Catholic Church permits only ‘natural’ birth control, by which it means
only having sex during the infertile period of woman’s monthly cycle. All artificial methods of
contraception are forbidden. Hence, the only way for a catholic couple to avoid having children whole
keeping to be faithful to the Church’s teachings on human sexuality is to use ‘natural’ family planning.
“Many Catholics have decided to disobey church teaching in this part of their lives, causing a substantial
breach between laity and the Church establishment” (“Contraception,” n.d.).
On homosexuality, Christian views sometimes differ among denominations, though they are more
normally observed between liberal and conservative branches of each denomination. Again, the debate
centers on how the bible ought to be interpreted regarding the issue.
Opposing homosexuality has been positioned affirmed by most, if not all, Christian denominations,
including the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox, and most protestant denominations.
However, a small number of churches, notably the Metropolitan Community Church, have taken the
approach that homosexuality can be seen as moral.
Generally, Christian churches have considered homosexual sex as sinful, based o their interpretation
of certain biblical passages. Passages from the bible usually used in the debate over homosexuality
include I Corinthians 6, Leviticus 18 and 21, and Romans 1.

The Apostle’s Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, and the Beatitudes

Important texts in Christianity include the so-called Lord’s Prayer and the Beatitudes. In Catholicism,
the so called the Apostle’s Creed is also deemed significant.
Here’s the Apostle’s Creed in full:
I believe in God,
The Father Almighty
The Creator of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ
God’s only Son
Our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died,
And was buried, he descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven
And sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
Hence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy spirit,
The holy catholic church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness f sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And life everlasting
Amen.

The term ‘creed’ comes from the word ‘credo,’ which means to make a statement of belief or a statement
of faith. Catholics believe that the first Catholic creed came from the teaching of the Apostles, hence
the title “Apostle’s Creed.” There are debates that the creed may have changed and developed over
the centuries. Nonetheless, Catholics believe that it is fundamentally a summary of the essential truths
which Jesus entrusted to the apostles , containing the major tenets or faith. Traditionally, the creed has
been a declaration of belief to which all converts to Catholicism were required to profess before being
baptized into the Catholic church.
On the other hand, the Lord’s Prayer which is recorded in Matthew 6:9-13, is commonly divided in
seven clauses:
 1. Our Father
2. Which art in Heaven,
3. Hallowed be Thy name.
4. Thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
5. Give us this day our daily bread.
6. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
7. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
This serves as the formula or outline in properly praying to God. It involves , among others, (1)
acknowledging God as our Father or Creator, (2) recognizing that he is always in a ‘higher position’
than ours, (3) that we have the obligation to glorify and worship Him, (4) that we ought to fulfill His will
or commandments, (5) that we must ask from Him our material and spiritual needs, (6) that we should
ask God for forgiveness of the sins we commited, and (7) that we must ask him, through prayers, to
save us from temptations and sins.
The Beatitudes are eight-statement teaching by Christ. These statements all begin with the word
‘blessed.’ The Latin word for blessed is beatus, from which we get the world beatitude.
The beatitudes are concerned with virtue and how a person can achieve that virtue. They show us the
values that Jesus cares about. “The Beatitudes are a map of life, a series of directives helping us on
our journey to be with God. They guide. They point. They teach. These values, if followed, can not only
bring a believer into a state of peace and happiness, but also right into the Kingdom of God after our
Journey on this earth is over”
The Core Teaching of Christianity
The central teachings of traditional Christianity are that Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of
the Trinity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ; that his life on earth, his
crucifixion, resurrection , and ascension into heaven are proof of God's love for humanity and God's
forgiveness of human sins; and that by faith in Jesus one may attain salvation and eternal life. This
teaching is embodied in the Bible , specifically in the New Testament, but Christians accept also the
Old Testament as sacred and authoritative Scripture.
Christian ethics derive to a large extent from the Jewish tradition as presented in the Old Testament,
particularly the Ten Commandments , but with some difference of interpretation based on the practice
and teachings of Jesus. Christianity may be further generally defined in terms of its practice of corporate
worship and rites that usually include the use of sacraments and that are usually conducted by trained
clergy within organized churches. There are, however, many different forms of worship, many
interpretations of the role of the organized clergy, and many variations in polity and church organization
within Christianity.