Christianity Beliefs & Teaching - Trinity, Genesis creation and intepretations

Question 1

What are the features of the Holy Trinity?

Answer 1

• Comprises of father, son & holy spirit
• Each part of the trinity are equal - they have a perfect and complete relationship.
• Father is God (unseen), Son is Jesus (seen), holy spirit (unseen).

Question 2

Why do some Christians not believe in the holy trinity?

Answer 2

• Unitarians (Christadelphians) say that Holy Trinity suggests there is more than one God so it is not monotheistic.
• This goes against the second of the ten commandments in Exodus 20:3.

Question 3

What is the role of God the father Genesis’ account of creation?

Answer 3

• God brings all things into existence over 6 days, starting with light, heaven, dry land (Earth), winged and water creatures, man and woman and on the 7th day he rested.
• God called Earth, dry land. Showing his authority. (Genesis 1)

Question 4

What is the role of the spirit in Gensis’ account of creation?

Answer 4

• Described as ‘hovering over water’, like a bird sitting on its nest of eggs. caring and bringing life like the Spirit is preparing to bring life to the world. (Genesis 1)
• When God created Adam (Genesis 2) He breathed into his nostrils, life. Gods unique relationship with humanity is shown as he breaths the spirit into Adam.

Question 5

The role of the Word in creation?

Answer 5

• John 1
• Son of God is given the title ‘The Word’
• The Word is present with God before creation and the Word is God.
• Through the word, life is given to all things and without the word there would be no life
• The word becomes flesh through incarnation.

Question 6

Define original sin and what happened.

Answer 6

Sin that first entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience.

• Genesis 3, Adam and Eve use the free will God gave them.
• Genesis 2, God says not to eat from the tree of of the knowledge of good and evil.
• Satan (serpent), suggested to Adam and Eve that God doesn’t want them to have the same knowledge, Eve ate some of the the fruit and shared it with Adam.
• God punishes them by sending them out of the Garden of Eden.

Question 7

What is the ‘Fall’ and what are its effects on humanity?

Answer 7

• Humans having broken the perfect relationship with God through the original sin.
• Fall has affected the entire human race and every Christian who is born.
• Original sin results in all humans being born with original sin. To reconciliate with God, humans need salvation.
• Unless the price of the original sin is paid, eternal life with God is impossible.

Question 8

What do all Christians agree on with regards to the Genesis creation story?

Answer 8

• God created the universe
• God acted out of love and goodness
• God acted out of love and goodness - caring for his creation.
• Humans are made in God’s image but lack perfection and have sin.

Question 9

What do creationists believe?

Answer 9

• Literal interpretation of Genesis 1-3
• World was created in 6 days and reject any scientific evidence against it.
• They believe Earth is 5,700 years old.
• The Bible is inspired by God, and God is infallible so it should be taken as the absolute truth.

Question 10

Why do some Christians call the story of Genesis mythological?

Answer 10

• Scientific research shows otherwise
• The difference in style and order of accounts between Genesis 1 and 2.
• Theistic evolution: live developed through evolution which God started.
• The days in Genesis may represent longer periods of time. Making it more compatible with scientific evidence about age and development of Earth.