Christianity sources of wisdom and authority

Question 1

Trinity

Answer 1

‘’Just as Jesus was coming out of the water he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’’

‘’Christians are baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…the faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity’’ (Catholics)

‘’We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen’’

‘’We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father’’

‘’God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through Him all things were made’’

‘’For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried’’

Question 2

Creation

Answer 2

‘’In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God […] Through Him all things were made’’

‘’The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters’’

‘’Let them rule over the fish of the sea and birds of the air’’

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”

Question 3

Incarnation

Answer 3

‘’He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by the angels, was preached among the nations’’

‘’In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God’’

‘’The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us’’

Question 4

The last days of Jesus’ life

Answer 4

‘’Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing!’’
Jesus stated this before his crucifixion; this represents mercy and love and how he was willing to forgive them for their immoral actions, thereby allowing for atonement

Question 5

The nature of salvation

Answer 5

‘’The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many’’

‘’For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him’’

‘’Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved’’

Question 6

Christian eschatology

Answer 6

‘’Jesus said, ‘’I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will continue to live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die’’

‘’All nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats’’

‘’For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad’’

Question 7

The problem of evil and suffering

Answer 7

‘’The Lord is compassionate and gracious’’

“Shall we accept good from God and not trouble”

Question 8

Solutions to problems of evil and suffering

Answer 8

The Story of Job sets an example. Although he had lost everything, he still stayed loyal to God in spite of his suffering.

‘’Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word’’

When things are tough or challenging, Christians should believe in God more. God allows suffering because it teaches Christians not to lose their faith and remain loyal to Him and this will eventually result in the end of a situation that causes suffering.

Question 9

Marriage

Answer 9

‘’So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no-one separate’’

‘’Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord’’

Question 10

Sexual relationships

Answer 10

‘’Homosexual persons are called to chastity’’

‘’Marriage should be honoured by all and the marriage bed kept pure for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral’’

‘’Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit […] therefore honour God with your bodies’’

Question 11

Families

Answer 11

‘’Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him’’

‘’Honour your mother and father […] so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy life on Earth’’

‘’Parents do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged’’

‘’Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God’’

‘’Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them […] Jesus said, ‘’Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these’’

Question 12

Support for the family in the local parish

Answer 12

‘’Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than a non-believer’’

‘’Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these’’

Question 13

Family planning

Answer 13

‘’As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it’’

‘’Excluded is any action which either before, at the moment of, or after sexual intercourse, is specifically intended to prevent procreation’’

Question 14

Divorce and remarriage

Answer 14

‘’Divorce is a grave offence against the natural law. It claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented to live with each other till death’’

‘’But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness and marries another woman commits adultery’’

‘’Therefore what God has joined together let no-one separate’’

Question 15

Worship

Answer 15

‘’You shall worship the Lord your God and
shall only serve Him’’
Christianity is a monotheistic religion; when
worshipping they should focus on Him

‘’Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvellous deeds among all peoples’’

Question 16

The role of sacraments in Christian life

Answer 16

‘’Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God’’

‘’Drink from it, all of you. This is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’’

Question 17

The nature and purpose of prayer

Answer 17

‘’O God, how great and marvellous you are’’

‘’For your Father knows what you need before you ask Him’’

‘’And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors’’

‘’For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins’’

‘’Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures, and especially through our Lord and brother the Sun, who brings the day, and through whom you give us light’’

Question 18

Pilgrimage

Answer 18

Jesus himself went on pilgrimage every year according to Luke Chapter 2

‘’Do not worship idols’

Question 19

Christian religious celebrations

Answer 19

‘’Have washed your feet; you should also
wash one another’s feet’’
Maundy Thursday; Christians are reminded of the humility and selflessness that Jesus showed and aim to replicate this in their services during Easter by washing the feet of those around them, allowing them to model
Jesus’ example

Question 20

The future of the Church

Answer 20

‘’Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation’’

Jesus said: ‘’As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’’

Question 21

The importance of the local church

Answer 21

‘’Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve’’

‘’Those that help others are rewarded (sheep) and those that do not (goats) will be punished’’ (Parable of the Sheep and Goats’’

‘’Give to the needy but do it in secret. Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you’’

Question 22

The worldwide Church

Answer 22

‘’Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud […] love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth’’

‘’So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for that is the Law’’

‘’The people walking in darkness have seen a great light’’

‘’He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’’

‘’And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love’’

Question 23

Origins and value of the universe

Answer 23

‘’And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters’’
The earth and universe should be valued because God bestowed His blessings upon it after creating it

Question 24

Sanctity of life

Answer 24

‘’You shall not murder’’
10 Commandments which can be linked to the Sanctity of Life as God states life should not be taken away

‘’You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother’s womb’’

Question 25

The issue of abortion

Answer 25

‘’Thou shall not kill’’

‘’For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother’s womb’’

‘’Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you’’

‘’So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them’’

‘’From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognised as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life’’

‘’Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your Book before one of them came to me’’

Question 26

Death and the afterlife

Answer 26

‘’But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?’’

‘’All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification […] The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification […] which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned’’

‘’I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even though they die’’

‘’He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain’’

Question 27

Euthanasia

Answer 27

‘’Thou shall not murder’’

‘’Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of the handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable’’

Question 28

The natural world

Answer 28

‘’So that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground’’

‘’For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills’’

‘’The righteous care for the needs of their animals’’

In the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus teaches that Christians have the responsibility in ensuring a fair sharing of the earth’s resources