Chapter Text
God and the Trinity ꩜
Christians believe that God is beyond human understanding but he has revealed multiple of his qualities through the Bible; for example, he is:
- Omnipotent (all-powerful): this can be seen in the creation of the universe, the Flood & the Ten Plagues, and the miracles that Jesus performed such as turning water to wine and healing many people.
⤷ “But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” - Matthew 19:26
- Omnibenevolent (all-loving): this can be seen in how Jesus sacrificed himself to pay the price of humanity’s sins. Christians see this sacrifice as an example of agape (self-sacrificial love).
⤷ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16
- Omnipresent (all-present): Christians believe that God is simultaneously present everywhere at all times with his entire being.
⤷ “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” - Proverbs 15:3
- Omniscient (all-knowing): Christians believe that God is omniscient as he exists outside of the constraints of time, and because he created everything, thus he possesses an innate knowledge of each of his creations.
⤷ “Great is our Lord and mighty in his power; his understanding has no limit.” - Proverbs 147:5
- Just: Christians believe that God is fair and that they must strive to be like him by acting with integrity, mercy, and forgiveness in their lives. They also must follow the Ten Commandments (in the quotes section).
⤷ “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” - Matthew 7:12
Most people would agree to a large extent that God is a mystery. Christianity is a monotheistic faith - in other words, Christians only believe in one God. However, many Christians also believe in the Holy Trinity:
- God the Father: Christians believe that God the Father is the creator of Earth.
⤷ “In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth.” - Genesis 1:1
- God the Son: Jesus said ‘I and the Father are one.’ He is the saviour incarnate and born of flesh who lived, died, and rose again.
⤷ “I and the Father are one.” - John 10:30
- God the Holy Spirit: After Jesus’ resurrection, God sent the Holy Spirit (the unseen power of God) to sustain all life on Earth and to be the source of strength which Christians find at work in their hearts.
⤷ “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…” - Acts 1:8
The Trinity does not mean that God consists of three different individuals or that God has three properties; they are three forms of the same single entity. The Trinity is often also called the Godhead. Some symbols of the Trinity include an equilateral triangle, a shamrock, the Borromean rings, and the ancient Celtic spiral triskelion.
The idea of the Trinity influences Christians as they say it in prayer (“...through the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…”) and at baptisms (“I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”). The Trinity has been explained as a relationship of love & equality so Christians will aim to show the same love and respect that flows between the persons of the Trinity.
.ᐟ “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” - Matthew 28:19 .ᐟ
The Problem of Evil ꩜
God is described in the Bible as omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omnipresent. However, if he is all-powerful, why would he allow evil to exist? If he is all-knowing, why does he not stop evil before it happens? If he is all-loving, how can he bear for people and animals to suffer?
“Either God wants to abolish evil and cannot; or he can, but he does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?” - Epicurus, 4th Century Greek Thinker
Moral evil: Evil/wrongdoing done by humans
Natural evil: Natural disasters e.g. earthquakes and tsunamis
Many Christians believe in the existence of an evil force, which they call the Devil or Satan. This being attempts to tempt human beings into behaving badly and disobeying God. Not all Christians believe in the Devil. Many believe that as humans have free will, they have the ability to choose their actions. This free will was given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and they abused it by disobeying God by eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge.
Theodicies/explanations for evil & suffering:
- Suffering is a punishment for wrongdoing.
- Suffering is a test of faith in God.
- Suffering is a form of education for our souls.
- Suffering is needed as a balance; to appreciate good, we have to be able to recognise evil.
These solutions may not be satisfactory; they raise the question of “Is nature a flawed design? Is suffering fair?”. Christians may accept they cannot know God’s purpose. The point is not to question why God allows suffering, but rather to look at how they can respond positively to suffering, whether it be their own or that of others. Suffering becomes a trigger of action for showing the love of Jesus to their fellow humans.
.ᐟ “God said, ‘You must not eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. Do not even touch it. If you do, you will die.’” - Genesis 3:3 .ᐟ
Creation ꩜
Christians believe God is transcendent (beyond space and time). They believe God created the world. The Trinity explains how the world was made. Creeds are statements of belief. The Nicene Creed begins with: “We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” “Father” is a metaphor that expresses the life-giving, creative nature of God. This statement reflects the opening verse of the Old Testament: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth. And the Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:1-3)
St John’s Gospel also opens with the phrase “in the beginning”: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” This picks up the idea of God creating through His Word (e.g. ‘“Let there be light”, and there was light.’).
However, there is more to the term ‘Word’ than this. The author of St John’s Gospel linked the Word with Jesus in the statement: “The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only [Son]...” (John 1:14)
The messages/symbolisms of Genesis 1 for Christians are:
- God is the sole omnipotent Creator; He is the source of everything in the universe and sustains it.
- God created a universe that was ordered, not chaotic.
- Every aspect of God’s creation was good; that is, it fulfilled His purposes for it.
- Human beings are created in God’s image, so they reflect God’s capacity for creativity and relationships.
- Human beings are given authority over the rest of the created world.
The universe does not exist by chance and human lives have meaning and purpose. This belief encourages Christians to adopt a positive approach to life. Even when things go wrong, they retain this positivity, and they do not ignore issues; instead, they think things through and then act on their beliefs. The statement that human beings are made in the image of God is highly significant for Christians. To be human is to have potential and this can be seen in the tremendous achievements made in many different subjects and fields. Being in the image of God applies to all human beings, which means that all human lives are of value, regardless of their physical, mental, or intellectual capacity. Christians therefore believe they have a responsibility to treat everyone equally and to show love and respect to all created beings (human and non-human). The power that human beings have been given over the rest of creation entails responsibility; most Christians interpret it in terms of stewardship, not domination.
Interpretations of Genesis 1:
- For Fundamentalists, it is quite literally word for word true; God did make the world in seven days.
- It contains truth; it is a general description, and a day could simply represent a different, larger period of time. God still did create the world.
- Some believe that the writers of the Bible were inspired by the worlds around them and a sense of God. It is not about whether Genesis is true or not; rather, it is the message it represents that is important.
William Paley’s Teleological Argument:
A man walking in a field finds a watch. He realises the watch could not have come about by accident, unlike a rock or a stone, because it is far too complex. The existence of the watch is proof of a watchmaker; the watch must have been designed at some point. The universe is intricate in its design (e.g. molecular structure of ice, position of Earth from the Sun); thus, it could not have just come about by accident; it’s proof of an intelligent designer (God).
Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution:
Charles Darwin developed the Theory of Evolution after observing differences in the shapes of beaks on various different birds on the Galapagos Islands. The Theory of Evolution is an opposing theory to the design/teleological argument.
Afterlife ꩜
Death is not the end. It separates life on Earth from life with God (eternal & beyond time and space). They will be reunited with their loved ones. There are different ideas represented in the Bible about the afterlife:
- There will be no more pain and suffering: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
- Afterlives are a central Christian belief; St Paul says: “If Christ had not been raised, your faith is futile.” (Corinthians 15:17)
- Some believe in a physical resurrection; “I believe in the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.” (Apostles’ Creed)
- Some believe in a spiritual resurrection; “It is sown in a natural body, it is raised in a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)
Roman Catholics also believe in purgatory (an immediate state of existence between death and the afterlife; it is a place of purification for the soul).
.ᐟ “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. “ (John 14:6) .ᐟ
Judgement ꩜
Jesus taught that God’s love was unconditional, but his parables teach about Judgement Day, after death, when all will be judged by Jesus. He will “come again to judge the living and the dead” (Nicene Creed). Roman Catholic teaching says there are two judgements, the particular judgement occurs immediately after death, the general/final judgement takes place at the Second Coming, when Jesus will come in glory to Earth, bringing the age of time and space to an end. He will judge the living and the dead, and they will be assigned to either Heaven or Hell.
Many Christians believe absolutely in Judgement Day and an afterlife; some think Jesus was trying to express something human beings cannot understand. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 19:31) warns that ignoring the needs of others may have eternal consequences. The message of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:31-46) is that some will be rewarded with heaven for helping others whilst others will be sent to hell for ignoring people in need.
When people are asked what Heaven is like, they often see it as a holy oasis and very desirable compared to their present lives (e.g. those living through droughts see heaven as a well-watered garden). Christianity teaches that Heaven is a state of being (not a physical state of being) being with God outside of space and time. Desmond Tutu said it would be like sitting with someone you love and time going by much faster than normal.
The Bible depicts Hell as a place of unquenchable fire (a metaphor). It has frightened people into obeying rules. Some think Hell is eternal separation from God; it is down to humans’ free will (“It is a willful turning away from God.” - Catechism). Some people reject hell because it would mean that God’s love would not triumph over evil; they think everyone will respond to God’s love and will repent & be forgiven. This belief is called universalism.
.ᐟ “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” - Matthew 7:12 .ᐟ
Incarnation ꩜
In John 1:1, Jesus is defined as the eternal Word, who existed before creation and is fully God. The idea of incarnation is impossible to understand but it expresses how the disciples experienced Jesus.
In the New Testament, it is stated that Jesus is the son of God. In Matthew, Luke, and the Nicene Creed, Jesus is said to be “conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary”. Some believe this is literally what happened, while some think it is a myth or a metaphor to show Jesus was both fully divine and fully human.
There have been times where Jesus’ knowledge is limited. In Mark, it is said that the people of Jesus’ hometown rejected him, meaning he was unable to perform miracles there. He also stated that no one knew when the end of the world would happen. In Philippians, St Paul says Jesus willingly became fully human, and he came in the “nature of a servant”. He could only be fully human by giving up some of his divine knowledge; it was an act of supreme self-giving.
Incarnation is central to Christian understanding of God’s love for humanity and it shows Christians how they should live. In John, there is a quote which supports this: “This is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (John 4:10-11)
Real world examples of sacrifices include: Mother Teresa leaving her convent to live amongst the poorest people in India and Father Kolbe offering his life to save another person’s life in Auschwitz.
.ᐟ “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.” - John 4:15-16 .ᐟ
Crucifixion and Resurrection ꩜
Jesus was arrested, tried, and convicted of blasphemy by the Jewish authorities. He was crucified for treason by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. He is nailed to a cross, and he shouts “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Then, he says “It is accomplished”, and dies. Mark says the Temple curtain is torn into two, symbolising that Jesus’ death destroyed the barrier of sin separating God and humanity so that all can access God. The Roman soldier says, “Truly this man was the son of God.”
Two reasons that Jesus had to die:
- Pilate wanted to release Jesus rather than the zealot, Barabbas, who was a freedom fighter but the crowd said that would make him no friend of Caesar; thus, fear might have swayed Pilate into sentencing Jesus to death.
- Theologically (for religious reasons), Jesus’ death meant that human beings were reunited with God; it is an atonement for the separation between humans and God. Reconciliation is the restoration of something; the relationship between humans and God was so damaged, it required drastic action in the form of God (as Jesus) willingly giving his life away.
The women went to the tomb on Sunday and found the boulder rolled away. The body had gone, and they were told Jesus had risen. 40 days later, his body ascends to heaven; a “cloud received him out of their sight”. Some see this as the completion of his work.
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2
.ᐟ “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.” - 1 Corinthians 15:7 .ᐟ
Sin and Salvation ꩜
The story of original sin is in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve are told not to eat from the Tree of Good and Evil; the serpent tempts them, saying that they would become like God if they ate the fruit. This was the first (original) sin. God gives certain punishments and they are thrown out of Eden. Many believed that this story was literally true; humans were descended from Adam and Eve and this disobedience tainted them (an inbuilt tendency to disobey God), and it separated them from God, making them in danger of eternal punishment. Humans would continue to sin, while only God could solve this. Jesus’ death offered salvation, cancelling out original sin and promising eternal life. Many Christians think this conveys a religious truth that humans are likely to do what they should not do.
Salvation means being accepted by God and having eternal life. In Jesus’ time, it was thought that to be accepted by God, they should obey the law (the 10 Commandments). Some Christians agree, saying that you “gain salvation through works” - you have to earn it by keeping the rules. However, most Christians think that the thoughts in their minds and the love in their hearts are more important (as well as the actions they do).
Grace is unconditional love that God has for humans, even when undeserved. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the son did not deserve the welcome with open arms from his father. St Paul had persecuted the church before he became a Christian and did not think that he deserved God’s love. The offer of salvation is a free gift and this is possible due to Jesus’ death. Christians believe that they continue to receive God’s grace.
.ᐟ “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith…it is the gift of God.” - Ephesians 2:8 .ᐟ
Quotes ꩜
“But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” - Matthew 19:26
- While salvation and overcoming certain human limitations are impossible through personal effort, human strength, or wealth, they are entirely possible through God’s power or grace.
⤷ Can be used as an argument for God’s omnipotence (and also for his omnibenevolence).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16
- God’s immense love for humanity moved him to sacrifice his only son, Jesus, offer salvation & eternal life to believers.
⤷ Good as an argument for God’s omnibenevolence.
“Great is our Lord and mighty in his power; his understanding has no limit.” - Proverbs 147:5
- This quote showcases God’s omniscience; his knowledge is far greater than human understanding, encouraging his believers to trust God fully, as his actions are based on perfect knowledge.
⤷ Good as an argument for God’s omniscience & omnipotence.
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” - Proverbs 15:3
- Nothing is hidden from God; for believers, this is comforting, promising that God sees their struggles, faithfulness, and good deeds, ultimately bringing justice. It also serves as a caution that evil actions are not hidden from God, and judgement & justice will eventually be served, emphasising accountability.
⤷ Supports God’s immanence and omnipresence.
“In everything, do unto others as you would have them do to you.” - Matthew 7:12
- You should always treat other people the way that you want to be treated.
⤷ Supports God’s just nature and is also a good supporting argument for anything to do with judgement.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS:
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
- Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
- Honour thy mother and thy father.
- Thou shalt not kill.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
- Thou shalt not covet.
- The 10 Commandments hold profound significance as foundational moral, ethical, and legal principles in Christianity. They function as a divine guide for living, emphasizing justice, respect for others, and loyalty to God.
“In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth.” - Genesis 1:1
- Establishes God’s sovereignty as the Almighty Creator.
“I and the Father are one.” - John 10:30
- Supports the Trinity & asserts Jesus’ divinity and full equality with God the Father.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…” - Acts 1:8
- Highlights the cooperative roles of the Trinity; the Father creates and plans, the Son completes the Father’s plan, and the Holy Spirit empowers.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” - Matthew 28:19
- Quote supporting the Trinity and showing its significance as it is used in one of the 7 sacraments (baptism).
“God said, ‘You must not eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. Do not even touch it. If you do, you will die.’” - Genesis 3:3
- Represents the beginning of humanity’s sin and the barrier between God and humans forming.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth. And the Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” - Genesis 1:1-3
- Emphasises that God created the universe and Earth, and signifies the supreme power of God’s word to create order out of chaos instantly.
“The Word became flesh, and lived for a while among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only son, who came from the father, full of grace and truth.” - John 1:14
- Supports Jesus’ incarnation, showing how the Son of God (the Word) took on human form as Jesus Christ.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 21:4
- Shows how the afterlife will be free of suffering and pain.
“If Christ had not been raised, your faith is futile.” - Corinthians 15:17
- If Jesus had not risen from the dead, then the entire Christian faith would be pointless and powerless, showing how foundational it is to Christianity.
⤷ Good for emphasising how important the resurrection was.
“I believe in the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.” - Apostles’ Creed
- Quote that supports physical resurrection, affirming that death is not final. It signifies that, at the end of time, souls will be reunited with glorified, immortal bodies.
“It is sown in a natural body, it is raised in a spiritual body.” - 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
- Quote that supports spiritual resurrection.
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6
- Signifies that Jesus is the only way to Heaven and to a good relationship with God, suggesting a need to directly follow his teachings.
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus - Luke 19:31
- A story told by Jesus about a wealthy man who ignored a poor man named Lazarus at his gate. After death, their fortunes reverse; Lazarus finds comfort with Abraham, while the rich man suffers in Hell.
⤷ Warns that ignoring the needs of others may have eternal consequences.
The Parable of the Sheep and Goats - Matthew 25:31-46
- Describes Jesus’ final judgement, where he separates people into two groups based on their actions. The righteous (the sheep) are welcomed into heaven for helping the needy, while the cursed (the goats) are punished for failing to do so.
⤷ Some will be rewarded with Heaven and paradise for helping those in need, while others who did not help will be sent to Hell.
“It is a willful turning away from God.” - Catechism
- Signifies that being sent to Hell is a direct consequence of a deliberate, conscious choice to reject God’s will, authority, and grace in favour of one’s own desires.
“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.” - John 4:15-16
- Signifies that acknowledging Jesus as God’s son creates a mutual, personal relationship between the believer and God.
“This is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” - John 4:10-11
- Believers should be inspired by God’s grace (in the form of sending his own son to atone for humanity’s sins) by reciprocating this love for others as well.
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2
- Urges Christians to focus on Jesus as a supreme example of endurance and perseverance.
Keywords ꩜
Agape = Unconditional, selfless, and/or sacrificial love.
Apostles Creed = A statement of Christian beliefs, originating from around 200 AD.
Ascension = Jesus being taken up to heaven on the 40th day after Easter.
Atonement = The action of making amends for wrongdoing; in Christianity, it refers to the reconciliation of humanity with God through Jesus’ sacrifice.
Catechism of the Catholic Church = An official, comprehensive reference book summarising the doctrines, beliefs, and practices of the Catholic Church.
Church of England = The Protestant Church created by Henry VIII to be the church of state in England, rejecting papal authority.
Crucifixion = Capital punishment used by the Romans that involves nailing a person to a cross to kill them.
Fundamentalist = Christians who take the Bible literally word for word true.
Grace = Unconditional love that God shows to people who do not deserve it.
Incarnation = The central Christian doctrine that God took on human form, becoming flesh in the form of Jesus Christ.
Lord’s Prayer = The prayer that Jesus taught to his disciples to show them how to pray.
Messiah = The anointed one who is seen as the saviour by Christians.
Methodist = A protestant Christian group founded by John Wesley in the 18th century.
Nicene Creed = A statement of belief used in Christian services.
Orthodox Church = A branch of the Christian Church.
Protestant = A branch of the Christian Church that broke away from the Roman Catholic Church.
Quakers = A branch of Christianity; also referred to as the Religious Society of Friends.
Resurrection = The physical return of Jesus on the third day after he died.
Roman Catholic = The branch of Christianity, based in Rome with the Pope as its leader.
Salvation = The saving of the soul from sin.
Secular = Attitudes, activities, or things that have no religious or spiritual basis, instead focusing on material or worldly matters.
St Paul = A man who taught the teachings of Jesus; was originally Saul of Tarsus before his conversion.
Transubstantiation = The change in the bread and wine to become the actual body and blood of Christ (while retaining the same physical appearance).
Trinity = The belief in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Denomination = The name for the different branches of the Christian Church.\
Moral evil = Evil/wrongdoing done by humans.
Natural evil = Natural disasters e.g. earthquakes and tsunamis.
Omnipotent = All-powerful.
Omnipresent = Always present.
Omnibenevolent = All-loving.
Omniscient = All-knowing.