Christianity – Religious figures and sacred texts — WJEC A-Level Religious Studies Revision

    This theme explores the religious figures and sacred texts of Christianity, focusing on the birth and resurrection of Jesus, the authority of the Bible, th

    Topic Synopsis

    This theme explores the religious figures and sacred texts of Christianity, focusing on the birth and resurrection of Jesus, the authority of the Bible, the early church as presented in Acts, and a comparative study of the scholarly approaches of John Dominic Crossan and N.T. Wright.

    Key Concepts & Core Principles

    Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

    Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

    Examiner Marking Points

    Christianity – Religious figures and sacred texts

    WJEC
    A-Level

    This theme explores the religious figures and sacred texts of Christianity, focusing on the birth and resurrection of Jesus, the authority of the Bible, the early church as presented in Acts, and a comparative study of the scholarly approaches of John Dominic Crossan and N.T. Wright.

    0
    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    0
    Key Terms
    14
    Mark Points

    Topic Overview

    This topic explores the foundational figures and texts of Christianity, focusing on Jesus Christ as the central religious figure and the Bible as the sacred text. Students examine the nature and significance of Jesus, including his incarnation, teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection, as understood within Christian theology. The Bible is analysed as both a historical document and a source of divine revelation, with attention to its structure (Old and New Testaments), authorship, and interpretation. Understanding these elements is crucial for grasping how Christian beliefs, practices, and ethics are derived from its key sources.

    The study of religious figures and sacred texts is central to A-Level Religious Studies because it addresses how authority and tradition shape faith. For Christianity, this involves evaluating the reliability of the Gospels, the role of Jesus as the Son of God, and the Bible's authority in moral and doctrinal matters. This topic also connects to broader themes such as the problem of evil (through the crucifixion) and the nature of salvation. Mastery of this content enables students to critically engage with Christian claims and to compare them with other religious traditions in the WJEC specification.

    In the wider WJEC A-Level course, this topic provides the foundation for studying Christian ethics, philosophy of religion, and comparative theology. It requires students to balance historical-critical approaches with theological perspectives, a skill assessed in both essay and source-based questions. The ability to cite specific biblical passages and theological concepts (e.g., kenosis, atonement theories) is essential for high marks. This topic also encourages reflection on how sacred texts are used in contemporary Christian debates, such as those on gender roles or social justice.

    Key Concepts

    Core ideas you must understand for this topic

    • →Incarnation: The belief that Jesus is God in human form (John 1:14), fully divine and fully human, central to Christology.
    • →Atonement: Theories explaining how Jesus' death reconciles humanity with God, including substitutionary (penal substitution), Christus Victor, and moral influence theories.
    • →Biblical inspiration: The belief that the Bible is divinely inspired; debates range from verbal plenary inspiration (every word) to dynamic inspiration (concepts).
    • →Canon of Scripture: The process by which books were accepted into the Bible, including criteria like apostolic authorship and liturgical use.
    • →Resurrection: The belief that Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15), considered the cornerstone of Christian faith and evidence of his divinity.

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Consistency and credibility of birth narratives (Matthew 1:18-2:23; Luke 1:26-2:40)
    • Harmonisation and redaction of birth narratives
    • Interpretation of birth narratives regarding the doctrine of the incarnation (substantial presence and kenotic model)
    • Rudolf Bultmann and N.T. Wright on the resurrection event and history
    • Interpretation of death, the soul, resurrected body, and afterlife (Matthew 10:28; John 20-21; 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 1:21-24)
    • Bible as a source of moral advice (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Luke 6:36-37)
    • Bible as a guide to living (Psalm 119:9-16; Psalm 119:105-112)
    • Bible as teaching on meaning and purpose of life (Genesis 1:26-28; Ecclesiastes 9:5-9)

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Consistency and credibility of birth narratives (Matthew 1:18-2:23; Luke 1:26-2:40)
    • Harmonisation and redaction of birth narratives
    • Interpretation of birth narratives regarding the doctrine of the incarnation (substantial presence and kenotic model)
    • Rudolf Bultmann and N.T. Wright on the resurrection event and history
    • Interpretation of death, the soul, resurrected body, and afterlife (Matthew 10:28; John 20-21; 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 1:21-24)
    • Bible as a source of moral advice (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Luke 6:36-37)
    • Bible as a guide to living (Psalm 119:9-16; Psalm 119:105-112)
    • Bible as teaching on meaning and purpose of life (Genesis 1:26-28; Ecclesiastes 9:5-9)
    • Bible as a source of comfort and encouragement (Psalm 46:1-3; Matthew 6:25)
    • Establishment of the Christian biblical canon
    • Diverse views on the Bible as the word of God (objective/subjective inspiration; John Calvin’s doctrine of accommodation)
    • The kerygmata in Acts (C.H. Dodd, Acts 2:14-39; 3:12-26)
    • Challenges to the kerygmata (historical value of speeches in Acts, Rudolf Bultmann)
    • Comparison of John Dominic Crossan (social revolutionary, apocryphal gospels) and N.T. Wright (true Messiah, critical realism, worldviews)

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Ensure you can clearly explain the difference between redaction and harmonisation when discussing birth narratives.
    • 💡When evaluating the resurrection, focus on the tension between historical event and theological interpretation.
    • 💡Use specific biblical references provided in the specification to substantiate your arguments.
    • 💡When comparing Crossan and Wright, focus on their differing methodologies (e.g., use of apocryphal gospels vs. critical realism).
    • 💡Use precise theological terminology (e.g., 'hypostatic union' for Christ's two natures) and reference specific Bible verses (e.g., Philippians 2:6-11 for kenosis) to demonstrate depth of knowledge.
    • 💡When evaluating, consider both strengths and weaknesses of different interpretations; for example, compare the strengths of the moral influence theory of atonement (emphasises God's love) with its weakness (downplays sin's seriousness).
    • 💡Link your points to the question's command words: 'analyse' requires breaking down concepts, 'evaluate' requires a balanced judgement with a clear conclusion.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing the different models of the incarnation (substantial presence vs. kenotic model)
    • Failing to distinguish between the specific scholarly methodologies of Crossan and Wright
    • Over-generalizing the 'authority' of the Bible without referencing the specific nuances of inspiration (objective vs. subjective)
    • Misinterpreting the purpose of the kerygmata in the context of the early church
    • Misconception: The Bible is a single book written by God. Correction: The Bible is a collection of 66 books (Protestant canon) written by multiple human authors over centuries, believed to be divinely inspired but composed in specific historical contexts.
    • Misconception: All Christians interpret the Bible literally. Correction: Interpretations vary widely; some take a literalist approach (e.g., creationism), while others use historical-critical methods or allegorical readings, especially for poetic or apocalyptic texts.
    • Misconception: Jesus' resurrection is only about his physical body coming back to life. Correction: The resurrection is understood as a transformative event inaugurating the new creation; Paul emphasises a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:44) and its cosmic significance for salvation.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions students ask about this topic

    Before You Start

    Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

    • •Basic understanding of the Old Testament narrative (creation, fall, covenant) to grasp the context of Jesus' mission.
    • •Familiarity with the concept of revelation (general and special) as covered in the Philosophy of Religion component.
    • •Knowledge of different Christian denominations (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) to understand varying views on scripture and tradition.

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Evaluate
    Assess
    Discuss
    To what extent
    Compare

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