Christianity

Christianity
Objectives
A.What is the core teaching of Christianity?
B.Examine the brief history, core teachings,
fundamental beliefs, practices
C.and related issues of Christianity.
D.How should Christians live their lives
according to Christian teachings?
One of the world’s biggest religions with
about 2.1 billion followers worldwide,
Christianity is based on the teachings of
Jesus Christ who lived in Israel some 2,000
years ago.

Do you want to know more about

Christianity? Well let’s find out.
What does the poem is
all about?

What does it say about

Christianity?
Christianity is the most popular religion in the world,
with the highest number of followers. It began around
the 1st century (100) C.E in Palestine., growing out of
Judaism during the time of the Roman Empire in West
Asia.
Christianity is centered on the life, teachings, death,
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, whom Christians
believe is the Messiah or Savior of all people. They
believe Jesus was sent by God the Father to save
humanity from sin and bring people back into a right
relationship with God.
The most recognized symbol of Christianity is the cross,
because Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to
take away the sins of the world.
Christians also believe in the Holy Trinity, meaning that God
exists in three forms:
1.God the Father
2.God the Son (Jesus Christ)
3.God the Holy Spirit
According to Christian belief, Jesus was God’s only Son, sent
to earth to save people from eternal punishment (hell) and
to give them eternal life through faith in Him.
Although there has been a prophesy in Judaism
that God the Father will send His only Son to
redeem humanity from their sins and to restore
relationship with God, the Jews do not accept
that Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise.
Instead, the Jews are still waiting for the
Messiah to be sent by God the Father. Christians,
on the other hand, have accepted that Jesus is
the fulfillment of God’s promise.
 Verse Christian View Jewish View
Hebrew word ‘almah’
Seen as prophecy of Jesus’ means “young woman,” not
Isaiah 7:14 – “A virgin will
birth (Immanuel = "God necessarily virgin; refers to
conceive and bear a son...”
with us") a contemporary child in
Isaiah's time
Refers to King David or
Psalm 2:7 – “You are my another Israelite king as
Interpreted as referring to
son; today I have begotten God's adopted "son" (a
Jesus, the Son of God
you.” metaphor for favor and
kingship)
Isaiah 9:6 – “For to us a Seen as poetic titles for a
Viewed as a prophecy of
child is born... and he will Davidic king, not literal
Jesus’ divine nature
be called Mighty God...” deity or future divine son
Nonetheless, Christianity is considered one of
the first monotheistic religions in the world and
shares many similarities with Judaism in terms
of belief in prophets, angels, judgement day,
among others. Together with Judaism and
Islam, Christianity is considered one of the
world religions which traces its origins to the
patriarch Abraham.
What is Christianity?
Christianity is a monotheistic religion (belief in one
God) that is based on the life and teachings of
Jesus of Nazareth. Its followers are called
Christians. It is part of the Abrahamic religions,
along with Judaism and Islam.
Christians believe that Jesus is the Christ (meaning
“Messiah” or “Savior”), whose coming was
prophesied in the Hebrew Bible (called the Old
Testament in Christianity). The life of Jesus is told
in the New Testament.
A Religion for All People
Christianity began as a branch of Judaism, and
many of its first followers were Jews. What
sets Christianity apart is that Christians accept
Jesus as the promised Messiah, while Jews
believe that the Messiah has not yet come.
Jesus commanded his followers to “go and
teach all nations”, showing that Christianity
was meant for everyone, not just for the Jewish
people.
Core Beliefs of Christianity
One of the central beliefs in Christianity is the Holy
Trinity:
• God the Father – the Creator of the world
• God the Son (Jesus Christ) – the Savior who died for
our sins
• God the Holy Spirit – the guide and helper of believers
Even though Christians believe in one God, they believe
He exists in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit.
How Christians Live Their Faith
Christian life is based on two great
commandments from Jesus:
1.Love God with all your heart, soul,
and mind
2.Love your neighbor as you love
yourself
(Matthew 22:37–40)
Christians express their faith
through:
•Worship and prayer
•Helping others and doing
good works
•Following Jesus’ teachings
Life After Death
Christians believe in an afterlife, where people
are judged by God based on how they lived:
•Heaven – eternal life with God
•Hell – eternal separation from God
•Purgatory – a temporary place of purification
(a belief held by Catholics)
At the end of time, Christians believe there will
be a final judgment, and all people will be
resurrected, just like Jesus.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Many Christians, especially Catholics,
Orthodox, and some Protestants, honor
Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is seen
as a comforter, intercessor, and
spiritual mother to believers. Even
Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer,
respected Mary’s role in God’s plan of
salvation.
 Branch Leadership View of Pope Main Beliefs Worship Style Examples

Faith + works,
Formal (Mass,
Catholic Pope (Vatican) Supreme leader sacraments, Roman Catholic
rituals)
tradition

Similar to
Patriarchs Do not recognize Greek, Russian
Orthodox Catholic but Traditional, icons
(regional) Pope Orthodox
independent

Baptists,
Reject papal Faith alone, Bible Simple, Bible-
Protestant Varies by group Methodists,
authority alone focused
Lutherans, etc.
 The Three Major Branches of Christianity

1. Catholic Christians
• The largest Christian group in the world.
• Led by the Pope, who is based in Vatican City.
• Believe that salvation comes through faith, good works, and
participation in the Sacraments (like baptism, the Eucharist,
confession, etc.).
• Highly value tradition, church authority, and the Virgin Mary.
• Worship includes Mass, with rituals, prayers, and the Eucharist
(Holy Communion).
• Teachings are guided by both the Bible and Sacred Tradition.
 The Three Major Branches of Christianity

2. Orthodox Christians
• Also called Eastern Orthodox (e.g., Greek Orthodox, Russian
Orthodox).
• Split from the Catholic Church in the Great Schism of 1054.
• Do not recognize the Pope; instead, they have patriarchs and
independent national churches.
• Worship is very traditional, filled with chanting, incense, and
icons.
• They believe in seven sacraments, similar to Catholics, but with
some differences in practice and belief.
• Their focus is on mystery, holiness, and community in worship.
 The Three Major Branches of Christianity
3. Protestant Christians
• Emerged from the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s, started by Martin Luther.
• Protested certain Catholic practices and beliefs (like indulgences and papal
authority).
• Believe that salvation comes by faith alone and that the Bible is the only source
of truth (sola scriptura).
• Do not accept the authority of the Pope.
• Worship is usually simpler and focuses on Bible reading, preaching, and singing.
• Many different denominations, such as:
• Lutherans
• Baptists
• Methodists
• Presbyterians
• Evangelicals
• Pentecostals
 Category Old Testament New Testament
“Old Covenant” – God’s agreement “New Covenant” – God’s new
Meaning with the people of Israel promise through Jesus Christ
History, laws, and prophecies before Life, teachings, death, and
Focus the coming of Jesus resurrection of Jesus
God’s covenant with Israel through God’s offer of salvation to all
Main Message Moses people through Jesus
39 books (Protestant version),
Books written in Hebrew/Aramaic
27 books, written in Greek

Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, Mary, apostles like

Key Figures David, prophets like Isaiah Peter, Paul, John
- Law (Torah/Pentateuch) - History - - Gospels - Acts - Letters
Key Sections Wisdom - Prophets (Epistles) - Revelation
Used by Jews and Christians (called
Use in Religions the Hebrew Bible in Judaism) Used by Christians only
Who founded Christianity?
Christianity originated with the ministry of Jesus in the 1st
century Roman province of Judea. According to the Gospels,
Jesus was a Jewish teacher and healer who proclaimed the
imminent kingdom of God and was crucified c. AD 30–33. While
the main tenets of Christianity originated with Jesus Christ, it
was His 12 disciples, and eventually apostles who
institutionalized and established the bureaucratic structures of
the religion.
Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ)
Most of what we know about Jesus Christ comes from the
Gospels in the Bible. He was not a scholar or writer, but he
knew the Hebrew Scriptures well.
According to the Gospels, Jesus was born to a virgin named
Mary, who was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter from
Nazareth. Joseph was a descendant of King David. Because
of a Roman order for a census, Joseph and Mary traveled to
Bethlehem, where Jesus was born in a manger, since there
was no room in the inn. Christians celebrate this event
every December 25 as Christmas.
We know very little about Jesus’ childhood,
except for one story when he was 12 years
old, talking with teachers in the Temple of
Jerusalem. His next appearance in the
Gospels is when he was about 30 years old,
during his baptism and his 40-day
temptation in the desert. After this, he
began preaching and teaching in public.
Jesus was raised as a Jew and followed Jewish
laws, but he often challenged people’s strict
interpretations of those laws, especially when
they led to injustice or lack of compassion. He
strongly taught about love and forgiveness. He
said people must forgive others endlessly
(Matthew 18:22), and even asked God to forgive
those who crucified him (Luke 23:34). He also
taught to love even your enemies (Luke 6:27).
Jesus was eventually condemned to
death because of his teachings,
especially by the religious leaders who
felt challenged by him. His suffering
and death are remembered during
Holy Week, and his resurrection is
celebrated on Easter Sunday.
Basic Teachings
Jesus used parables – short stories with
hidden messages – in his teachings.
Some of the main themes that Jesus taught,
which Christians later embraced,
include:
• Love God.
• Love your neighbor as yourself.
• Forgive others who have wronged you.
• Love your enemies.
• Ask God for forgiveness of your sins.
• Jesus is the Messiah and was given the authority to forgive others.
• Repentance of sins is essential.
• Don’t be hypocritical.
• Don’t judge others.
• The Kingdom of God is near. It’s not the rich and powerful – but the weak and
poor–who will inherit this kingdom.
How did Christianity begin?
Christianity began in the 1st century AD after Jesus
died, as a small group of Jewish people in Judea,
but quickly spread throughout the Roman empire.
Despite early persecution of Christians, it later
became the state religion. In the Middle Ages it
spread into Northern Europe and Russia.
Christian Practices
Although there are different groups within
Christianity (like Catholics, Orthodox, and
Protestants), many of their religious
practices are similar. The most important
ones are called sacraments, which are seen
as signs of God’s grace.
 1. Baptism
•This is the first step for anyone
who wants to become a Christian.
•It involves being cleansed with
water to show repentance and a
new beginning.
•Catholics and Orthodox usually
baptize babies, while many
Protestants baptize only those
who choose it for themselves.
 2. Eucharist (Holy Communion)
•This comes from the Last Supper,
when Jesus shared bread and wine with
His disciples, symbolizing His Body and
Blood.
•Christians recreate this moment
during worship by sharing bread and
wine.
• Some churches believe it becomes
the real Body and Blood of Christ.
• Others see it as a symbol of His
sacrifice.
❑ Confirmation – Strengthening of
faith through the Holy Spirit.
❑ Reconciliation (Confession)
– Confessing sins to a priest for
forgiveness.
❑ Anointing of the Sick – Spiritual
healing for those who are ill or
dying.
❑ Holy Orders – Ordination of priests,
deacons, and bishops.
❑ Matrimony (Marriage) – Union of a
man and woman before God.
Sacrament Meaning
A special blessing that strengthens a
Confirmation
person’s Christian faith after baptism
A person confesses their sins and
Reconciliation (Confession)
receives forgiveness from God
A man and a woman are united in a
Matrimony (Marriage) lifelong commitment with God at the
center
A person becomes a priest or deacon
Holy Orders (Ordination)
and serves the Church
A prayer and blessing for someone
Anointing of the Sick who is very sick or dying, asking for
healing and comfort
Religious Leaders in the Catholic
Church
The Catholic Church follows a
hierarchy (levels of leadership) based
on Canon Law. Each level has specific
duties to help the Church function
well.
Level Role
Head of the Church, based in the
Pope
Vatican
Cardinals Advisers and elect the next Pope
Lead a diocese, oversee priests and
Bishops
sacraments
Lead parishes, celebrate Mass, and
Priests
administer sacraments
Assist priests; may be transitional (on
Deacons the way to priesthood) or permanent
(lifelong service)
 1. The Pope
❑ The highest leader of the Catholic
Church.
❑ Considered the successor of Saint
Peter, one of Jesus’ apostles.
❑ Lives in the Vatican, a small
independent state in Rome, Italy.
❑ He leads the whole Church and makes
important decisions.
❑ He can appoint cardinals, bishops, and
other church officials.
 2. Cardinals
❑ Appointed by the Pope.
❑ Help the Pope by giving advice
and representing the Church
around the world.
❑ When a Pope dies or resigns,
the cardinals choose the next
Pope.
❑ Together, they are called the
College of Cardinals.
 3. Bishops
•Bishops lead a large area of
churches called a diocese.
•They are in charge of teaching
the faith, celebrating worship,
and managing Church matters.
•The Pope is also a bishop — the
Bishop of Rome.
•Bishops ordain priests and
deacons.
 4. Priests
•Priests serve in local churches or
parishes.
•They lead Mass and perform most of
the sacraments:
• Baptism, Eucharist, Marriage,
Confirmation, etc.
•Some priests belong to religious orders
like the Jesuits, Dominicans, or
Augustinians.
•Others are called diocesan priests,
assigned to a specific community.
 5. Deacons
•Help priests and bishops in their
duties.
•There are two kinds:
• Transitional Deacons – men who
are studying to become priests.
• Permanent Deacons – can be
married and serve the Church for
life; assist in baptisms, weddings,
preaching, and charity work.
Sacred Scriptures in
Christianity
The Bible is the holy book of
Christianity. It is a collection of
different types of writings—
stories, songs, poems, prayers,
laws, letters, and history. It is
made up of two main parts:
Part Main Focus Number of Books

God's covenant
Old Testament with Israel, laws, 39
prophets, wisdom

Life of Jesus,
New Testament teachings, early 27
Christian Church
 1. The Old Testament
•Also known as the Hebrew Bible.
•Written between 1200 and 165 B.C.E.
•Contains 39 books and is divided into three main parts:
a. The Law (Torah or Pentateuch)
•First five books: Genesis to Deuteronomy
•Also called the Pentateuch
•Contains laws and instructions on how people should
live
•Traditionally believed to be written by Moses
 b. The Prophets
•Divided into:
• Former prophets – focus on history (e.g., Joshua, Judges)
• Latter prophets – focus on the messages and lives of
prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel
c. The Writings
•Include different types of literature like:
• Psalms – songs and prayers
• Proverbs – wise sayings
• Job – a story about suffering and faith
• Five Scrolls (Megiloth) – linked to Jewish festivals
 2. The New Testament
•Written by early Christians between 50 to 100 C.E.
•Contains 27 books that focus on Jesus Christ and the early
Church
a. The Gospels
•Four books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
•Tell the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus
b. The Letters (Epistles)
•Written by early Christian leaders like Paul wrote (like
Romans, Corinthians, Galatians), which are now part of the
New Testament.
•Give advice and teachings to early Christian communities
 c. Acts of the Apostles
•Written by Luke
•Tells the story of how Christianity spread after
Jesus’ death
d. Revelation
•Last book of the Bible
•Written by John
•A symbolic and prophetic book about the end of
times and the final victory of good over evil
Ten Commandments
Also called the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments are a set of laws
given by God to the people of Israel at Mt.Sinai through Moses. In
Exodus, God gave Moses the tablets containing the Ten
Commandments, which Moses smashed into pieces because of
extreme anger when he saw the golden calf idol created and
worshipped by the Hebrews. God gave Moses another set to replace
the broken one.
The Ten Commandments are said to appear twice in the Bible, in
Exodux 20:1-17, and at Deuteronomy 5:-21. They are meant to guide
Christians on how to behave within the family, society, and most
especially with respect to God.
Eight Beatitudes
The Beatitudes comprise what is known
as the “Sermon on the Mount” recorded
in Matthew 5-7. The Beatitudes refer to
the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning
of the “Sermon on the Mount.” Here are
the Eight Beatitudes mentioned in
Matthew 5-7: