MODULE 4

BRIEF HISTORY ,CORE

TEACHINGS, FUNDAMENTAL
BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND
RELATED ISSUES OF
CHRISTIANITY
Sit Dolor Amet
 Lesson 1 Fundamental beliefs , Practices and Related Issues
of Christianity
Christianity is considered the most popular religion in the world with the most
number of adherents among all religions.it centers on the life, teachings, death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is considered the Messiah or Savior of humanity.
Thus, in this lesson, we will learn more about the founder of Christianity -JESUS
CHRIST.
Moreover, Christianity being the largest religion in the world today in terms of
number of adherents puts emphasis on its sacred texts that serve as fundamental basis
on its beliefs and practices. In this lesson, you will be acquainted with the sacred texts
used by the Christians. Interestingly, you will also realize here how Christianity
became an offshoot of Judaism religion. That will be answered as you learn more
about the Bible.
 Let’s test what you know about the topic. Accomplish the K-W-
L chart template, but for the mean time fill out only the first and
second column. The third column will be reserved for your next
activity in the lesson. Focus only on the topic provided below for
you
OLD TESTAMENT vs NEW TESTAMENT (Bible)

WHAT I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO WHAT I LEARNED

KNOW

(DO NOT FILL THIS YET)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Christianity developed in Palestine around 100 C.E. It was founded by

Jesus, considered to be the Son of God and Messiah or Savior.

Christianity was regarded as an offshoot of Judaism, however, it has

survived and even surpassed Judaism and other religions in terms of number of
adherents.

Three Major Sects of Christianity today:

1. Roman Catholicism
2. Greek Orthodox Church
3. Protestantism
JUDEA -the mountainous southern part of Palestine, was the home of
Christianity.

During that time, Judaism was the dominant religion in Palestine and it
was
considered by the Jews as land promised to them by God.
- Palestine underwent different foreign rulers:
1. Assyrian Empire
2. Babylonian Empire – they enslaved the Jews
3. Achaemenid or Persian Empire – they permitted the Jews to return to
their land, during the reign of King Cyrus
4. Greeks – under the leadership of Alexander the Great
5. Romans – during their rule Jesus was born, thus Christianity was born
in an era where they ruled over Palestine
MESSIAH – a concept predominantly believed by Jews which was
promised in Judaism as the one who will liberate them from the evils of
the world. This attracted group of people being colonized by a foreign
power. Social conditions cooperated with the relatively free atmosphere
created by Augustus’ Pax Romana or Roman Peace. Also, the birth of a
man who was considered fulfillment of the prophecy among the Jews that
God will send His Son to liberate the people from sufferings and sins
paved the way for the development and spread of a new religion called
Christianity
Jesus as the Founder of Christianity

-Jesus lived and preached teachings that served as criticisms of Judaism,

although he himself was a Jew.
-His ministry began when he was in his early thirties.

-Preaching and healing in the villages, he started to preach teachings which were
considered revolutionary at that time. For example, He criticized the uprightness and
Jesus livedof
insincerity andreligious
preached teachings thatand
officials served as criticisms of
emphasized that God values service and love.
Judaism,
although he himself was a Jew.

-He also taught about the new covenant that God will bring to humanity: that of sending
His begotten son to save humanity from their sins and restore the
people’s relationship with Him.
-Hearing these messages, Jesus soon attracted a group of followers who became his
disciples and who called Him their teacher.

-Thus, Christianity started with a prophecy in the Old Testament: that God will send his
only begotten Son to save humanity from eternal damnation.

-Jesus was seen by his followers to be the Messiah they were waiting for.

-Meanwhile, Jews did not accept this to be true; instead, they are still waiting for the
promise to be fulfilled.
Eight Beatitudes
The Beatitudes comprise what is known
as the “Sermon on the Mount” recorded
in
Matthew5-7. The Beatitudes refer to the
eight sayings of Jesus at the
beginning of the “Sermon on the
Mount.”
The Apostles’ Creed is believed to have
developed in the 100 or 200 C.E. and was
influenced later by the Nicene Creed. A
letter written by the Council of Milan in 390
C.E.is the earliest historical evidence of the
existence of the Apostles’ Creed. It is not
written by the apostles themselves but it
serves as a summary of their basic
teachings.
The Bible is considered the sacred scripture of Christianity. It is a collection
of songs, stories, poetry, letters, history, as well as literature. It is composed
of two books, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament
is considered the original
Hebrew Bible, written between 1200 and 165 B.C.E. The New Testament
was written by Christians around 100 C.E.
THE OLD TESTAMENT
- it is composed of 39 books which are arranged in Three parts:
1. The Law or Torah or Pentateuch – may refer to guidance and
instructions
2. The Prophets – the book of earlier prophets is historical
while the latter
prophets contain sayings and stories of prophets
3. The Writings – include Psalms, Proverbs, Job, and the five
scrolls
THE NEW TESTAMENT
- It is composed of 27 books written around 50 to 100 C.E. and is composed of
two sections:
1. The Gospels – tell the story of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
2. The Letters – (Epistles) written by various Christian leaders to serve as
guide to early Christian communities
- They were written to tell the life and teachings of Jesus.
- The Act of Apostles and Luke tell how Christianity developed from a small
group of Jewish believers to becoming one of the world’s major religions.
- Revelation is the last book of the New Testament traditionally attributed to the
apostle John, which is considered an epistle and an apocalypse.