SYLLABUS

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CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES
OLD TESTAMENT
1. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
(a) God the creator Gen. 1 and 2
(b) God, the Controller of the universe Gen. 1:26-31

2. THE COVENANT
(a) God's covenant with Abraham Gen. 12:1-9, 17:1-21, 21:1-8
(b) God's covenant with Israel Ex. 2:23-25, 19:20, 24:1-11, 32:1-20, ` 30-4
(c) The New Covenant Jer. 31:31-34, 36:-41, Ezek. 36:25-28

3. LEADERSHIP
(a) Joseph as a leader Gen. 1:1-28, 41:1-57, 45:1-15
(b) Moses as a leader Exod. 1:2:3:4:1-17, d:1-5, 22-23,
6:28-30, 7:1-7, 14:1-31: 1-14
(c) Joshua as a leader Numbers 13:16-33, 14:1-19, 13:16-
33, 14:1- 10, 27:15-23, Joshua 1:1-15, 24:1-31, Judges 4:1-24

4. GOD'S CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE
(a) Guidance Exodus 14
(b) Provision Exodus 16:1-21, 17:1-7
(c) Protection Exodus 14:10-31

5. PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
(a) Examples of Eli and Samuel 1 Samuel 2:11-36, 3:2-18, 4:10-22,
8:1-5
(b) Example of Asa 1Kings 15:9-15, 22:14-44

6. DISOBEDIENCE AND CONSEQUENCES
(a) Saul's disobedience 1 Sam. 10:1-16, 15:1-19
8:1-5
(b) Consequences of Saul's disobedience 1 Sam. 15:20-25, 16:14-23

7. A MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART
(a) Submission to the will of God 1 Sam. 26:1-25, 2 Sam. 12:15-25
2 Sam. 3:1-39, 2 Sam. 11, 12:1-15

8. MAKING DECISION
(a) Solomon's wisdom 1 Kings 3:3-28, 4:29-34, 5:1-12, 8:1-53
(b) Unwise policies of Solomon and Rehoboam 1 Kings 9:15-23, 12:1-20

9. GREED AND ITS EFFECTS
Greedy Ahab and Gehazi 1 Kings 21:1-29, 2Kings 5:1-27

10. THE SUPREMACY OF GOD
(a) Religious Tension 1 Kings 16:29-34, 17:1-7, 18:1-9,
19:1-18
(b) Elijah at mount Carmel 1 Kings 18:17-46

11. RELIGIOUS REFORMS
Josiah's religious reforms 2 Kings 22, 23:1-30

12. CONCERN FOR ONE'S NATION
(a) The condition of the Nation 2 Kings 24, 25:1-7
(b) Response to the state of the Nation Nehemiah 1:1-11, 2:9-20, 4:1-23,
Ezra 1:11, 4, 5:1-2, 6:13-22, 7:1-10.

13. FAITH IN GOD
(a) Faith and courage Daniel 3:1-30
(b) Faith and Power Daniel 6:1-28

14. THE MESSAGE OF GOD
(a) The messenger Jonah 1:1-17, 2:1-10, 3: 4:1-11
(b) The message Judges 2:11-18

15. TRUE RELIGION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
(a) True Religion Amos 5:21-23, 25, 4:4-5
(b) Social Justice Amos 2:6-8, 4:1-2, 5:10-12, 8:4-6

16. DIVINE LOVE
(a) The Love of God Hosea 1, 2, 3, 4
(b) Man's Response to God's Love Hosea 6:1-11, 14

17. HOLINESS AND DIVINE CALL
(a) Holiness of God Isaiah 1:10-20, 6:1-7
(b) Divine Call Isaiah 6:8-13, Ezekiel 1,2, 3:1-11,
Jeremiah 1:4-10

18. PUNISHMENT AND HOPE
(a) Punishment Jeremiah 2, 5, 14-19, 32:25-35.
Ezek 18
(b) Hope Jeremiah 3:11-18, 4:1-2,14


THE SYNOPTIC GOSPEL AND ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

1. BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION OF JESUS
(a) The Baptism of Jesus Matthew 1: 18-25, 3:13-17,
Mark 1:9-11, 3:21-22,
(b) The Temptation of Jesus Matt 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13,
Luke 4:1-13

2. DISCIPLESHIP
(a) Call to Discipleship Matthew 4:18-25, 9:9-13, Mark 1:16-
20, 2:13-17, 5:1-11, 27, 32, 9:57-62
(b) The Demands of Discipleship Matthew 8:18-28, Luke 9:57-63,
Luke 14:25-33.
3. SIGNS (MIRACLES)
(a) Nature Miracles (stilling the storm)
i. Stilling the stom Matt 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41,
Luke 8:22-25
ii. Feeding of five thousand Matt 14:13-24, Mark 6:30-44,
Luke 9:10-17
iii. Feeding of four thousand Matt. 15:32-39, Mk. 8:1-9
iv. Walking on the sea Matt. 14:2-26, Mk 6:45-52
(b) Healing Miracles
i. Healing the Leper Matt 8:1-4, Mk. 1:40-44, Luke 5:12-26
ii. The paralytic Matt 9:1-8, Mk. 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26
iii. Peter's mother-in-law Matt 8:14-17, Mk. 1:29-31,
Luke 4:38-39
iv. The centurion's servant Matt. 8:5-13, Lk 7:1-10
v. The demoniac Matt. 8:28-34, Mk. 5:17-26,
Luke 8:26-39

4. PARABLES
(a) Parables of the kingdom of God
i. The Sower Matt. 23:1-23, Mk 4:1-20
ii. The Mustard seed Matt. 13:31-32, Mk 4:30-32,
Lk. 13 13:18-19
iii. The Wheat and the Tares Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43
iv. The seed growing secretly Mk. 4:26-29

(b) Parables illustrating God's Love
i. The lost sheep Luke 15:1-7, Matt. 18:12-14
ii. The lost coin Luke 15:8-10
iii. The prodigal son Luke 15:11-32
(c) Parable illustrating concern for one another
i. The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37
ii. Lazarus and the Rich man Luke 16:19-31

5. SERMON ON THE MOUNT
(a) Jesus teaching on the demand of
the Kingdom (Beatitudes) Matt. 5, 6:1-18
i. Treasures in Heaven Matt 6:19-31
(b) Jesus teaching on Worldly Possessions
i. Divine providence Matt. 6:25-34

6. MISSION OF THE DISCIPLES
Mission of the twelve Matt. 10:1-15, Mk. 6:7-13, 9:1-16
Mission of the seventy Luke 10:1-24

7. THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY AND CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
(a) The Triumphant Entry Matt 21:1-12, Mark 11:1-14
(b) The Cleansing of the Temple Luke 19:29-44, Matt. 21:12-17
Mk 11:15-19, Lk 19:45-48, 29-44

8. THE TRIALS, DEATH AND BURIAL OF CHRIST
(a) The Trials of Christ
i. Christ before the Priest Matt 26:36-75, Mk. 14 53-72
Luke 22:66-71
ii. Christ before Pilate and the
Roman authorities Matt. 27:11-31, Mk. 23:1-25
Luke 23:1-5, 13-25
iii. Christ before Herod Luke 23:6-12
(b) Crucifixion
i. Jesus on the cross; People's reaction Matt. 27:32-66
ii. The word of Jesus on the Cross Luke 23,26-56, Mk. 15:15-47
(c) Burial
i. The role of Joseph of Arimathea Matt. 27:57-61
ii. The burial Mark 15:42-47
iii. The role of the Women Luke 23:50-56

9. THE RESURRECTION, APPEARANCE AND ASCENSION OF JESUS
(a) The Resurrection of Jesus
i. The role of the Women Matt. 28:1-8
ii. The message of resurrection Mark 16:1-8
iii. The significance Luke 24:1-11
(b) The appearances and Ascension of Jesus
i. Appearances Matthew 28:9-20
ii. Ascension Luke 24:13-49

10. FELLOWSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH
(a) Communal living in the Early Church
i. The election of Mathias Acts 1:15-26
ii Problems of the early Acts 2:41-47
iii. Christian Community acts 4:32-37
iv. Characteristics of the early
Christian Community Acts 5:1-11, 6:1
v. Solution to problems Acts 6:2-6

11. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE MISSION
(a) Holy Spirit
i. The coming of the Holy Spirit Acts 1:8
ii. Peter's speech and its effects Acts 2:14-41
(b) Missions of the church
i. The Church in Judea
ii. The Church in Samaria Acts 8

12. OPPOSITION
Opposition to the Gospel message
i. The arrest and imprisonment of the Apostle Acts 4:1-31, 5:17-42
ii. Opposition against Stephen Acts 6:8-7, 60
iii. Saul's opposition to the Gospel Acts 9:1-2
iv. Herod's opposition Acts 12:1-24

13. PAUL'S CONVERSION AND MISSION TO THE GENTILES
(a) Conversion of Saul
i. Activities in Damascus Acts 9:1-19
ii. Activities in Jerusalem Acts 9:20-30
(b) The commissioning and The Mission of Paul
i. The commissioning Acts 13:1-3
ii. Mission to Cyprus Acts 13:4-52
iii. Iconium and Lystra Acts 13, 14:1-20

(c) The Mission of Peter and the Council of Jerusalem
i. Peter's ministry in Lydda and Joppa Acts 9:32-42
ii. The conversion of Cornelius Acts 10:1-43
iii. Gentile converts receive the
Holy Spirit Acts 10:44-48
iv. Peter's defense of his mission to
the Gentiles Acts 11:1-18
v. The Council of Jerusalem Acts 15:1-35

SECTION C
THEMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN AND SELECTED EPISTLE

1. JESUS TEACHING ABOUT HIMSELF
(a) Jesus the Lam John 1:29-34
(b) Jesus the Door and the Good shepherd John 10:1-18
(c) Jesus Light of the world John 3:19-21, 8:12, 9:1-5
(d) Jesus the True vine John 15:1-11, 1:1-8
(e) Jesus the Living Bread and Water John 4:7-15, 6:25-50
(f) Jesus the Resurrection and the life John 11:17-27, 4:1-7, 5:11-12

2. SIGNS OF JESUS
(a) Nature miracles
i. Wedding at Cana John 2:1-11
ii. Feeding of five thousand John 6:5-13
iii. Jesus Walk on the sea John 6:16-21
(b) Miracles of healing
i. The son of the noble man John 4:46-54
ii. Pool of Beth-zatha John 5:1-18
iii. The man born blind John 9:1-7
(c) Raising of Lazarus John 11:1-45

3. LOVE
(a) God's love for man John 3:16-18
(b) Love for one another John 3:11-18, 13:34-35
John 15:12-13, 1 Cor. 13:1-13

4. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
(a) Justification as righteousness Romans 3:21-24
The meaning, conditions and fruits of
Justification Gal. 3:19-29
(b) Faith as a condition for justification Romans 10:5-13, Gal. 2:6-17
Rom. 1:16-17, 4:1-5, 10:6-21
Gal. 2:16b-22, Col. 4

5. LAW AND GRACE Rom. 3:19-26, 4:13-16, 5:18-21
Gal. 3:10-14, 19-22

6. NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
(a) The old life Romans 6:1-4, 12-14, Col 3:1-17
Gal. 5:16-21
(b) New life in Christ Gal. 5:22-25, 2 Cor. 5:17

7. JESUS THE SON OF GOD
(a) Jesus is the Son of God Romans 8:3, 17, 32, 39
(b) Christians are also Children of God Rom 8:1-39, Gal 3:23-29, 1
Thess. 5:4-6, Eph. 1:5-6, 2:19

8. HUMILITY
Lowliness of mind Phil. 2:1-11, 1 Pet. 5:5-11

9. FORGIVENESS
Pleading for forgiveness Philemon 1:22, Gal 6:1-2, II Cor 2:5-11

10. SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Different spiritual gifts II Cor 12:1-13, 14:1-40,
Rom 12:3-8

11. CHRISTIAN GIVING
The joy of giving Phil 4:14-20, II Cor 9:1-15,
8:3-5, Phil 4:17-20

12. CIVIL RESPONSIBILITY
(a) The need for Order in society Rom. 13:1-7
(b) Good citizenship Pet. 2:13-17

13. DIGNITY OF LABOUR
1 Thess 3:6-15, 2:9,
3:23-25, Eph. 6:5-8,
Titus 3:1

14. THE FAMILY
Rights and Obligations Col. 3:18-21, 1 Pet 3:1-7

15. THE SECOND COMING 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 5:1-11

16 RESURRECTION 1 Cor. 15:1-58

17. FAITH AND WORKS James 1:22-27, 2:14-26

18. IMPARTIALITY James 2:1-13

19. EFFECTIVE PRAYERS James 1:1-8, 4:1-3, 5:13-20

20. CHRISTIAN LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY
(a) Christian Living among Non-Christians 1 Peter 1:13-17, 2:9-25
(b) Interpersonal relationship among Christians 1 Peter 5:1-11

21. CHRISTIAN AND PERSECUTION
Christian attitude to persecution 1 Peter 1:1-17, 4:12-19



AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

At the end of the three year course of study, the candidate will be expected to;

1. have knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the religious, cultural, historical and social background of the biblical materials prescribed to be studied;

2. understand the nature of biblical moral lessons in the selected passages/themes from the Bible and the extent of their relevance and possible application to present day social, political, religious and cultural life and existence;

3. identify difficulties involved in the application of healthy attitudes, concepts and skills acquired from the Bible in ensuring peaceful co-existence and national development;

4. demonstrate adequate preparation for higher education through critical thinking and independent work.


SCHEME OF EXAMINATION


There will be two papers, Papers 1and 2, both of which will be a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.

PAPER 1: Will consist of fifty multiple choice objective questions all of which must be
answered within 1 hour for 40 marks.

PAPER 2: Will consist of nine essay-type questions. Candidates will be required to
answer four questions within 2 hours for 60 marks.

The questions will be arranged in sections as follows:

Section A: Themes from the Old Testament - four questions.
Section B: Themes from the Synoptic Gospels and the Acts of the Apostle - three questions.
Section C: Themes from selected Epistles - two questions.

Candidates will be required to answer four questions in all, choosing at least one question from each section and the fourth question from either Section A or Section B.

The Revised Standard Version of the Bible will be used in setting of questions.


SUGGESTED READING LIST/REFERENCES

1. GENERAL

(i) The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version)
(ii) New Clarendon Bible Series
(iii) Bright, John: History and Religion of Israel
(iv) Anderson, B. W.: The Living World of the Old Testament
(v) Kee. H. C. & Young: The Living World of the New Testament
(vi) Cambell, D. B. J.: The Synoptic Gospels
(vii) New Bible Commentary – Cambridge.

2. (a) OLD TESTAMENT
Quarcoopome, T. N. O. : History and Religion of Israel AUP, Ibadan, 1986.

Dickson, Kwesi
i. History and Religion of IsraeL

Darton L & T 1968
ii. From the Institution of the Monarchy to the fall of the Northern Kingdom

(b) NEW TESTAMENT

Guy, H. A.
1 The Life of Christ .
2. The Acts of the Apostles


Pobee, John S Matthew and Mark for Schools


Dickson K .A The Gospel According to Luke (Accra,
Asempa Publishers)

Awolabi Joshua Simple Approach to Christian Religious
Knowledge Elis Association ,Lagos 2011

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(a) God the creator Gen. 1 and 2
(b) God, the Controller of the universe Gen. 1:26-31

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(a) God's covenant with Abraham Gen. 12:1-9, 17:1-21, 21:1-8
(b) God's covenant with Israel Ex. 2:23-25, 19:20, 24:1-11, 32:1-20, ` 30-4
(c) The New Covenant Jer. 31:31-34, 36:-41, Ezek. 36:25-28

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(a) Joseph as a leader Gen. 1:1-28, 41:1-57, 45:1-15
(b) Moses as a leader Exod. 1:2:3:4:1-17, d:1-5, 22-23,
6:28-30, 7:1-7, 14:1-31: 1-14
(c) Joshua as a leader Numbers 13:16-33, 14:1-19, 13:16-
33, 14:1- 10, 27:15-23, Joshua 1:1-15, 24:1-31, Judges 4:1-24

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(a) Guidance Exodus 14
(b) Provision Exodus 16:1-21, 17:1-7
(c) Protection Exodus 14:10-31

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(a) Examples of Eli and Samuel 1 Samuel 2:11-36, 3:2-18, 4:10-22,
8:1-5
(b) Example of Asa 1Kings 15:9-15, 22:14-44

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(a) Saul's disobedience 1 Sam. 10:1-16, 15:1-19
8:1-5
(b) Consequences of Saul's disobedience 1 Sam. 15:20-25, 16:14-23

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(a) Submission to the will of God 1 Sam. 26:1-25, 2 Sam. 12:15-25
2 Sam. 3:1-39, 2 Sam. 11, 12:1-15
8. MAKING DECISION
(a) Solomon's wisdom 1 Kings 3:3-28, 4:29-34, 5:1-12, 8:1-53
(b) Unwise policies of Solomon and Rehoboam 1 Kings 9:15-23, 12:1-20

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Greedy Ahab and Gehazi 1 Kings 21:1-29, 2Kings 5:1-27

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(a) Religious Tension 1 Kings 16:29-34, 17:1-7, 18:1-9,
19:1-18
(b) Elijah at mount Carmel 1 Kings 18:17-46