religion

Section 1: Short Answer Questions (15 marks)

1. Faith of the Early Christian Communities

• Beliefs: Central belief in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.

• Practices: Community gatherings for worship, breaking bread, and prayer.

• Challenges: Persecution and internal conflicts; reliance on shared faith and scriptures for cohesion.

2. Development of the Gospels

• Historical Context: Written in the first century AD, during a time of social and political upheaval.

• Process: Oral traditions were collected, interpreted, and eventually written down to preserve the teachings of Jesus.

• Authorship: Traditionally attributed to the Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), each providing unique perspectives.

3. Sources of the Gospels

• Synoptic Gospels: Mark is a primary source for Matthew and Luke (Q source theory).

• Oral Tradition: Stories about Jesus circulated orally before being documented.

• Written Sources: Possibly other texts or collections of Jesus’ sayings.

4. Core Features of the Gospels

• Narrative Structure: Each Gospel has a distinct structure (e.g., birth, ministry, death, resurrection).

• Themes: Salvation, faith, the Kingdom of God, and Jesus’ teachings.

• Literary Devices: Parables, miracles, and symbolism are prevalent.

5. Different Portraits of Jesus

• Mark: The Suffering Messiah; emphasizes Jesus’ humanity and suffering.

• Matthew: The Teacher; focuses on Jesus as a new Moses and fulfills Jewish prophecy.

• Luke: The Compassionate Savior; highlights Jesus’ care for the marginalized.

• John: The Divine Son; emphasizes Jesus’ divine nature and eternal life.

Section 2: Extended Response on the Gospel of Mark (20 marks)

Possible Focus Areas:

• The Suffering Messiah: Mark emphasizes Jesus’ suffering and humanity (Mark 8:31). Reflect on the significance of Jesus predicting his passion and the implications for early Christians facing persecution.

• The Messianic Secret: Jesus often instructs others to keep his identity a secret (Mark 1:34; 3:12). Analyze the reasons for this secrecy and its theological implications for understanding Jesus’ mission.

• The Questions of Mark’s Gospel: Key questions include "Who is Jesus?" and "What does it mean to follow him?" (Mark 4:41). Explore how these questions are central to the Gospel's narrative and its challenge to readers.

• Divine Sonship: Mark portrays Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 1:11; 15:39). Discuss how this identity is revealed through Jesus’ actions and authority, particularly in miracles and his resurrection.

Writing Tips:

• Structure: Start with an introduction that outlines your argument. Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect, integrating quotes and references.

• Integration of Stimulus: Refer back to any given stimulus or prompts provided in the exam.

• Biblical Quotes: Use relevant quotes (e.g., Mark 8:34 for discipleship) to support your points.

• Cohesion: Use transition phrases to maintain flow and coherence throughout your response.

• Proofreading: Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors to enhance clarity.