Principal Beliefs (HSC SSCE Studies of Religion): Revision Notes
Principal Beliefs
Christianity has developed a systematic theology over centuries, drawing from sacred texts and church traditions. This note examines the core beliefs that form the foundation of Christian faith and practice.
Jesus as human and divine
The development of christological doctrine
As Christianity spread through the Roman Empire, early believers faced a significant theological challenge: how to explain Jesus' relationship to God. While Romans could understand a human becoming divine after death (as emperors sometimes did), the concept of God becoming human was more difficult to grasp.
Several theological positions emerged during this period:
Paul of Samosata (Bishop of Antioch, 260 CE) taught that God and Jesus were co-equal yet distinct. In his view, God remained as the Logos (divine Word), while Jesus was the Logos incarnated in human flesh.
Arius proposed that God created Jesus to carry out divine plans on earth. According to this Arian perspective, Jesus was not eternal and therefore less divine than God the Father. This view gained considerable support, particularly in eastern regions and North Africa, and its influence persisted for centuries.
Athanasius (296-373 CE) from Alexandria argued that Jesus possessed both the same nature as God and full humanity simultaneously. This position would eventually become orthodox Christian teaching.
The Council of Nicaea and the hypostatic union
Emperor Constantine, increasingly interested in Christianity, wanted theological disputes resolved. He convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, which produced both the Nicene Creed and a definitive statement on Christ's nature.
The Council adopted Athanasius' position as correct church teaching: Jesus is fully human and fully divine. This doctrine is known as the hypostatic union. This remains the orthodox position in Catholic, Orthodox, and most Protestant denominations today.
Although Arianism continued to influence some regions, the Nicene position became the established orthodox view, marking a turning point where Christianity became closely associated with the Roman state.
Biblical evidence for Jesus' humanity
The New Testament contains numerous passages demonstrating Jesus' human nature:
- He experienced physical tiredness and needed sleep
- He felt hunger
- He suffered pain and emotional anguish
- He wept and showed human emotions
These descriptions affirm that Jesus fully participated in the human experience.
Biblical evidence for Jesus' divinity
The scriptures also present Jesus in ways that indicate his divine nature:
- In John 6:35 and 8:12, Jesus uses the phrase "I am" (echoing Yahweh, the Hebrew name for God)
- Matthew 2:2 and 14:33 record people worshipping him
- Matthew 1:21 identifies him as saviour
- John 11 shows him raising the dead
- John 5:17-23 presents him as equal to God
- Acts 10:36 calls him "Lord of all"
- Matthew 25:31-46 depicts him as the final judge of humanity
Death and resurrection of Jesus
Significance for Christians
The resurrection narrative describes Jesus dying in human form on the cross and rising from death three days later to live eternally. This event holds profound meaning for Christian believers.
Christians understand Jesus' death as deliberate, purposeful and effective. His death is seen as the means of saving humanity - a sacrifice for human sin. The resurrection provides believers with proof that life continues beyond physical death, demonstrating Jesus' power to grant his followers eternal life.
The combined events of death and resurrection serve as a sign of Jesus' divinity and form the foundation of the Christian understanding of salvation.
Scriptural witness to the resurrection
The New Testament provides extensive testimony to the resurrection. The Gospels describe the discovery of Jesus' empty tomb and record his appearances to followers over 40 days. According to Paul, more than 500 people witnessed the risen Jesus.
Key scriptural passages include:
- Romans 6:9 emphasizes that Christ, once raised, dies no more - death has lost its power over him
- John 11:25 records Jesus declaring himself "the resurrection and the life"
- 1 Peter 1:21 connects faith and hope in God to the raising of Jesus
- Romans 8:11 promises that the same Spirit who raised Jesus will also give life to believers
The nature of God and the Trinity
Attributes of God
Christian theology describes God in specific terms. God is personal rather than an impersonal force - capable of relationship with creation. God is also characterized as:
- Eternal - without beginning or end
- Omniscient - possessing all knowledge
- Omnipotent - having all power
- Omnipresent - present everywhere simultaneously
These attributes distinguish the Christian understanding of God from other conceptions of divinity. The personal nature of God is particularly significant, as it enables relationship and communication between the divine and human realms.
Development of Trinitarian theology
The early disciples were Jewish and firmly believed in one God. However, they came to accept that Jesus was God and that the Holy Spirit was also a form of God. They faced the challenge of maintaining monotheism while acknowledging three distinct divine persons.
The concept of the Trinity developed gradually: one God existing eternally as three persons. Although the word "trinity" does not appear in the Bible, supporters of this doctrine find evidence throughout scripture supporting the concept.
Early Christians expressed key doctrines through formal statements of faith called creeds. These developed as part of worship rituals and to summarize religious beliefs, using language that established strong connections between God and Jesus.
The Nicene Creed
The Apostles' Creed, central to Western Christianity, was expanded at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, creating the Nicene Creed. This creed remains in use within Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican liturgy today.
Key affirmations of the Nicene Creed:
The creed affirms belief in one God, the Father almighty, creator of all things visible and invisible. It declares Jesus Christ as the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God. Crucially, it states he is "begotten not made, of one being with the Father."
The creed describes Jesus' incarnation through the Holy Spirit and Virgin Mary, his crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, death, burial and third-day resurrection according to the scriptures. It affirms his ascension to heaven and future return in glory to judge all people.
Regarding the Holy Spirit, the creed identifies him as Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son), is worshipped and glorified with the Father and Son, and spoke through the prophets.
The creed also affirms belief in one holy catholic and apostolic Church, one baptism for forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
The traditional formula: God is one, but three persons constitute the Godhead. This remains a central Christian mystery.
Revelation
Understanding revelation
Revelation refers to the disclosure of divine truth that could not be known without God's initiative. Christianity's primary revelation is what God disclosed through Jesus, later recorded in the Gospels. Theologians distinguish between two types of revelation.
General revelation
General revelation comes to all people through:
- The created world - observing nature and the universe reveals aspects of God's character and power
- Human conscience - the innate moral sense within people
This form of revelation is available universally, not restricted to those with access to scripture or Christian teaching.
Special revelation
Special revelation is God's specific self-disclosure through:
- Jesus Christ - the incarnate revelation of God's nature and purposes
- The Bible - sacred writings containing God's revealed truth
Christians consider these sources to provide deeper, more detailed knowledge of God than what general revelation can offer.
On theological language: God is typically referred to using masculine pronouns ("he") not because God is male, but because God is personal. English lacks a gender-neutral personal pronoun. The Hebrew word for "spirit" has feminine grammatical construction, and scripture sometimes uses feminine imagery for God (such as in Proverbs 8-9, Isaiah 49:14-15, and Psalm 131:2). While Jesus was male and God is often called "Father," this does not imply exclusive masculinity.
Salvation
Three dimensions of salvation
The death of Jesus is understood as a ritual sacrifice (Romans 5:6-11). The New Testament indicates Jesus knew his death was his fate (Mark 8:31). Salvation in Christianity carries three distinct but related meanings:
The three aspects of salvation:
-
Deliverance from sin - Christian reconciliation offers individuals the opportunity to repent (turn away from sin toward Christ) and receive forgiveness, being saved from punishment for their sins
-
Resurrection to eternal life - Belief in Christ's resurrection is central to the hope that after death, those forgiven of their sins will be resurrected to heaven
-
Healing through God's power - This aspect of salvation continues in the present day, such as Catholics' belief in the healing properties of water from the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
Temporal aspects of salvation
Just as Jesus was raised to life after death, his sacrifice promises the same salvation for Christians. In New Testament teaching, salvation has three temporal dimensions:
- Past aspect - forgiveness of sins already committed
- Present aspect - living currently as a forgiven, "saved" person
- Future aspect - anticipating eternal life in heaven
Salvation is therefore both a present reality and a future promise, not merely a hope for life after death.
Exam guidance
When analyzing Christian beliefs:
- Explain how beliefs connect to scriptural sources - quote specific passages where relevant
- Evaluate the historical development of doctrines like the Trinity - consider why competing views emerged
- Assess the significance of beliefs for Christian practice - how do beliefs about Jesus' nature affect worship or ethics?
- Link different beliefs together - show how the resurrection connects to salvation, or how revelation relates to understanding God's nature
Common essay structures:
- For "explain" questions: Define the belief, provide scriptural/creedal support, show practical application
- For "evaluate" questions: Present different perspectives (e.g., Arian vs Athanasian), assess evidence, reach a supported conclusion
Remember!
Key theological concepts:
- The hypostatic union (Council of Nicaea, 325 CE) established that Jesus is fully human and fully divine
- The Trinity expresses one God in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) - a central Christian mystery
- Revelation occurs through general means (creation, conscience) and special means (Jesus, scripture)
- Salvation encompasses deliverance from sin, resurrection to eternal life, and divine healing
Essential attributes:
- God is personal, eternal, omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (everywhere)
Foundational beliefs:
- Jesus' death and resurrection provide the means of salvation and demonstrate his divine nature
- The Nicene Creed remains the authoritative statement of Christian faith across major denominations
- Salvation has past (forgiveness), present (transformed life), and future (eternal life) dimensions