WAEC SSCE - Christian Religious Studies - 1992 (Objective)

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In the parable of the prodigal son, the elder brother exhibited several character traits. One of these traits was self-righteousness, which means he had an exaggerated sense of his own righteousness or goodness. He thought of himself as better than his younger brother, who had squandered his share of the inheritance. This attitude was evident when he refused to join in the celebration for his brother's return and complained to his father about the attention given to his younger brother. The elder brother did not exhibit hatred for others, but he did display pride and selfishness. His pride was evident in his belief that he deserved more attention and recognition for his loyalty and hard work for the father. He was also selfish because he was more concerned about himself than his younger brother or his father's joy at the younger brother's return. However, the elder brother did exhibit obedience, as he had faithfully served his father and had not disobeyed him like his younger brother. Nevertheless, his obedience was tainted by his self-righteousness, pride, and selfishness, which made him unwilling to join in the celebration and welcome his younger brother back home.

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In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul asked Christians not to grieve like others over their members who have fallen asleep because those who have fallen asleep will rise again. Paul was reassuring the Thessalonians that death is not the end for believers in Jesus Christ. Instead, those who have died in Christ will rise again and be reunited with Him. Paul's message was a message of hope and comfort to those who were mourning the loss of their loved ones. It is not because sleep is a natural way of taking rest after a day's job, nor is it because fallen asleep is an inescapable lot of everybody. It is also not because only sinners fall asleep; hence no mourning for them. Paul's message was based on the Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead and the hope of eternal life in Christ.

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The option that did not characterize the life of fellowship led by the Early Church is: "Those who sold their possession kept part of the proceeds to themselves." In the book of Acts in the Bible, it is described how the Early Church lived in fellowship with one another. They met regularly for prayers and thanksgiving, devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, had all things in common, and shared in the problems of one another. However, there is no mention in the Bible that those who sold their possessions kept part of the proceeds to themselves. In fact, in Acts 4:32-35, it is explicitly stated that "all the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." Therefore, it can be concluded that the Early Church did not keep any part of the proceeds from the sale of their possessions for themselves, but rather they shared everything they had with one another.

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In his first letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul likened the unity in diversity of the Christian Church to different parts of the human body, all contributing to the good of the whole. Paul used the analogy of the human body to explain that each member of the church has a unique role to play in the church community, just as each part of the human body has a unique function. He emphasized that each member is important and has something to contribute to the well-being of the whole body, and that the diversity of gifts and talents among members should be celebrated and used for the common good. By using this analogy, Paul encouraged the Corinthians to value and respect the differences among members of the church, and to work together for the greater good of the church community.

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Amos condemned the people of Israel for several sins, including selling the righteous for silver, trampling upon the head of the poor, laying themselves down beside every alter, upon garments taken in pledge, and drinking in the house of their God, the wine of those who have been fined. However, he did not condemn them for upholding the way of the afflicted. This means that the people of Israel were not accused of mistreating or oppressing those who were suffering or in need. Overall, Amos was a prophet who spoke out against social injustice and the mistreatment of the poor, and his message is still relevant today.

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According to John's Gospel, the first sign performed by Jesus was turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana. This event is recorded in John 2:1-11. Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding, and during the celebration, the hosts ran out of wine. Mary, Jesus' mother, approached him and asked him to do something about it. Initially, Jesus was reluctant, but at Mary's urging, he instructed the servants to fill six stone water jars with water. He then told them to draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet. The water had been turned into wine, and the master of the banquet was amazed at the quality of the wine. This sign showed Jesus' power to perform miracles and marked the beginning of his public ministry.

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In the Bible, Prophet Jeremiah described a New Covenant that God would make with the Israelites. The main feature of this covenant was that it would be written in the hearts of the people. This meant that God's laws and commandments would no longer be written on stone tablets or parchment scrolls, but would be internalized by the people. They would no longer need to be reminded of God's laws because they would naturally follow them from the heart. This was a significant departure from the old covenant, which was based on external rules and regulations. The new covenant represented a new era of spiritual awareness and intimacy between God and the people. The covenant was not sealed with the blood of oxen, nor did it mark the dawn of a new era of political awareness in Israel. It was also not concluded during the Babylonian exile, although Jeremiah did prophesy during that time. While the coming of the Messiah is a related concept in Jewish and Christian theology, it is not specifically mentioned as a feature of the New Covenant as described by Jeremiah.

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In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul said that Christians' greatest assurance for the resurrection of the dead was the fact that Jesus died and rose from the dead. He argued that if Jesus died and rose again, then those who have died in Christ would also rise again. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:14, "For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep." Paul was saying that the resurrection of Jesus is a powerful demonstration of God's power and that it gives Christians hope for their own resurrection. Because Jesus was resurrected, Christians can be confident that they too will be resurrected and will live forever with Christ.

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When Peter advised Christians to abstain from the passions of the flesh, he meant immoral and carnal behaviours. Peter was encouraging Christians to resist the desires and impulses of the flesh that lead to sinful actions. He listed several examples of such passions in his letters, including sexual immorality, drunkenness, orgies, and other forms of reckless behavior. By abstaining from these passions, Christians are called to live a life that is holy and pleasing to God, following the example of Jesus Christ.

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In the Bible, King Solomon asked God for wisdom and understanding at Gibeon, and God granted him these gifts, along with riches and honor. However, God did not give Solomon righteousness and faithfulness to God. These were qualities that Solomon had to cultivate and maintain himself through obedience to God's laws and commandments. Similarly, while God gave Solomon the ability to discern between good and evil, this was not the only gift that he received. Solomon was also given an understanding mind and the ability for good governance, which he used to rule over Israel with wisdom and justice. Overall, God endowed Solomon with wisdom, understanding, wealth, and honor, as well as the ability to discern between good and evil and to govern well. However, Solomon had to actively pursue righteousness and faithfulness to God in order to be a just and effective ruler.

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Paul, also known as Saul of Tarsus, was a prominent figure in the early Christian church. However, he regarded himself as the least of the apostles and unfit to be called an apostle because he was formerly the greatest persecutor of the apostles. Before his conversion to Christianity, Paul was a fierce opponent of the early church. He actively persecuted and imprisoned Christians, and even participated in the stoning of Stephen, one of the first Christian martyrs. However, on the road to Damascus, he had a transformative encounter with Jesus and became a devout follower of Christ. Despite his significant contributions to the spread of Christianity and his role as an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul remained humble and acknowledged his past as a persecutor of the church. In his own words, he said, "For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God" (1 Corinthians 15:9). Therefore, it was not because Paul was not called by Jesus like the others, not a Galilean, or modest, but because of his past as a persecutor of the church that he regarded himself as the least of the apostles and unfit to be called an apostle.

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From his experience on the road to Damascus, Saul (who later became the apostle Paul) learnt several important lessons. However, one of the things he did not learn was that he could successfully promote his own will. The other lessons Saul learned include that persecuting the Church meant persecuting the Lord himself, that in persecuting the Church, he was kicking against the pricks, that his confidence in Judaism was misplaced, and that he was specially chosen to preach to the Gentiles. But nowhere in the story of Saul's conversion does it suggest that he learned that he could successfully promote his own will. In fact, his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus led him to surrender his will to God and to dedicate his life to serving Christ.

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In the story from the Bible, Ahab was a king who coveted Naboth's vineyard, which was adjacent to his palace. He offered to buy it from Naboth, but Naboth refused, citing that it was his inheritance from his fathers and it was not lawful to sell it. Ahab became angry and sulked in his palace. His wife Jezebel, who was known for her wickedness, devised a plan to help Ahab get the vineyard. She had false witnesses accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king, and he was stoned to death. This event exposed Ahab's envy and disregard for the law. He was willing to go to great lengths, including having an innocent man killed, just to get what he wanted. His behavior was not fair, just, or considerate of other people's rights. Instead, he used cleverness and treachery to try to get his way. As a result of his actions, God pronounced judgment on Ahab and his family. This story serves as a warning against the dangers of greed, envy, and disregard for the law.

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The apostles were motivated for their evangelization by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus ascended to heaven, he promised to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples, which happened during the feast of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit empowered and guided the apostles to spread the message of Jesus Christ and establish the early Christian church. This motivation was so strong that even in the face of serious persecution, the apostles continued to spread the gospel message and establish Christian communities throughout the world. Their fellowship and togetherness, while important, were not the primary motivation for their evangelization. Likewise, there is no belief in the reincarnation of saints or the continued physical presence of Jesus as motivation for the apostles' evangelization.

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The words "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come" were addressed to Mary, the mother of Jesus. The context of the passage is at the wedding in Cana, where Jesus and his disciples were invited. During the wedding, the host ran out of wine, and Mary asked Jesus to do something about it. Jesus responded to Mary by saying "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." This response may seem harsh to us, but Jesus was not being disrespectful to his mother. Rather, he was indicating that his mission had not yet begun, and it was not yet time for him to perform miracles. However, despite his initial reluctance, Jesus ultimately performed the miracle of turning water into wine at Mary's request, demonstrating his love and care for her.

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Jesus proved that he was "the resurrection and life" by raising Lazarus from the dead in Bethany. This event demonstrated Jesus' power over death and showed that he could bring someone back to life. By doing this, Jesus showed that he was the source of life and that those who believe in him would also have eternal life. The raising of Lazarus was a miraculous sign that confirmed Jesus' divine authority and was a powerful testimony to his disciples and to all who witnessed it. It was an event that showed Jesus' love and compassion for his followers and gave them hope in the face of death.

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The words "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets" were spoken by Peter in response to Jesus' request to let down their nets for a catch of fish. This happened when Jesus met Peter and Andrew by the Sea of Galilee and called them to be his disciples. Peter and Andrew had been fishing all night without success, but at Jesus' word, they let down their nets again and caught so many fish that their nets began to break. This miracle convinced Peter and Andrew to follow Jesus and become fishers of men, leaving their former lives behind. Overall, this passage highlights Jesus' power to perform miracles and the faith of his disciples in following his commands, even when it seemed unlikely to succeed.

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Paul was confident that Philemon would grant his request because Philemon had proved himself a true Christian partner. Paul had also written to Philemon in a way that appealed to him as a fellow Christian, emphasizing the importance of forgiveness and love. Additionally, Paul promised to pay back all debts owed by Onesimus, which could help to ease any concerns Philemon may have had about taking him back.

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David's attitude towards Abner's death was sincere shock and sorrow. Abner was a commander in Saul's army who later allied himself with David. However, Abner was killed by Joab, David's own commander, who had a personal vendetta against Abner. When David learned of Abner's death, he was deeply grieved and mourned publicly, even composing a lament for Abner. David's response to Abner's death was consistent with his character throughout the Bible. He is depicted as a man of deep emotions and empathy, who mourned the loss of even his enemies. In this case, David saw Abner as a valuable ally and a potential key to uniting the kingdom under his rule, and so his death was a great loss.

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"Living a new life in Christ," as used by Paul in his letter to the Colossians, involves seeking the things that are above, rejecting all carnal desires, putting away evil passions, and putting on the garment of love. However, it does not involve promoting racial discrimination. In fact, Paul emphasizes that in Christ, there is no distinction between people based on race or ethnicity. The new life in Christ involves a transformation of the heart and mind, where believers put off their old ways and put on new ways of thinking and behaving that are consistent with Christ's teachings. It involves living a life that is characterized by love, humility, forgiveness, and selflessness.

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Based on the statement, Paul believed that all legitimate authorities are sanctioned by God, and that there is no authority except from God. This means that he believed that all authorities, aimed at good governance and order, are in accordance with God's plan. Furthermore, he also believed that all authorities should reward goodness and punish wrong-doings, as this is consistent with God's justice. However, the statement does not imply that when an authority is obviously anti-Christ, it has no claim to legitimacy. Paul's focus is on the legitimacy of authority that exists, not on whether a specific authority is in alignment with Christ or not. In summary, Paul's statement emphasizes the importance of recognizing the legitimacy of all authorities, as they are all sanctioned by God, and that they should aim to promote good governance, justice, and order.

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King Josiah was regarded as a defender of the Jewish religion because he reformed the corrupt religious practices that had crept into the nation of Judah under the reign of his predecessors. The people had turned away from the worship of the true God and had begun to worship idols and other false gods, which had resulted in moral decay and social unrest. To address this issue, Josiah initiated religious reforms that involved purging the land of idols and false gods, destroying their altars, and restoring the worship of the true God. For example, he brought down Jeroboam's altar from Bethel to Jerusalem and rededicated houses that were previously dedicated to the sun god to the Lord. He also reinstituted the Passover celebration and repaired the temple, which had fallen into disrepair. One of the most significant actions that Josiah took in his efforts to defend the Jewish religion was the destruction of the priests and altars of the false god Baal. This was a symbolic act that demonstrated his commitment to the true God and his rejection of false worship. In summary, Josiah was regarded as a defender of the Jewish religion because he reformed the corrupt religious practices that had taken hold in Judah, restored the worship of the true God, and destroyed the altars of false gods like Baal.

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Isaiah referred to the leaders of Israel as rulers of Sodom because they were leading a people as corrupt as Sodom. In the book of Genesis, Sodom was a city known for its wickedness, and God destroyed it because of its sinfulness. By referring to the leaders of Israel as rulers of Sodom, Isaiah was comparing them to the leaders of a city that was infamous for its evil deeds. Isaiah was criticizing the leaders of Israel for their corrupt and immoral behavior and warning them of the consequences of their actions. The comparison to Sodom emphasizes the severity of their sins and the need for them to repent and turn back to God.

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The option that does not portray the quality of leadership in the life of Deborah is her marriage to Ladipoth. This option is not relevant to the leadership qualities of Deborah because leadership is about the ability to influence and inspire others towards a common goal, while marriage is a personal and private matter. The other options listed all demonstrate leadership qualities in the life of Deborah. Her ability to inspire others, sound judgement of cases, faith in God, and self-confidence are all important qualities that contributed to her success as a leader in biblical times. Deborah was a prophetess and a judge in Israel, known for her wisdom, courage, and ability to lead the Israelites in battle against their enemies. In summary, while all the other options demonstrate the quality of leadership in Deborah's life, her marriage to Ladipoth is not relevant to her leadership qualities.

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According to Hosea, Israel's relationship with God can be described as that of a faithless wife and a loving husband. In his book, Hosea uses the metaphor of a marriage to describe Israel's relationship with God. Hosea compares Israel to a wife who has been unfaithful to her husband, symbolizing Israel's unfaithfulness to God through their idolatry and disobedience. Despite this, God still loves Israel and is willing to forgive and restore the relationship, much like a husband who still loves his unfaithful wife and seeks to reconcile with her. Therefore, the metaphor used by Hosea portrays God's enduring love and faithfulness towards Israel, despite their unfaithfulness and sin.

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Nehemiah's reaction when he received the situation report on Jerusalem and those who left him after the fall of the city was to weep, fast, and pray for days. When Nehemiah received the news that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and the people were in great trouble and shame, he was deeply moved and began to weep and mourn. He then fasted and prayed to God for days, confessing the sins of his people and asking for God's forgiveness and mercy. Nehemiah's prayer is recorded in chapter 1 of the book of Nehemiah. After his prayer, Nehemiah asked the king of Babylon for permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls, which the king granted.

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When Ezekiel was called by God to be a prophet, he was shown a vision of a scroll with writing on both sides. The scroll contained words of lamentation, mourning, and woe, which were a warning to the people of Israel about the consequences of their disobedience to God. In Ezekiel 2:9-10, it says, "And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe." The words on the scroll were a symbolic representation of the message that Ezekiel was to deliver to the people, warning them of the judgement that would come upon them if they did not turn back to God.

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In the first letter of Peter, he instructed Christians to uphold several important principles. One of the principles was to show subjection for the Lord's sake to every human institution, meaning to obey earthly authorities like government leaders and rulers. Another principle was to do what is right, not only to please God but also to prove the ignorance of foolish people wrong. Christians were also urged to live as free individuals, but as servants of God, showing that they were not bound by the world's standards but by God's will. Moreover, they were to love and support the brotherhood of Christ, that is, their fellow believers in Christ. However, Peter did not encourage the use of freedom as a pretext for revolt, which means that Christians were not to use their freedom to justify rebellion or disobedience against human institutions. Instead, they were called to be respectful and law-abiding citizens while still remaining faithful to God's teachings.

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According to the story in the Bible, Eli's lack of parental responsibility led his sons to do four things: taking their choice meat raw, behaving violently towards the worshippers, regarding themselves as superior to God, and paying little regard to the voice of their father. However, treating the Lord's offering with respect is not one of the things Eli's sons did. In the story, Eli was a priest and judge in Israel, and his sons were also priests. However, they did not follow the proper protocols of the priesthood and misused their power. They were disrespectful towards God's offerings and demanded the best portions of the meat that people brought to the temple. They even threatened violence against those who objected to their behavior. As a result, God became angry with Eli and his sons and punished them severely. This story serves as a reminder of the importance of parental responsibility and following God's commands.

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According to the statement, Paul's ideal Christian family unit includes wives being submissive to their husbands, husbands loving their wives, and children obeying their parents. However, it excludes the idea that husbands should treat their wives as serfs. This means that Paul does not support or endorse the mistreatment of wives by their husbands. Additionally, it is also stated that fathers should not provoke their children, which implies that parents should have a loving and respectful relationship with their children as well. In summary, Paul's ideal Christian family unit emphasizes mutual love and respect between family members, with no room for mistreatment or abuse.

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Jesus said "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" to two travelers on the road to Emmaus. The travelers were discussing the events that had occurred in Jerusalem, including the crucifixion of Jesus. They were unaware that Jesus had been resurrected and was walking with them on the road. Jesus rebuked them for not understanding the prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures that pointed to him as the Messiah. He explained to them the meaning of these prophecies and how they had been fulfilled through his life, death, and resurrection. Jesus' rebuke to the travelers reflects his frustration with his followers' lack of understanding and faith, despite his teachings and the testimony of the prophets.