WAEC Christian Religious Studies (CRS) 2018 Theory Past Questions

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Genesis 1:1-31. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, darkness covered it, and the Spirit of God moved over the waters. On day 1, God created light and separated it from darkness (day and night). On day 2, He created the firmament (sky). On day 3, He created dry land and vegetation. On day 4, He created the sun, moon and stars. On day 5, He created sea creatures and birds. On day 6, He created land animals and man in His image. On day 7, God rested, and this day was blessed and hallowed as a day of rest.

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Man was created in the image and likeness of God; man is intelligent and can distinguish between good and evil; man can make decisions and be held responsible for his actions; man was given dominion over all creatures; man was given the ability to subdue the earth (any three).

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Numbers 13:1-33, 14:1-19. Moses sent twelve men, one from each tribe, to spy out the land of Canaan and assess whether it was fertile and whether the people were strong or weak. After forty days, the spies returned with a report that the land was indeed fruitful, bringing back grapes, pomegranates and figs to prove it flowed with milk and honey. However, ten of the spies reported that the inhabitants (Amalekites, Hittites, Amorites, Jebusites, Canaanites) were strong, the cities were fortified, and the people were of great stature (giants/descendants of Anak), causing the Israelites to feel like grasshoppers. Only Joshua and Caleb gave a positive report, encouraging the people not to fear since God would help them. The people, however, believed the negative majority report, wept, and rebelled against Moses, wishing to return to Egypt or appoint a new leader. God was angered by their unbelief and threatened to destroy them, but Moses interceded on their behalf.

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Exaggerations should be avoided; reporting the true state of affairs should always be encouraged; the majority view/decision may not always be right or correct; bold and faithful people should be appointed as leaders; political leaders should not be discouraged by negative reports and criticisms (any three).

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1 Samuel 31:1-13. After the Philistines fought the Israelites at Mount Gilboa, Israel suffered a great defeat and fled; many were killed, including Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua. As the battle intensified, the Philistine archers hit Saul badly, and fearing capture and mistreatment, Saul asked his armour bearer to kill him; when the armour bearer refused, Saul fell on his own sword and died, and his armour bearer did likewise. The Philistines found Saul's body the next day, cut off his head, stripped his armour, and displayed it in the temple of Ashtaroth and sent messengers throughout Philistia announcing their victory. The valiant men of Jabesh-gilead, however, went by night, recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons, burned them, buried the remains under a tamarisk tree, and fasted seven days in mourning.

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Disobedience exposes the individual to harm and danger; it attracts punishment; it breaks up relationships; it makes one lose favour with God (any two).

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God would not revoke His punishment on them if they refused to repent; the Samaritan women would be taken into exile like fish hooked and cast into Harmon; those who cheated the poor to build houses of hewn stone would not live in or drink wine from them; there would be wailing in all the streets and squares (any four).

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Idolatry, false worship and false prophets; paying lip service to God; not keeping the Sabbath and feast days holy; bribery and corruption; selling the righteous for money and the needy for pittance (any three).

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Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22. Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist. John, recognising Jesus as the Messiah, hesitated to baptize Him, questioning why Jesus, who was greater, would come to him. Jesus insisted, saying it was necessary to fulfil all righteousness, so John agreed. As Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened, the Spirit of God descended on Him like a dove, and a voice from heaven declared, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.' This event confirmed Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God, marking the beginning of His public ministry.

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One should engage in church activities such as evangelism, worship and crusades; one should be ready to accept responsibilities; one should study the scriptures and apply them to life; one should be prayerful and God-fearing; one should be obedient to civil authorities; one should be pure, holy and live a morally upright life (any four).

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(Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-11, Luke 24:1-11) Women were the first to go to the tomb of Jesus; Matthew's gospel says the women went to the tomb after the Sabbath was fully completed; Mark records that they went very early in the morning at sunrise; the women were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome, Luke adds Joanna the wife of Chuza; according to Mark, four women brought sweet spices to anoint the body; while on their way, the women wondered who would help them roll away the stone at the entrance of the tomb.

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Some women serve as pastors, revered sisters and prophetesses in the church; some women serve as catechists, ushers, evangelists and preachers; some women serve as choir members in the church; most women help in cleaning and tidying the church premises; some women give their property and belongings to the church (any three).

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Acts 12:1-19. Herod Agrippa persecuted the church and killed James, the brother of John; seeing that this pleased the Jews, he also arrested Peter during the feast of unleavened bread, intending to kill him after the Passover. Peter was bound with chains, guarded by soldiers between two of them, while the church prayed for him. While Peter was asleep, an angel of the Lord appeared, a light shone in the cell, and the angel woke Peter, telling him to get up quickly; his chains immediately fell off. The angel told him to dress and follow him. They passed the first and second guard posts, and the iron gate leading into the city opened for them by itself; after going through one street, the angel departed. Peter, realising it was real, went to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, where believers were praying. Rhoda, the servant girl, recognised his voice but was so overjoyed she forgot to open the door immediately, causing disbelief among those gathered inside. Peter was eventually let in and described how the Lord had freed him from prison, then he departed to another place.

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(James 1:22-27, 2:14-26) James advised the Christians to live according to the word of the Lord which they had heard, not merely to hear it and fail to put it into practice; he said that anyone who is a hearer and not a doer is like someone who looks in a mirror and immediately forgets what he looks like; James taught that faith must be combined with practical works to produce the desired result; he said faith without works is useless and dead; according to James, faith is justified by works, as seen in Abraham who believed God and was called God's friend, and Rahab the prostitute who was justified by her works when she helped the messengers of Joshua and sent them out another way; a person is therefore justified by works and not by faith alone.

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Faith is a confidence in God that helps Christians believe and trust God and have fellowship with Him; it enables Christians to be committed to God and to depend on Him; it assures Christians of eternal salvation; it motivates Christians to face life's challenges with courage and strength; it allows spiritual growth in a Christian (any three).

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(1 Peter 2:13-25) According to Peter, a Christian should be law abiding and have respect for constituted authority; Christians should discharge their civic duties and responsibilities promptly to all men and masters regardless of harshness; Christians are to submit to all legal human institutions including the authorities of state like governors; Peter also stressed that kings were appointed to punish evil doers and reward those that do good; Christians should live as obedient servants of God; Christians should respect every man and love the brotherhood of believers; a Christian should fear God and honour the king and rulers; Christians should be like Christ and endure undue punishment for the kingdom's sake; although Christ was persecuted, He did not threaten His persecutors but trusted in God who would give right judgement at the end; Jesus died for our sins and by His wounds we are healed; according to Peter, we were straying like sheep but Jesus our shepherd showed us the way; Christian servants should therefore follow the good example of Jesus in all things.

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Obedience, patience, endurance, love/kindness, faithfulness, respect and fear of God, perseverance, forgiveness, honesty/sincerity/integrity/truthfulness, patriotism/loyalty, humility, righteousness/holiness/purity, prayerfulness, chastity (any three).