WAEC Christian Religious Studies 1988 past questions and answers

God brought every creature to the man to see what he would call it, and whatever the man called it became its name (Genesis 2:19-20).

Reuben suggested the pit so that he could rescue Joseph out of their hands and restore him to their father (Genesis 37:22).

The brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver (Genesis 37:28).

In the wilderness of Sin the Israelites complained they would die of hunger, so God gave them manna and quails (Exodus 16:1-15).

Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time (Judges 4:4).

Eli's sons' servant demanded raw meat for roasting before the fat was burnt, and took it by force; this was contempt for the Lord's offering (1 Samuel 2:15-17).

God says through Hosea, "I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice" (Hosea 6:6).

Hilkiah the high priest found the book of the law in the house of the Lord and gave it to Shaphan the secretary (2 Kings 22:8).

The Babylonians burnt the temple and carried the people away, but left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and farmers (2 Kings 25:12).

Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem the Arab mocked the work and plotted against Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:7-8).

Isaiah's call vision centres on the seraphim crying "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts", and he calls God "the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 6:1-5).

Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, led the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls (Nehemiah 2:17-18; 6:15).

Jonah ran away from God's command to go to Nineveh; the storm and the fish came because of that disobedience (Jonah 1:1-17).

Jesus told John, "it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15).

When the leper said "If you will, you can make me clean", Jesus touched him and said "I will; be clean" (Mark 1:40-42).

Jesus told the twelve not to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6).

By the Sea of Galilee Jesus first called the fishermen Simon and Andrew, then James and John (Mark 1:16-20).

The father running to welcome his returning son shows God's joy and love for a sinner who repents (Luke 15:11-32).

The disciples thought they saw a spirit; Jesus said a spirit has no flesh and bones and ate broiled fish before them (Luke 24:36-43).

Jesus told the Samaritan woman that the water he gives becomes a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:14).

Jesus said the man was born blind not because of sin, but "that the works of God might be made manifest in him" (John 9:3).

Lazarus' sisters were Martha and Mary of Bethany, and many Jews came to console them (John 11:1, 19).

Peter said Pentecost was what the prophet Joel spoke of: "I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh" (Acts 2:16-17; Joel 2:28).

Stephen preached and did great signs (Acts 6:8-10), and Philip preached in Samaria and to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:5, 35; 21:8).

Jews from Antioch and Iconium stirred up the crowd at Lystra, who stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city (Acts 14:19).

The Council decided that Gentiles need not be circumcised; they were only asked to avoid idol pollution, unchastity, strangled meat and blood (Acts 15:19-20, 28-29).

Paul says the promise that Abraham would inherit the world came not through the law but through the righteousness of faith (Romans 4:13).

"Sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:14).

Paul tells the Colossians to put away anger, wrath, malice, slander and foul talk (Colossians 3:8); the other options are virtues to put on.

"Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord" (Colossians 3:18).

After saying the baptised have put on Christ, Paul adds that there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female: all are one in Christ, so none should discriminate (Galatians 3:27-28).

Paul uses the parts of one body to show that Christians with different gifts need one another and must stay united (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

Prophecy and the interpretation of tongues are both in Paul's list of gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10); each other option mixes in something that is not on the list.

Paul goes on to say that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, so the "times and seasons" are those of the Lord's coming (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2).

Paul told the idle Thessalonians to work quietly and earn their own living; honest work is honourable and expected of everyone (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).

James teaches that hearing God's word is not enough; it must be shown in what we do (James 1:22-25).

For James, true religion is faith shown in action, such as visiting orphans and widows (James 1:27; 2:17).

Peter says believers suffer various trials "so that the genuineness of your faith" may be proved, like gold tested by fire (1 Peter 1:6-7).

In the beginning the earth was without form and void, darkness covered the deep and the Spirit of God moved over the waters (Genesis 1:1-2).
Day 1: God said "Let there be light", separated light from darkness and called them day and night (Genesis 1:3-5).
Day 2: the firmament (sky) separating the waters above from the waters below (Genesis 1:6-8).
Day 3: dry land and seas separated; the earth brought forth plants and fruit trees (Genesis 1:9-13).
Day 4: sun, moon and stars to rule day and night and mark seasons (Genesis 1:14-19).
Day 5: sea creatures and birds, blessed to multiply (Genesis 1:20-23).
Day 6: land animals; then man and woman in God's image, given dominion and told to be fruitful (Genesis 1:24-31).
Day 7: God rested, blessed the seventh day and made it holy (Genesis 2:1-3).
Sovereignty: God created by His word alone ("God said… and it was so"), from nothing.
He brought order out of chaos and named and separated things.
He saw that everything was good and blessed His creatures.
He gave man authority over creation as His steward, showing all power comes from Him.

Give the days in order, then link each sign of sovereignty to the story.

King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image on the plain of Dura and ordered all to worship it at the sound of music (Daniel 3:1-6).
Anyone who refused would be thrown into a burning fiery furnace.
Some Chaldeans accused Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego of refusing to serve the king's gods (Daniel 3:8-12).
In fury the king questioned them and gave them another chance.
They replied that God could deliver them, but even if He did not, they would not worship the image (Daniel 3:16-18).
The furnace was heated seven times hotter; they were bound and thrown in, and the flames killed the men who threw them (Daniel 3:19-23).
The king saw four men walking unhurt in the fire, the fourth like a son of the gods (Daniel 3:24-25).
They came out unharmed, not even smelling of fire; the king praised their God, decreed against blaspheming Him and promoted them (Daniel 3:26-30).
Significance: faith and courage in the face of persecution; loyalty to God above the state; God protects those who trust Him; their stand led even a pagan king to acknowledge the true God.

Tell the story fully, then give at least one clear lesson.

God told Jonah to go and cry against the wicked city of Nineveh (Jonah 1:1-2).
Jonah fled toward Tarshish by ship to escape from the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:3).
God sent a great storm; Jonah slept, was found by lot to be the cause and asked to be thrown into the sea (Jonah 1:4-15).
A great fish swallowed him; he prayed from its belly and was vomited onto dry land (Jonah 1:17; 2:1-10).
Sent a second time, he obeyed and preached that Nineveh would be overthrown in forty days (Jonah 3:1-4).
When Nineveh repented and God spared it, Jonah was angry and wanted to die (Jonah 4:1-3).
God taught him through the plant and the worm that He cares for Nineveh (Jonah 4:6-11).
Lessons: God is sovereign; no one can run from His presence; He is merciful and forgives those who repent; He is patient and gives second chances; His love extends to all nations, not Israel alone.

Describe Jonah's reactions both times, then state two attributes of God.

(a)(i) Almsgiving: do not give to be seen by men or sound a trumpet like the hypocrites; give in secret and do not let your left hand know what your right hand does; your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:1-4).
(ii) Prayer: do not pray at street corners to be seen; go into your room and pray in secret; do not heap up empty phrases, for the Father knows your needs; pray in the pattern of the Lord's Prayer; forgive others so the Father will forgive you (Matthew 6:5-15).
(iii) Fasting: do not look dismal or disfigure your face to show you are fasting; anoint your head and wash your face so that only the Father sees, and He will reward you (Matthew 6:16-18).
(b) Churches give alms, welfare and help to the poor, widows and orphans; hold prayer meetings, vigils and teach the Lord's Prayer; hold periods of fasting such as Lent; but some members give or fast for show, announce donations publicly, or pray long showy prayers, contrary to the teaching.

Part (a) needs all three teachings with the reward in secret; part (b) should give examples from Nigerian church life.

Jesus said "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser" (John 15:1).
The Father removes branches that bear no fruit and prunes the fruitful ones to bear more (John 15:2).
The disciples are the branches, already made clean by His word (John 15:3, 5).
A branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine; apart from Him they can do nothing (John 15:4-5).
Branches that do not abide are thrown away, wither and are burnt (John 15:6).
Those who abide in Him and His words remain in them will receive what they ask, and the Father is glorified by their fruit (John 15:7-8).
They abide in His love by keeping His commandments, especially to love one another (John 15:9-12).
Lessons: believers must remain united with Christ to live fruitful lives; God disciplines (prunes) believers to make them better; unfruitful believers face judgement; obedience and love keep us in Christ; prayer is answered for those who abide in Him.

Explain the vine, vinedresser and branches, then give two clear lessons.

(a) As the disciples increased, the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution of food (Acts 6:1).
The twelve said it was not right for them to leave preaching to serve tables (Acts 6:2).
They asked the believers to choose seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to take charge of this duty (Acts 6:3-4).
The seven, including Stephen and Philip, were chosen; the apostles prayed and laid hands on them (Acts 6:5-6).
(b) Any five: poverty and unemployment among members; tribalism and discrimination; corruption and love of money; quarrels, divisions and leadership tussles; immorality; drug abuse; neglect of widows, orphans and the aged; bribery; materialism and "prosperity" preaching.

For (a) explain the complaint over the widows; for (b) list five distinct problems.

Attributes: do nothing from selfishness or conceit; count others better than yourself (Philippians 2:3).
Look to the interests of others, not only your own (Philippians 2:4).
Have the mind of Christ, who emptied Himself, took the form of a servant and obeyed even to death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8).
Younger people should be subject to the elders; all should clothe themselves with humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5).
Not thinking of oneself more highly than one ought (Romans 12:3, 16).
Rewards: God exalted Christ and gave Him the name above every name (Philippians 2:9-11).
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6).
Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand and He will exalt you in due time (1 Peter 5:6).
Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up (James 4:10).

The question means humility; give attributes and rewards separately with references.

Every person should be subject to the governing authorities, because all authority comes from God (Romans 13:1).
Whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed and will incur judgement (Romans 13:2).
Rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad; do good and you will receive approval (Romans 13:3).
The ruler is God's servant for your good, bearing the sword to punish wrongdoers (Romans 13:4).
Be subject not only to avoid punishment but for the sake of conscience (Romans 13:5).
Pay taxes, revenue, respect and honour to whom they are due (Romans 13:6-7).
Owe no one anything except to love one another (Romans 13:8).
Pray for kings and all in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Application (any three): obeying traffic and other laws; paying taxes and bills honestly; respecting and praying for leaders; voting and taking part peacefully in elections; avoiding riots, cultism and violence; reporting crime to the police.

Explain Romans 13:1-7 point by point, then three practical applications.

Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, had run away (possibly having wronged his master) and met Paul in prison, where he became a Christian (Philemon 10-11).
Paul sent him back with a letter, appealing on the basis of love rather than commanding (Philemon 8-9).
He called Onesimus "my child" and said he was now useful to Philemon and to him (Philemon 10-11).
He asked Philemon to receive him no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother (Philemon 15-16).
He asked Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul himself (Philemon 17).
He offered to repay anything Onesimus owed: "charge that to my account" (Philemon 18-19).
He expressed confidence Philemon would do even more than he asked (Philemon 21).
Lessons: Christians should forgive those who wrong them; forgiveness restores broken relationships; we should be peacemakers who reconcile others; repentance should be welcomed; in Christ all are equal brothers; love should guide our actions.

Show Paul's method of appeal step by step, then give lessons on forgiveness.