WAEC Christian Religious Studies 2012 past questions and answers

On the fourth day God made the two great lights, the sun and moon, and the stars (Genesis 1:16-19).

Only man was made in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27).

The Lord first appeared to Abram at Shechem when he was 75 (Genesis 12:4, 7) and appeared again when he was 99 (Genesis 17:1).

God's first words to the man and woman were "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28).

"God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house" (Genesis 41:51).

Moses feared when he knew his killing of the Egyptian was known, and fled from Pharaoh (Exodus 2:14-15).

Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin and camped at Rephidim, where Moses struck the rock (Exodus 17:1-6).

David rebuked Abner for not keeping watch over the king (1 Samuel 26:15-16).

Solomon's foreign wives turned his heart to other gods (1 Kings 11:1-4).

Rehoboam refused to lighten the heavy yoke Solomon had laid on the people and promised to make it heavier (1 Kings 12:4, 13-16).

The people fell on their faces and said, "The Lord, he is God" (1 Kings 18:39).

Bowing to a golden image is idol worship, which the three Jews refused (Daniel 3:12, 18).

Israel's love was like morning mist that quickly vanishes; it did not last (Hosea 6:4).

Tobiah mocked the builders, saying even a fox would break their wall (Nehemiah 4:1-3).

God remembers "the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness" (Jeremiah 2:2).

"Son of man" stresses that Ezekiel was a mere human before the glorious God (Ezekiel 2:1).

God made Ezekiel's forehead hard so he would not fear the stubborn people (Ezekiel 3:8-9).

In Matthew the voice said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

Jesus said, "not even in Israel have I found such faith" (Matthew 8:10).

Wheat and weeds grow together until the harvest (Matthew 13:24-30).

"Fishers of men" means bringing people to Jesus by spreading His message (Mark 1:17).

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).

Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain (Matthew 17:1).

The chief priests, scribes and elders mocked Him this way (Matthew 27:41-42).

"Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" and having said this He breathed His last (Luke 23:46).

Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink" (John 4:7).

Jesus said, "I have other sheep, that are not of this fold" (John 10:16).

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done" (John 15:7).

"They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues" (Acts 2:4).

"The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection" (Acts 23:8).

Stephen quoted, "Heaven is my throne, and earth my footstool" — God is everywhere, not confined to a building (Acts 7:48-49).

After Stephen's death Saul ravaged the church and the believers scattered; Philip went to Samaria (Acts 8:1-5).

Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) at Joppa (Acts 9:36-40).

"The company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty" (Acts 1:15).

Paul asks Philemon to forgive and receive Onesimus (Philemon 15-18).

Gifts are given for the common good and to build up the church (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:12).

Paul received their gifts from Epaphroditus (Philippians 4:18).

Peter calls Christians "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people" (1 Peter 2:9).

"I am unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God" (1 Corinthians 15:9).

The day will not come unless the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

"That you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness" (1 Peter 2:9).

"In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith" (Galatians 3:26).

Paul sent Onesimus back with the letter, asking Philemon to receive him as a brother (Philemon 12-17).

"Let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God" (1 Peter 4:16).

(a) A new king who did not know Joseph enslaved Israel and ordered Hebrew baby boys thrown into the Nile (Exodus 1:8-22).
A Levite woman bore a son and hid him three months (Exodus 2:1-2).
She put him in a papyrus basket among the reeds by the Nile; his sister watched (Exodus 2:3-4).
Pharaoh's daughter found the crying baby and took pity on him (Exodus 2:5-6).
His sister fetched the baby's mother as a nurse, and Pharaoh's daughter paid her to nurse him (Exodus 2:7-9).
When he grew up she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter; he became her son and was named Moses, "Because I drew him out of the water" (Exodus 2:10).
(b) Any three: he received the best Egyptian education (Acts 7:22); he learnt how government and the royal court worked; he could later deal with Pharaoh confidently; his mother taught him his Hebrew identity, so he cared for his people (Exodus 2:11; Hebrews 11:24-26); he learnt leadership and discipline; God's protection gave him confidence in God's purpose.

Narrate Exodus 2:1-10, then three ways.

(a) In spring, when kings go to war, David stayed in Jerusalem and sent Joab against the Ammonites (2 Samuel 11:1).
From his roof he saw Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite, bathing; he sent for her and lay with her (2 Samuel 11:2-4).
She became pregnant and told David (2 Samuel 11:5).
David called Uriah home and urged him to go to his house, but Uriah slept at the palace door, refusing comfort while the army was in the field (2 Samuel 11:6-11).
David made him drunk, but still he did not go home (2 Samuel 11:12-13).
David wrote to Joab to put Uriah in the hardest fighting and withdraw from him; Uriah was killed (2 Samuel 11:14-17).
After mourning, Bathsheba became David's wife and bore a son; the thing displeased the Lord (2 Samuel 11:26-27).
Nathan rebuked David with the parable of the ewe lamb; David confessed (2 Samuel 12:1-13).
(b) Any two: one sin leads to another; nothing is hidden from God; sin brings punishment; confess and repent; leaders must be accountable; avoid lust and covetousness.

Narrate 2 Samuel 11–12:13, then two lessons.

(a) In Jehoiakim's days Nebuchadnezzar came up and Jehoiakim served him three years, then rebelled (2 Kings 24:1).
In Jehoiachin's reign Babylon besieged Jerusalem; the king surrendered and was taken to Babylon with the temple and palace treasures (2 Kings 24:10-13).
He carried away the officials, warriors, craftsmen and smiths — ten thousand captives — leaving only the poorest (2 Kings 24:14-16).
He made Mattaniah king, renaming him Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17).
Zedekiah rebelled; Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem from his ninth to eleventh year; famine was severe (2 Kings 25:1-3).
The wall was breached; Zedekiah fled but was caught at Jericho; his sons were killed before him, his eyes put out, and he was taken to Babylon in chains (2 Kings 25:4-7).
Nebuzaradan burnt the temple, palace and houses, broke down the walls and exiled the people (2 Kings 25:8-11).
The temple vessels were taken; the chief priests and leaders executed; Gedaliah made governor (2 Kings 25:13-22).
(b) Any four: loss of lives; destruction of property and infrastructure; refugees and displacement; famine and disease; economic collapse; breakdown of families; psychological trauma; loss of independence.

Narrate 2 Kings 24–25, then four effects.

(a) Any three: their many sacrifices and burnt offerings meant nothing to God (Isaiah 1:11); trampling His courts without being asked (1:12); offerings were vain and incense an abomination (1:13); new moons, sabbaths and assemblies with iniquity were hateful (1:13-14); God would not listen to their many prayers because their hands were full of blood (1:15).
(b) Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, remove your evil deeds (Isaiah 1:16).
Cease to do evil, learn to do good (Isaiah 1:16-17).
Seek justice, correct oppression, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow (Isaiah 1:17).
Come and reason with God; be willing and obedient to be forgiven (Isaiah 1:18-19).
(c) Any three: national repentance and prayer; fighting corruption; justice for the poor and oppressed; honest leadership; sincere worship with good conduct; obeying God's laws.

Answer each part from Isaiah 1:10-20.

(a) Jesus came to the country of the Gerasenes; a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs (Mark 5:1-2).
He lived among the tombs; chains could not hold him; night and day he cried out and cut himself (Mark 5:3-5).
He ran, worshipped Jesus and cried, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" (Mark 5:6-7).
Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out and asked its name: "Legion; for we are many" (Mark 5:8-9).
The demons begged to enter the herd of swine; Jesus allowed it; about two thousand swine rushed into the sea and drowned (Mark 5:11-13).
People found the man clothed and in his right mind; afraid, they begged Jesus to leave (Mark 5:15-17).
Jesus told the man to go home and tell how much the Lord had done for him; he proclaimed it in the Decapolis (Mark 5:19-20).
(b) Any two: build and fund psychiatric hospitals; treat patients with love, not stigma; family and church support and prayer; rehabilitation and skills training; fighting drug abuse; public education on mental health.

Narrate Mark 5:1-20, then two ways.

(a) The chief priests and elders bound Jesus and delivered Him to Pilate (Matthew 27:1-2).
Pilate asked, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so" (Matthew 27:11).
He gave no answer to the chief priests' charges, and Pilate wondered greatly (Matthew 27:12-14).
Pilate offered to release Barabbas or Jesus, knowing they handed Him over out of envy (Matthew 27:15-18).
His wife sent word to have nothing to do with that righteous man (Matthew 27:19).
The crowd, persuaded by the chief priests, asked for Barabbas and shouted "Let him be crucified!" (Matthew 27:20-23).
Pilate washed his hands: "I am innocent of this man's blood"; the people said, "His blood be on us and on our children" (Matthew 27:24-25).
He released Barabbas, scourged Jesus and handed Him over; the soldiers mocked Him with a scarlet robe and crown of thorns (Matthew 27:26-31).
(b) Any two: he knew Jesus was innocent and the charge came from envy; his wife warned him; he gave in to the crowd's pressure instead of upholding justice; he failed in his duty as judge; washing his hands did not remove his responsibility.

Narrate Matthew 27:1-31, then two reasons.

(a) At a feast Jesus went to Jerusalem; by the Sheep Gate was a pool called Bethzatha with five porticoes where many sick lay (John 5:1-3).
One man had been ill thirty-eight years (John 5:5).
Jesus asked, "Do you want to be healed?" (John 5:6).
He said he had no one to put him in the pool when the water was troubled (John 5:7).
Jesus said, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk"; he was healed at once (John 5:8-9).
It was the sabbath; the Jews objected to him carrying his pallet (John 5:9-10).
Jesus later found him in the temple and said, "Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you" (John 5:14).
(b) Any two: compassion for the suffering; to show the kingdom of God had come; to reveal His divine power and identity; to lead people to faith; to fulfil prophecy (Matthew 8:17); to glorify God.

Narrate John 5:1-14, then two reasons.

(a) Seek the things that are above (Colossians 3:1-2).
Put to death immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness (Colossians 3:5).
Put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, foul talk and lying (Colossians 3:8-9).
Put on the new nature renewed in the Creator's image (Colossians 3:10).
No discrimination: Christ is all and in all (Colossians 3:11).
Put on compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience (Colossians 3:12).
Forbear and forgive one another as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13).
Above all put on love; let Christ's peace rule; be thankful (Colossians 3:14-15).
Let the word of Christ dwell richly; do everything in Jesus' name (Colossians 3:16-17).
(b) Any four: love; honesty; humility; forgiveness; prayerfulness; obedience to God's word; kindness to the needy; self-control; faithfulness.

Outline Colossians 3:1-17, then four qualities.

(a) Work with your hands and be dependent on nobody (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).
Admonish the idle (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
Keep away from any brother living in idleness (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
Imitate Paul, who worked night and day to avoid being a burden (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).
"If any one will not work, let him not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
Busybodies must work quietly and earn their own living (2 Thessalonians 3:11-12).
Do not grow weary in doing good (2 Thessalonians 3:13).
Have nothing to do with the disobedient so they are ashamed, but warn them as brothers (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).
(b) Any three: poverty; crime such as robbery and fraud; gossip and troublemaking; drug abuse; dependence on others; prostitution; low national productivity.

Summarise Paul's advice, then three consequences.

(a) In Christ Jesus all are sons of God through faith (Galatians 3:26).
Those baptised into Christ have put on Christ (Galatians 3:27).
All are one in Christ — no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female (Galatians 3:28).
Belonging to Christ makes them Abraham's offspring and heirs (Galatians 3:29).
Before, like minor heirs, they were slaves to the elemental spirits (Galatians 4:1-3).
God sent His Son to redeem those under the law that they might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5).
God sent the Spirit of His Son into their hearts crying "Abba! Father!" (Galatians 4:6).
So they are no longer slaves but sons and heirs (Galatians 4:7).
(b) Any three: equality of all believers; freedom from slavery to sin and the law; holy living worthy of God's children; assurance of inheritance and eternal life; confident access to God in prayer; love for fellow believers as family.

Explain Galatians 3:26–4:7, then three implications.

(a) Tend the flock of God that is in your charge (1 Peter 5:2).
Not by constraint but willingly (1 Peter 5:2).
Not for shameful gain but eagerly (1 Peter 5:2).
Not domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:3).
The chief Shepherd will reward them with the unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4).
Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5).
Be sober and watchful against the devil (1 Peter 5:8).
Use gifts to serve others as good stewards (1 Peter 4:10-11).
(b) Any three: financial difficulties; disunity and leadership tussles; immorality and scandals; false doctrines; persecution and insecurity; materialism; heavy workload; disobedient members.

Explain 1 Peter 5:1-5, then three problems.