Christianity: Terminology
Christ (founder)
Christians (followers)
Christianity (religion)
Christianity: Religion
• Christianity
– Roman Catholic
– Eastern Orthodoxy
• (West East Roman Empire)
• Roman Catholic
Protestant (M. Luther)
Catholic
All are Christians
New Curriculum
1. Basic Content
• Emphasis ??
– Existing HKCEE Curriculum (NT & OT)
– Now on Jesus Christ (founder)
• Historical Approach (objective, verifiable)
 (vs.
religious or personal)
• = 3 Perspectives (past, present, future)
– Heritage of Jesus Christ
– Life of Jesus Christ
– Perception of Jesus Christ
I)
Heritage of Jesus Christ
= Background
1) Historical Background
1) =Old Testament (≠Jewish Bible in itself)
2) Its themes serve as heritage of the new rel.
2) Socio-political Context (within Palestine)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Under Roman governorship
Under Greek Culture
Striving for Independence (Maccabees)
Political Groups: Herodians, Zealots, Sadducees
Religious Groups: Pharisees, Essenes
II) Life of Jesus Christ
= The Origin of Christianity
A) Deeds (The 4 Gospels, esp. Mark)
– Includes:
– Birth,
– Ministry,
– Miracles,
– Passion,
– Resurrection and Ascension
II) Life of Jesus Christ
B) Words (teachings)
• 1) Kingdom of God
– Its presence
– Its entrance
– Its future: New Element: Eschatology (Mark 13) +
2Peter 3:9 …
• 2) Will of God (Ethics)
– About discipleship
– Parables (means)
– Law
III) Perception of Jesus Christ
• =The Continuation of Jesus’ Ministry
• A) Jesus’ Identity
– teacher, prophet, Messiah, Son of man, Son of
God, etc.
– As perceived by his surrounding people
• B) Development of the Early Church
– Ascension – Pentecost – Persecution –
Spreading to Gentiles – Jerusalem Council Rome
III) Perception of Jesus Christ
• C) Development of Basic Christian Belief
• 1) Faith and Salvation
– Paul’s concept of salvation (diff. emphases):
• Justification by faith (Forensic, separation of the R.
of God)
• Change of Sovereignty (Slave of Evil or God)
• Unity with God (Baptism metaphor, Rom6)
– James’ complement to Paul’s Justification
2) New Commandment (Distinctive of X’ty)
– Love one another (Love neighbors as one self)
N C: 2. Conceptual Content
– I.
Background in HKCEE vs NSS
E.g. 1. Covenant [Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-21; 17:122]
- Human response
- God’s initiative
- Duties of both parties ……
• Emphasis on its relation to NT
• In NT, God will still keep His promise. NT new
people inherited this promise
N C: 2. Conceptual Content
– I.
E.g.
Background in HKCEE vs NSS
2.
Passover [Exodus 12:21-42]
– - Where happened
– - Angels killed the first born sons in Egypt
– -Hebrews [people of YHWH] killed lambs, the blood
painted at the frame of doors; Angels would pass by
– -……
– Emphasis on its relation to NT
– In NT, Jewish salving action of God as background for
Christians’ inheritance
N C: 2. Conceptual Content
– I.
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Background in HKCEE vs NSS
E.g.
3.
Parable of the Seeds [Mark 4:1-20]
- One kind of seeds / message
- Four different soil / earth
- Four different growth-scenarios
-……
Emphasis on its relation to Jesus’ teaching of KG
The four situations set the condition, in which seeds /
Christians could belong to the KG
– Constitute part of the complete picture of KG in J’
teaching
N C: 2. Conceptual Content
– I.
Background in HKCEE vs NSS
• E.g. 4.
Healing of a Paralytic [Mark 2:1-12]
• - Details not repeated here
• -……
• Emphasis on: the Whole Concept of Miracles of JC
• Kinds of J’ Miracles: Healing, Exorcism,
Supernatural, Others
• Meaning(s) of Miracles: showing J’ authority ……
N C: 2. Conceptual Content
• I. Background in HKCEE vs NSS
• Conclusion:
• HKCEE on meanings of concrete texts, i.e.,
what the texts say
• NC: individual texts constitute parts of the
whole picture of a specific concept or
teaching
N C: 2. Conceptual Content
• II. NC Expects
• One parable of KG =/= the whole teaching on
•
•
•
KG
Similarly, one text of discipleship =/= the whole
teaching on discipleship
Yet, the boundary of the individual teachings or
concepts is limited within the Bible
The present NC, however, covers ‘all’ aspects of
that particular teaching or concept
N C: 2. Conceptual Content
• II. NC: Whole Idea
• Background [most preserved from CE; or introduced]
• Origin
– J’ Ministry [most preserved from CE]
– J’ Teaching [preserved from CE + new themes mainly
from Mark with different levels of categorization]
• Development of Jesus’ Ministry
– Development of Early X’ty [Acts of the Apostles, x all]
– Development of X’ Faith [Paul’s salvation; James’
emphasis on Works > Faith]
N C: 2. Conceptual Content
• III.
NC Themes / topics
• Examples:
• 1. Identity of JC – two levels
– b. Title [objective]
• Son of Man, Son God, Son of David, Messiah/Christ,
King, Lord.
– a. Others regarded him as
• Resurrected John the Baptist, One of the Prophets,
Teacher, a righteous man [centurion], etc
N C: 2. Conceptual Content
• III.
NC Themes / topics
• Examples:
• 2. on Discipleship
– a. Promise, e.g., reward: 100x, eternal [Mark 10:29f]
– b. Livings, e.g., who is the greatest [Mark 9:33-7]
– c. Warnings, e.g., shamed of me, //SM [Mark 8:38]
– d. Price, sufferings, commission, e.g., taking up
his/her cross [Mark 8:34]