What you'll learn
This revision guide covers all testable content for Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings in AQA GCSE Religious Studies. You'll master the nature of God, the life and significance of Jesus Christ, Christian beliefs about creation, salvation and the afterlife. This specification applies to all AQA RS routes (Route A and Route B).
Key terms and definitions
Trinity — the Christian belief that God exists as three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) who are distinct yet remain one God
Incarnation — the belief that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ
Atonement — the reconciliation between God and humanity achieved through Jesus' death on the cross
Salvation — being saved from sin and its consequences, granting eternal life with God
Resurrection — the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion
Original Sin — the innate human tendency to sin, inherited from Adam and Eve's disobedience in Genesis
Grace — the unconditional love and mercy God shows to humanity
Eschatology — theological teachings about the end times, death, judgement and the afterlife
Core concepts
The nature of God
Christians believe God possesses several key characteristics that define his nature:
Omnipotent — God is all-powerful and can do anything that is logically possible. Genesis 1 demonstrates this through creation: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." This power is limited only by God's nature (e.g. God cannot lie because he is truth itself).
Omniscient — God has complete knowledge of past, present and future. Psalm 139:4 states "Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely." This raises philosophical questions about free will and predestination.
Omnibenevolent — God is all-loving and desires good for all creation. John 3:16 expresses this: "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son." This characteristic creates the "problem of evil" — why suffering exists if God is both loving and powerful.
Just — God is the perfect judge who treats people fairly. He punishes sin but also offers forgiveness. Romans 6:23 states "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life."
Eternal — God exists outside time, without beginning or end. Revelation 1:8 records God saying "I am the Alpha and the Omega."
The Trinity
The Trinity is the distinctively Christian understanding of God as three persons in one being. This is a mystery that cannot be fully understood but is central to Christian faith.
The three persons are:
- God the Father — the creator and sustainer of the universe
- God the Son — Jesus Christ, who became incarnate
- God the Holy Spirit — God's active presence in the world and in believers
Biblical evidence includes Matthew 28:19 (the Great Commission): "baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." At Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:16-17), all three persons appear: the Spirit descends like a dove, the Father speaks from heaven, and the Son is baptised.
The Nicene Creed (325 CE) formally established Trinitarian doctrine in response to Arianism, which denied Jesus' full divinity. Christians believe each person is fully God, co-equal and co-eternal, yet there is only one God (monotheism).
Creation
Christians hold varying beliefs about how creation occurred:
Literal interpretation — some Christians, particularly fundamentalists, believe Genesis 1-2 provides a factual, historical account. God created the universe in six 24-hour days approximately 6,000-10,000 years ago. All species were created separately and have not evolved.
Non-literal interpretation — many Christians view Genesis as religious truth expressed through metaphor and symbolism. The "days" represent long periods of time. This interpretation can accommodate scientific theories like the Big Bang and evolution, seeing them as the mechanism God used. Pope Francis stated "God is not a magician with a magic wand" but that evolution and creation are compatible.
Key theological points both groups agree on:
- God created everything ex nihilo (from nothing)
- Creation is good (Genesis 1:31: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good")
- Humans are made "in the image of God" (imago Dei), giving them dignity and responsibility
- Humans are stewards of creation, responsible for caring for the environment
The incarnation and Jesus Christ
The incarnation is the belief that the eternal Son of God took on human nature and was born as Jesus of Nazareth. John 1:14 states "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."
Why the incarnation matters:
- It demonstrates God's love for humanity
- It allows Jesus to fully understand human experience, including suffering
- It makes salvation possible — only God could pay the price for human sin
- It reveals God's nature — "anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9)
Jesus' nature — the Council of Chalcedon (451 CE) defined Jesus as fully God and fully human simultaneously. This hypostatic union means Jesus experienced hunger, pain and temptation while remaining sinless and divine.
Jesus' roles:
- Messiah/Christ — the anointed one promised in the Old Testament
- Son of God — having a unique relationship with God the Father
- Saviour — rescuing humanity from sin
- Teacher — revealing God's will through parables and sermons
The crucifixion, resurrection and ascension
The crucifixion — Jesus was executed by Roman crucifixion around 30 CE. Christians believe this was part of God's plan for salvation, not simply a tragic mistake.
Why Jesus died:
- Atonement — to restore the relationship between God and humanity broken by sin
- Sacrifice — Jesus was the perfect sacrifice that replaced animal sacrifices in the Temple
- Substitution — Jesus took the punishment humans deserved for their sins
- Ransom — paying the price to free humanity from slavery to sin (Mark 10:45)
Isaiah 53:5 prophesied this: "he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities."
The resurrection — Jesus rising from the dead on the third day is the foundation of Christian faith. Paul writes "if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile" (1 Corinthians 15:17).
Evidence for the resurrection includes:
- The empty tomb discovered by women (all four Gospels)
- Multiple eyewitness accounts of the risen Jesus
- The transformation of the disciples from fearful to bold
- The rapid growth of the early Church despite persecution
The resurrection demonstrates:
- Jesus' victory over death and sin
- Proof of Jesus' divinity
- The promise that believers will also be resurrected
- God's power over creation
The ascension — forty days after resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9). This fulfilled his earthly mission and allowed the Holy Spirit to come at Pentecost.
Salvation and the afterlife
Salvation is liberation from sin and its consequences. Christians disagree on how salvation is obtained:
Salvation through grace — emphasised by Protestant denominations. Ephesians 2:8-9 states "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith...not by works." No human action can earn salvation; it is God's free gift received through faith in Jesus.
Salvation through faith and works — emphasised by Catholic and Orthodox traditions. James 2:17 argues "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Genuine faith naturally produces good works.
All Christians agree Jesus' death and resurrection made salvation possible.
Life after death:
Christians believe humans have an immortal soul that survives bodily death. Several beliefs exist about what follows:
Heaven — eternal life in God's presence, characterised by joy and worship. Revelation 21:4 promises "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning."
Hell — eternal separation from God, the consequence of rejecting him. Interpretations vary:
- Literal fire and torment (traditional view based on Mark 9:43)
- Annihilation — the soul ceases to exist
- Symbolic separation — psychological anguish of being apart from God
Purgatory — Catholic belief in a state of purification before entering heaven (not biblical but based on tradition)
Judgement — God will judge all people. Matthew 25:31-46 describes the Sheep and Goats judgement based on how people treated others.
Bodily resurrection — at Christ's return, the dead will be raised with transformed, imperishable bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). This is why some Christians prefer burial to cremation, though most accept cremation today.
The problem of evil and suffering
If God is omnipotent and omnibenevolent, why does evil and suffering exist? This inconsistency is called the problem of evil.
Types of evil:
- Moral evil — suffering caused by human free will (murder, war, theft)
- Natural evil — suffering from natural processes (earthquakes, disease, floods)
Christian responses:
The Free Will Defence — God gave humans genuine freedom to choose good or evil. Without this freedom, love and goodness would be meaningless. Moral evil is the consequence of human choice, not God's will.
The Vale of Soul-Making (Irenaeus) — suffering allows humans to develop virtues like courage, compassion and faith. Earth is a place of spiritual growth, preparing souls for heaven. Without challenges, humans could not mature.
The Augustinian Theodicy — suffering results from Original Sin. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3), sin entered the world and corrupted creation, causing both moral and natural evil. God is not responsible.
The Test — suffering tests and strengthens faith. Job's story illustrates this; despite terrible suffering, he maintained faith in God.
Mysteriousness — humans cannot fully understand God's purposes. Isaiah 55:8-9 states "my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways."
Jesus' suffering — God himself experienced suffering through Christ's crucifixion, showing solidarity with human pain and demonstrating suffering can have redemptive purpose.
Worked examples
Example 1: 1-mark question
Which one of the following best expresses the Christian belief in the Trinity?
A) God exists in three separate gods B) God has three different names C) God exists as three persons in one being D) Jesus, Mary and Joseph form the Trinity
Answer: C
Explanation: This tests basic knowledge. The Trinity is three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) who are distinct but remain one God. Option A is tritheism, B is simply naming, and D incorrectly includes Mary and Joseph.
Example 2: 4-mark question
Explain two Christian beliefs about the resurrection of Jesus.
Model answer:
One Christian belief is that the resurrection proves Jesus is divine (2 marks). The fact that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day demonstrates he has power over death, which only God possesses, confirming he is the Son of God (development).
Another belief is that the resurrection guarantees that Christians will also be raised to eternal life (1 mark). In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul teaches that Jesus' resurrection is the "firstfruits" of the general resurrection, meaning believers will follow him in being raised with transformed bodies (development - 1 mark).
Mark scheme logic: 4-mark questions require two beliefs with development. Each belief earns 1 mark, development earns the second mark. Include scripture or theological concepts for development.
Example 3: 5-mark question
Explain two ways the belief in God as omnibenevolent influences Christians today.
Model answer:
One way is that Christians are motivated to show love and compassion to others (1 mark). Because they believe God loves all people unconditionally, Christians try to reflect this by caring for the poor, vulnerable and marginalised through charity work and volunteering (development - 1 mark). For example, Christian Aid provides disaster relief worldwide because of this belief (development - 1 mark).
Another way is that Christians believe they should forgive those who wrong them (1 mark). Since God's omnibenevolence means he forgives human sins, Christians feel called to forgive others as Jesus taught in the Lord's Prayer: "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us" (development - 1 mark).
Mark scheme logic: 5-mark questions need two ways with developed explanation. Aim for simple statement (1) + development (1) + further development (1) for full marks per point. Real-world examples strengthen answers.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Confusing the Trinity with three separate gods — Always emphasise Christians are monotheists. The Trinity is three persons sharing one divine essence, not three gods.
Treating all Christians as identical — Specify which tradition you're discussing. Catholics believe in purgatory; most Protestants don't. Fundamentalists interpret Genesis literally; liberals don't.
Weak development in extended answers — Don't just list beliefs. Explain their significance, give examples, or include biblical quotations. "Christians believe in heaven" scores 1 mark; adding "which is eternal life in God's presence where there is no suffering, as Revelation 21:4 promises" develops it further.
Ignoring the question focus — If asked about "influences on Christians today," don't just explain beliefs. Show how beliefs affect behaviour, worship or attitudes in contemporary life.
Confusing crucifixion and resurrection — Crucifixion is Jesus' death; resurrection is his rising. Don't use them interchangeably.
Poor use of sources of authority — Biblical references should be accurate and relevant. Don't fabricate verses or misquote them.
Exam technique for "Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings"
Learn command words: "State" requires a brief answer (1 mark). "Explain" needs developed points showing understanding (4-5 marks). "Evaluate" requires arguments for and against with a justified conclusion (12-15 marks).
Structure 12-mark evaluation questions using PEEL: Point, Evidence (biblical or theological), Explain, Link back to the question. Present arguments for one view, then counter-arguments, then reach a reasoned conclusion. Include Christian perspectives and show you understand different viewpoints.
Use specialist vocabulary correctly: Terms like incarnation, atonement, Trinity and eschatology demonstrate higher-level understanding. Define them accurately or use them in proper context.
Time management: Don't spend 15 minutes on a 1-mark question. Allocate roughly one minute per mark available. Leave time to check answers.
Quick revision summary
Christianity teaches God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent, existing as the Trinity. Jesus' incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection achieved atonement and make salvation possible. Christians believe in life after death, including heaven, hell and final judgement. Creation reveals God's power, and humans bear responsibility as stewards. The problem of evil is addressed through free will, soul-making and the mystery of God's purposes. These beliefs shape Christian worship, ethics and hope.