1. Christianity

2.  Monotheistic.  God is Jehovah or Yahweh (Jewish) but they believe that he exists in a trinity:  Father God  Jesus Christ (Messiah)  The Holy Spirit  Different from Jewish belief because they believe the Messiah already came to Earth.  Believe the Messiah was sinless (born from a virgin) and his death on the cross allows people into heaven. Beliefs

3. Major Texts  Christian Bible Or the Catholic Bible (with Apocrypha)  Old Testament – Before The Christ  New Testament – Christ story and after Christ  Apocrypha are works that were included in the first Greek translation of the Bible, but not in the later versions. Catholic Christians still use some of these texts.

4. King James Version  English translation of the Bible for the Church of England begun in 1604 and completed in 1611.  Until the KJV, only priests or those who read Latin and Greek could read the scripture.

5. Types of Writing  History  Parables  Epistles (letters)  Moral Living  Religious rules  Prophecy

6. Path to the Afterlife Heaven is great city where there is no sorrow or pain, but it is only for those who believe in Jesus as the Christ who was sent to save humanity. Christians must confess that belief.

7. Parables Read The Prodigal Son on pgs. 98 and 99. Then, answer these questions: 1. Where does the word parable come from? 2. What is a prodigal? 3. How did the prodigal son waste his inheritance? 4. Why did the prodigal son decide to return home? 5. How did his father react to the prodigal’s return? 6. How did the older brother react to the prodigal’s return? 7. Why did the father say they were celebrating? 8. What is the moral Jesus is trying to teach?

8. Read Both Version of the Philemon Epistles (Letters) Read Both Version of the Philemon 1. Who is the letter to? 2. Who is writing the letter? 3. What do the two men have in common? (v. 4-7) 4. What favor does the author need from the recipient? 5. Who is Onesimus? (v. 15-16) 6. To whose account does the author want Onesimus’s damages charged to? (v. 17-20) 7. Who else says, “Hello” to the recipient? 8. Compare the two texts. Are there any major differences in the 2 versions, other than readability? 9. Why do you think letters would be a good way for early Christians to communicate?