The word Christ derives from the Greek word χριστός (chrīstós , meaning "anointed one"). The Greek word χριστός (chrīstós) was a semantic loan used to translate from the Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (Mašíaḥ, messiah), meaning "[one who is] anointed". Hence, the word Christ and Messiah are interchangeable.

The word Christian means a follower of the anointed one (Christ/Messiah). The concept of the anointed one here refers to a saviour king who will save mankind. For Christians, the Christ or Messiah is generally identified with the historical Jewish person named Yehoshua or Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ in Hebrew or Aramaic, often romanised as Joshua). The Hebrew name was then rendered as Ἰησοῦς in Ancient Greek, which is romanized as Iēsous. This is then rendered in English as Jesus. Hence, we often hear today the name Jesus Christ.

The word Christianity represents the religion or belief system of Christians, which is based on the teaching of Jesus Christ and its derived interpretations. Christians use the Bible as the source text for their belief.

Jesus Christ

Jesus was a Jewish independent preacher who lived in Israel between the year 4 BC ~ 33 AD, in the time of the Second (Jewish) Temple (before it was destroyed by the Romans about 40 years after his death). This is important to mention because Jesus lived close to the religious centre of Judaism while it existed, and also during a time when the Jews were ruled by the Romans, with many influences from Greek Hellenisation and other competing philosophies at the time.

Christians believe that Jesus was born miraculously to his mother Mary without conception from a man, but by the Holy Spirit sent by God. Jesus was born to a Jewish family, learned the Jewish scriptures and was a practising Jew. At around 30 years old, he began his ministry of healing, preaching and gathering disciples around Jerusalem. His activities caused a concern of social and political disturbance.

Christians believe that: 1) Jesus was crucified on the cross by the Roman ruler at the instigation of the Jewish temple officers, 2) Jesus died and was buried in a tomb, 3) after three days, Jesus was resurrected and appeared to hundreds of his followers for a period before ascending to heaven.

The Bible

The Bible is a collection of books used by the followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus knew the Jewish scriptures, practised and quoted from them in his teachings. Hence, the canon Christian Bible today includes the Jewish scriptures (Torah, Neviim and Ketuviim), known as the Old Testament.

Jesus origin, life (activities and sayings), crucifixion, resurrection and ascension were recorded in the four Gospel books (Mark, Matthew, Luke and John). After his death, his disciples continued spreading Jesus’ teaching under the Great Commandment, which acts were recorded in the Book of Acts, twenty one Epistles and the Book of Revelation.

From a literary perspective, the bible is written in many different forms:

• historical narratives and genealogies,
• code, law, commandments, and instructions
• poetry, songs and worships
• wisdom, proverbs, parables
• quotations and cross-references
• prophecies of future events

Summary of the Bible

There is a God who is on the side of Good, opposite to Evil.

God and His Character:

• God is love
• God is the Creator
• God is for goodness
• God is compassionate
• God is Generous
• God is Merciful
• God is Faithful & Trustworthy
• God is a jealous God
• God is Just
• Almighty and able
• Forgiving
• Reconciling
• Saviour (bringing salvation)

for bible verse references, see ^1

God and Creation:

God created the world in its original state in a perfect condition and full of abundance.

God created mankind (starting with Adam & Eve) to live life to its fullest, to enjoy the world He has created, and entrusted with rule and responsibilities as vicegerents.

Sin:

Despite God’s instructions and commandments to trust and obey Him, Adam and Eve fell to the temptation by the devil to doubt God. This loss of trust between Man and God is Sin, creating a gap between God and Man. Since then, Evil and Sin has continually caused breakage in relationships between God-Man, Man-Man, Man-Creation and God-Creation.

Hope for Salvation:

However, God has a plan to reconcile the relationships and save the world He has created. He made a promise about His plan of salvation right after the Fall ^2, and has continually worked through His chosen people over a range of time and places. Through His prophets and chosen people, God gave commandments, instructions, reminders on the consequences of sins, renewed His covenant/promise, communicated of what is to unfold in the future via prophecies, saved them from harm, blessed them with abundance and reminded them of his good intention for them.

To demonstrate his plan to save people from Sin, God gave the instruction for sacrifices, first to Abraham, and then to Moses and the Israelites.

The Messiah:

The Messiah (Anointed One) is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and understood to be a Jewish saviour king who is part of God's plan, promises and prophecies to save His people. While many Jews are still waiting for the Messiah, Christians believe that the saviour king has already come as Jesus Christ. This belief is also shared by the Muslims.

Christians believe that the Messiah died on the cross as the sacrifice that God has provided to atone for all Sin (John 3:16). By this act, the Messiah obeyed God, saved his people, and ruled in the realm of hearts and spirit to bring people into repentance and reconciliation with God.

By His words and actions, God demonstrates that He is faithful, and in return He is expecting faithfulness from mankind.

Historical Narratives 3:

Something of note in each of the stories is the repeating pattern of: sin, exile/migration, hardship, covenant/promise, delivery/blessing and pointing towards a final salvation for mankind.

• Creation of the World
• Creation of Mankind
• The Fall of Mankind
  • Adam & Eve exiled from the Garden of Eden
  • God curses the serpent and the earth (life becomes hard for Adam & Eve)
  • God promises a plan for salvation
• Pre-Flood:
  • Abel & Cain
    • Abel & Cain brings offerings/sacrifices to God
    • God warns Cain about Sin
    • Cain killed Abel
    • Cain cursed and exiled to the land of Nod
    • God promised His protection over Cain
  • From Adam to Noah
  • Noah & The Great Flood
    • God tells Noah to prepare the ark
    • Noah & family boards the ark with animals
    • God saves Noah and his family from the flood
    • Noah lands in a new place and starts a new life
    • God makes a promise with Noah

• Post-Flood:

  • Noah’s Son (Ham, Shem & Japeth)
  • From Shem to Abram
  • Abraham (Abram)
    • God tells Abraham to leave his homeland
    • God delivers Abraham from troubles
    • God makes covenant with Abraham
    • God blesses Abraham with sons
  • Isaac
    • God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac
    • God provides another sacrifice in the place of Isaac
    • God blesses Isaac with a wife and sons
    • Isaac migrates away and encounters trouble with Abimelech's people
  • Jacob
    • God makes promise with Jacob
    • God guides Jacob through his self-exile
    • God blesses Jacob with children and animals
  • Joseph
    • God shows His plan to Joseph in dreams
    • Joseph sold into slavery and isolated in Egypt
    • God blesses Joseph
    • God saves Joseph's brothers from famine
    • Israelites multiply in Egypt
  • Moses
    • Pharaoh and Egyptians treating Israelites harshly
    • Moses taken away from his mother as a baby
    • God protected Moses and reunited him with his mother
    • Moses self-exile after killing a man
    • God tells Moses to face Pharaoh
    • Moses leaves Egypt with 12 tribes of Israel to the Promised Land
    • 40 days in the desert Joshua
    • leading Israelites into the Promised Land
    • dividing the alloted lands

• Israel: Age of Judges (Book of Judges)

  • Othniel
  • Ehud
  • Shamgar
  • Deborah
  • Gideon
  • Tola
  • Jair
  • Jephthah
  • Ibzan
  • Elod
  • Abdon
  • Samson

• Israel: Age of Kings (1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings)

  • Israel demands a king
    • Prophet Samuel
  • Samuel anoints Saul as King of Israel
  • Saul and David
  • Saul losing his kingship
  • Civil war between David and Saul
  • David anointed King of Israel
  • David plans to build the Temple
    • Prophet Nathan
  • Solomon born to David
  • Absalom
  • David restored to the throne
  • Solomon anointed as king
  • Solomon builds the temple (First Temple)
  • Rehoboam & Jeroboam
  • Abijah
  • Asa
  • Nadab
  • Elah
  • Zimri
  • Omri
  • Ahab
    • Prophet Elijah
  • Ahaziah
    • Prophet Elisha
  • Jehoram
  • Joash
  • Jehoahaz
  • Jehoash
  • Amaziah
    • Prophet Isaiah
  • Azariah (Uzziah)
  • Jotham
  • Ahaz
  • Hoshea
  • Hezekiah
  • Manasseh
  • Amon
  • Josiah
    • Prophet Jeremiah
  • Zedekiah

• Fall of Jerusalem, Destruction of First Temple) and Exile to Babylon

• In Babylon

  • Book of Esther
  • Book of Daniel

• Return from Babylon to Jerusalem and rebuilding of the temple (Second Temple)

  • Book of Ezra
  • Book of Nehemiah

• Age of Messiah - Return of the King

  • Beginning / Origin

    • Mark 1

    • Matthew 1:1–17 – Genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.

    • Matthew 1:18–25 – Birth of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, virgin birth.

    • Luke 1:26–38 – Annunciation to Mary: Holy Spirit will come upon you, child called Son of God.

    • Luke 2 – Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, angels announce to shepherds.

    • Luke 3 – Genealogy of Jesus through Mary’s line back to Adam.

    • Luke 4:18–21 – Jesus declares Himself fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

    • John 1:1–14 – “In the beginning was the Word… the Word was God. Through Him all things were made.”
      • Ministry & Sayings
    • Matthew 2 - 27
    • Mark 1 - 15
    • Luke 4 - 23
    • John 1:29 - John 17
      • Capture, Crucifixion and Burial

    • Capture: Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 18.

    • Trials: Matthew 26–27, Mark 14–15, Luke 22–23, John 18–19.

    • Crucifixion: Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19.

    • Burial: Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19.

    • Crucifixion & Burial: Matthew 27–28, Mark 15–16, Luke 23–24, John 19–20

    • Apostolic witness: Acts, 1 Corinthians 15, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Peter.

      • Resurrection & Ascension

    • Resurrection Discovery: Matthew 28:1–10, Mark 16:1–8, Luke 24:1–12, John 20:1–18

    • Resurrection Appearances: Luke 24:13–49, John 20:19–21:14, Matthew 28:16–20, Mark 16:9–20

    • Apostolic Witness: Acts 1:1–3, 1 Corinthians 15:3–8

    • Ascension: Luke 24:50–53, Acts 1:4–11