Cameroon GCE O-Level Religious Studies key terms

The belief that God guided the human writers of the Bible so that their message truly conveys what God intended, without removing their own style, language and historical setting.

The official list of books accepted as genuine Scripture. The Protestant canon has 66 books; Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include additional books called deuterocanonical or Apocrypha.

The principle that the Bible is the supreme rule for faith and conduct because it comes from God, so its teaching judges human traditions rather than being judged by them.

God making himself and his will known to people. Christians speak of general revelation through nature and conscience, and special revelation through Scripture and Jesus Christ.

The first major division of the Christian Bible, containing 39 books in the Protestant canon, grouped as Law, History, Wisdom and Prophets, and shared in part with Judaism.

The second major division of the Christian Bible, with 27 books: four Gospels, Acts, letters to churches and individuals, and Revelation. It centres on Jesus Christ and the early Church.

Literally 'good news'. It means the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, and also each of the four written accounts by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The teaching that God made the universe out of nothing, by his word alone, so that everything that exists depends on him and is not part of him.

Latin for 'image of God'. It teaches that human beings uniquely reflect God's character through reason, moral responsibility, relationship and dominion over creation, giving every person inherent dignity.

The disobedience of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, described in Genesis 3, which brought sin, shame, suffering, hard labour and death into human experience.

The doctrine that human beings are born into a condition of estrangement from God, inherited from Adam's disobedience, so that all people sin and need salvation.

A binding agreement between God and people, often sealed with sacrifice or a sign. Key examples are those with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David, and the new covenant in Christ.

A founding father of Israel, especially Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, whose lives and journeys are recorded in Genesis and whose descendants became the twelve tribes.

The escape of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt under Moses, led by God through plagues, the Passover and the crossing of the sea, and remembered as the founding act of Israel's faith.

The annual Jewish festival recalling how God spared the firstborn of Israel when the angel passed over homes marked with lamb's blood, celebrated with a special meal.

A person called by God to speak his word to the people, often warning of judgement, calling for repentance and justice, and announcing hope for the future.

A Hebrew title meaning 'anointed one', used of the expected deliverer from David's line. Christians identify Jesus as the Messiah, from the Greek word Christos.

The belief that the eternal Son of God became a human being in Jesus of Nazareth, fully divine and fully human, born of the Virgin Mary.

The work by which Jesus' death reconciles humanity with God, understood in various ways such as sacrifice for sin, victory over evil, and a demonstration of God's love.

The raising of Jesus from the dead on the third day, which Christians see as victory over death and the foundation of their hope and faith.

The Christian doctrine that God is one being in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, equal in nature and distinct in relationship, yet not three gods.

The third person of the Trinity, God active in creation, inspiring Scripture and prophets, empowering Jesus, and giving the Church gifts, guidance and holiness.

The Jewish harvest festival at which the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in Jerusalem with wind and fire, enabling them to speak in other tongues and marking the birth of the Church.

A gift of grace given by the Holy Spirit for the good of the Church, such as healing, prophecy, teaching, tongues or administration, listed by Paul in his letters.

The Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai, summarising duties to God and to neighbour, and foundational to Christian and Jewish moral teaching.

Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5-7, including the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer and the Golden Rule, setting out the ethics of the kingdom of God.

The blessings that open the Sermon on the Mount, pronouncing God's favour on the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the merciful and the persecuted, among others.

The inner sense of right and wrong by which a person judges their own actions. Christians hold that it must be informed and formed by Scripture and teaching.

The responsibility given by God to care for creation, resources, time and talents on his behalf, and to use them for the good of others rather than wastefully.

A tenth of one's produce or income given to God, practised in ancient Israel and by many churches today to support ministry work and the needy.

The belief that human life is sacred because it is created and given by God, which grounds Christian opposition to murder, abortion and unjust killing.

The indigenous religious systems of African peoples, typically involving belief in a supreme being, lesser spirits and ancestors, and practised through ritual, sacrifice, prayer and community festivals.

The practice of honouring deceased relatives believed to remain in contact with the living, offering them respect and sometimes food or drink, and asking their mediation and protection.

A traditional religious specialist who discovers hidden causes of illness, misfortune or conflict through divination, and then advises on sacrifices or remedies to restore harmony.

The blending of beliefs and practices from different religions, as when Christian worship absorbs elements of African traditional religion, which many churches treat as a problem.

Respecting the right of people to hold and practise beliefs different from one's own, and living peacefully with them, without accepting that all beliefs are equally true.

An Arabic term meaning 'struggle', referring to the inner effort to live faithfully and, in some interpretations, to armed defence of the Muslim community under strict conditions.

Islamic law derived from the Qur'an, the example of the Prophet Muhammad and scholarly reasoning, covering worship, family matters, commerce and criminal justice.

The abuse of entrusted power for private gain, such as bribery, embezzlement or favouritism, which Christian ethics condemns as a form of stealing and injustice.

The community of believers gathered around Christ, both local congregations and the universal body of Christians, described by Paul as the body of Christ.

God's undeserved favour and help given freely to people, which Christians believe enables repentance, forgiveness and a transformed life.

Sincere sorrow for sin together with a decision to turn away from it and towards God, often expressed in confession and changed behaviour.