MATSEC IM Religious Knowledge study plan

Map the Old Testament canon by genre (narrative, law, prophecy, wisdom, apocalyptic) and label at least two representative books per genre from memory

Outline the Pentateuch's narrative arc and identify three covenant passages (e.g. Genesis 12, Exodus 20, 2 Samuel 7) with their key promises

Distinguish the four Gospel portraits of Jesus by writing one sentence per evangelist on audience, structure and emphasis

Practise reading a parabolic and a miracle text using form, context and redaction questions

Trace the Paschal mystery through Luke 24 and 1 Corinthians 15, noting how each text grounds later doctrine

Explain how the Church reads Scripture (senses of Scripture, typology, canonical context) using two worked examples

Define revelation, inspiration and tradition, and state how they relate without collapsing into one another

Identify three New Testament texts used in Christological argument and explain what each contributes

Articulate the doctrine of the Trinity using the terms person, nature, relation and procession, and name the councils that fixed the vocabulary

Summarise the main Christological positions rejected at Nicaea, Ephesus and Chalcedon and state precisely what was wrong with each

Explain salvation in at least three models (ransom, satisfaction, participation) and note their scriptural roots

Distinguish particular and general eschatology and outline the key claims about judgement, resurrection and hope

Sequence the first four ecumenical councils by date, location and central issue resolved

Trace the development of Christian community structures from house churches to the episcopate using at least three primary-text references

Explain the East-West divergence up to 1054 with two doctrinal and two political factors

Connect one patristic writer's teaching to a later doctrinal formulation

Outline the Reformation's main causes and the distinct positions of Luther, Calvin and the Council of Trent on justification and sacraments

Describe the structure of the Mass in order and name the part of the liturgy each element belongs to

Explain the seven sacraments by matter, form, minister and effect in a consistent table

Compare two sacramental theologies (e.g. Catholic and Reformed) on one disputed point

Apply natural law reasoning, conscience and virtue ethics to two contemporary moral dilemmas and state the reasoning steps explicitly

Summarise Catholic social teaching principles (human dignity, common good, subsidiarity, solidarity, option for the poor) and apply each to one policy question

Evaluate a just-war and a pacifist position against the same case study

Distinguish mortal from venial sin and explain how that distinction shapes pastoral practice

Compare Christianity, Judaism and Islam on revelation, scripture and the person of Jesus in a single comparative grid

Describe Hindu and Buddhist core concepts (dharma, karma, samsara, nirvana, anatta) accurately and without caricature

State the Church's position on interreligious dialogue from Nostra Aetate and apply it to one concrete scenario

Describe the Maltese religious landscape (Catholic majority, parish life, festa tradition, growing pluralism) and one effect of secularisation on it

Answer three full past-paper-style questions under timed conditions and self-mark against mark-scheme criteria

Re-drill your weakest 20 glossary terms and 10 key Scripture references until recalled without notes

Rehearse essay structure: introduction stating the position, developed argument with citations, counter-argument, conclusion

Review all deliverables and close gaps flagged in earlier weeks