The Kenya National Certificate of Secondary Education

313/1

CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Paper 1

JANUARY 2021

1. The Kenya National Certificate of Secondary Education
   1. Identify the teachings about human beings from the Biblical creation accounts. (7 marks)
   2. State six reasons why the Bible had to be compiled into its present form by early Christians.    (6 marks)
   3. Outline seven occasions when Christians use the Bible. (7 marks)
   4. Explain the meaning of the symbolic objects and acts used by the Hebrews on the night of exodus.    (7 marks)
   5. Relate the covenant ceremony between God and Abraham.  Genesis 15:1-19. (7 marks)
   6. Give six reasons why church leaders in Kenya take vows before starting their mission.
   7. Ways how King David is an ancestor of Jesus Christ.    (7mks)                 
   8. Ways King Ahab broke the covenant in the case of Naboth’s vineyard
   9. Reasons why it has been difficult to fight the evil of Bribery and corruption in Kenya today.(7Mks)
   10. Roles of prophets in the Old Testament.                   
   11. State the teachings of Prophet Amos about the Day of the Lord.           
   12. Identify six forms of hypocrisy in the church in Kenya today.           
   13. Outline Jeremiah’s teaching on the New Covenant. (7 marks)
   14. State seven teachings of Jeremiah on Judgement and Punishment. (7 marks)
   15. Identify the evils that church leaders condemn today. (6 marks)
   16. State any seven roles of ancestors in traditional African society. (7 marks)
   17. Identify the importance of naming in traditional African society.    (7 marks)
   18. What are the factors that affect initiation rites today? (6 marks)

Identify the teachings about human beings from the Biblical creation accounts. (7 marks)

• Human beings are created in the image/likeness of God.
• They have the breath of life from God.
• They have been given authority/dominion over God’s creation.
• They communicate/fellowship with God.
• They are special/the greatest of God’s creation.
• They can think/reason/make choices/decisions in their lives.
• They are blessed by God.
• They have been given a specific place to stay/garden of Eden
• They are to take care of the creation/till the land/work.
• Human beings are to procreate/multiply through marriage.
• Man and woman are to complement/provide companionship for each other.
• Human beings are to use the other creations/plants for their benefit.
• Human beings are God’s creation/male and female.
• The woman was created out of the man’s rib.

State six reasons why the Bible had to be compiled into its present form by early Christians.    (6 marks)

• The eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ were being killed/persecuted.
• To prevent information from being lost.
• Due to the expansion of the church/increased number of believers who needed material to refer to/for reference.
• To counteract false teachings/teachers who were confusing the believers.
• To ensure that the same doctrines/beliefs were taught to all Christians.
• To reach out to Jews in the diaspora/Gentiles.
• To preserve an orderly account of Biblical themes/avoid distortion.

Outline seven occasions when Christians use the Bible. (7 marks)

• When preaching the word of God.
• When in a court of law.
• When instructing new converts/conducting Bible study.
• During different Christian ceremonies/marriage/ordination/baptism/burial.
• When teaching Christina religious education.
• When composing songs/plays/skits.
• During fellowships/prayers.
• During a swearing-in ceremony/public office.

Explain the meaning of the symbolic objects and acts used by the Hebrews on the night of exodus.    (7 marks)

• Moses was instructed by God to tell the Israelite elders to prepare for a sacrifice in readiness for divine liberation from slavery.
• Each family was to participate in the sacrifice as a way of identification with the Hebrew community.
• Each family was to select a young lamb without blemish to signify the purity/innocence of the sacrifice.
• Each lamb was to be slaughtered and its meat roasted as roasting was the quickest way of cooking since the Israelites were in a hurry.
• Everything was to be eaten up as a way of leaving no mark in Egypt, a country of slavery.
• The Israelites were to prepare unleavened bread to signify the lack of time/the purity of the bread.
• The Israelites were to eat bitter herbs as a symbol of their suffering in Egypt.
• The blood of the sacrificial animal was to be smeared on the doorposts of the Hebrews to save them from the angel of death.
• Everyone was to remain indoors until morning to be protected from death/to strengthen one another.
• The Passover sacrifices were to be commemorated yearly and their reasons were taught to the next generations so as for them to know their history/remember how God saved them.
• The Israelite women were to ask for jewelry, silver, and clothing from the Egyptians as compensation for the free labor they offered as slaves.
• The angel of death killed all the firstborns of the Egyptians and passed over the houses of the Hebrews to spare the Israelite firstborn to be dedicated to God.
• Moses was allowed by Pharaoh to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to signify that Moses was God’s appointed leader of Exodus.

Relate the covenant ceremony between God and Abraham.  Genesis 15:1-19. (7 marks)

• Abraham was in doubt of the promise of a son.
• God assured him that his own son would inherit him and not Eliezer of Damascus. Vs 5
• God showed Abraham the many stars and confirmed that his descendants would be like the stars. Vs.6
• God asked him to bring a heifer, a goat, a ram each three years old, and a dove and a young pigeon. Vs.9
• Abraham cut the animals into two and arranged the halves in two rows.
• The birds were not cut.
• He drove away the birds of prey that targeted the carcasses. Vs.11.
• At sunset, Abraham fell into a deep sleep. Vs. 12.
• God spoke to him giving the promise that his descendants would be slaves for 400 years but he would set to liberate them. Vs. 14.
• Abraham was promised a long peaceful life. Vs.16
• Abraham saw God pass through the carcasses in the form of a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch/reaffirms to give his descendants land.

Give six reasons why church leaders in Kenya take vows before starting their mission.

• To receive God’s blessings/guidance.
• To get acknowledgment from the people being served.
• It reminds the leader to stick to the church regulations/missions.
• To get the authority of God to lead.
• It gives the leader the courage/confidence to do his/her work.
• It shows the willingness/commitment to serve/acceptance
• To emulate the Biblical way of commissioning servants of God.

Ways how King David is an ancestor of Jesus Christ.    (7mks)                 

• Saint Paul asserted that the good news of salvation is about the Son of God who took human nature and was born from David’s lineage.
• The Gospels say that Jesus was born in the family of David as the Virgin Mary was betrothed to Joseph of the house of David.
• In Matthew’s genealogy, Jesus was a descendant of King David.
• In his annunciation message to Mary, the angel says that Jesus will be a king like his ancestor David.
• Zechariah says that God has raised a savior descended from the house of David.
• Jesus was born in Bethlehem which was also the birthplace of David.
• The blind man at Jericho hailed Jesus as the Son of David.
• In his triumphant entry to Jerusalem, Jesus was hailed by the crowd as the Messiah descended from David.
• The early apostles like Peter made several references to Jesus as a descendant of David in their sermons. 7 x 1 =7

Ways King Ahab broke the covenant in the case of Naboth’s vineyard

• He coveted Naboth’s vineyard
• He allowed his wife to  bear  false witness against Naboth
• He had Naboth   killed/murdered
• He took Naboth’s vineyard
• He broke the Jewish law of ancestral land
• As a king, he failed to protect the weak/poor as demanded by Mosaic law    (6×2= 6mks)

Reasons why it has been difficult to fight the evil of Bribery and corruption in Kenya today. (7Mks)

• Lack of political will in the fight against corruption.
• Weak legislative framework/the laws made lack ‘teeth’ to bite.
• Limited resources for an effective fight against corruption
• The general public perception is that there is nothing to be done about corruption and is there to stay.
• Weak institutions and poor corporate governance.
• The complexity and mutative nature of corruption – corrupt practices change and adopt new regulations.
• Moral delay in society/moral decadence/lack of Christian principles.
• The standards and practices in the anti-corruption body are not up to date. It suffers credibility issues.
• The code of ethics for public servants is not yet in its full operation/development.
• The investigative arm on corruption is not well developed and lacks emphasis.
• Law enforcement mechanisms on would-be culprits are weak/lack the full powers.
• Lack of role models
• Publicity on the effects of corruption is not given the urgency it deserves. (Any 7 X 1 = 7 Mks)

Roles of prophets in the Old Testament.                   

• Prophets conducted prayers for the community/Israel.
• They interceded with God on behalf of the people.
• They interpreted God’s message in the form of dreams and visions.
• They communicated God’s message/will to the people.
• They carried out God’s commands/mission to the people.
• They foretold the future events/predicted future occurrences.
• They taught/guided and counseled the people against abandoning God’s law.
• They condemned social injustices/evils committed against the poor.
• They warned people of God’s coming punishment/judgment.
• They assured the Israelites of their hope/future salvation
• They revealed God’s nature as merciful and loving to the people.
• Some acted as advisors to kings/acted as conscience to kings.
• Some anointed kings before assuming their mandates.
• Acted as priests/offered sacrifices on behalf of the people. (Any 7 X 1 = 7 Mks)   

State the teachings of Prophet Amos about the Day of the Lord.           

• It will come unexpectedly/sudden
• It will be a day of darkness and not light/gloom.
• People will mourn and wail
• Israel will be defeated by their enemies
• A day of thirst and hunger for God’s word/ a day of famine and drought.
• A day of judgment for Israel’s sins
• There will be earthquakes
• A day when feasts and festivals will not be joyful.
• All wicked people would not escape God’s severe judgment on their sins.
• There will be cosmic signs i.e. solar eclipse. (Any 7 X 1 = 7 Mks)

Identify six forms of hypocrisy in the church in Kenya today.           

• Insincere worship which involves elaborate rituals without inner piety/purity.
• Religious syncretism where they worship God and modern idols.
• Idolatry is where Christians engage in the worship of many gods e.g. money, beauty, sports, etc.
• Use of spiritual gifts for selfish gains other than glorifying God.
• Praying with intent to show off as opposed to humility in prayer.
• Showing off riches/one’s wealth during offerings/tithe giving.
• Practicing social evils yet professing to be a Christian.
• Being enemies/unforgiving Christians.
• Divisions in the church. (Any 6 X 1 = 6 Mks)

Outline Jeremiah’s teaching on the New Covenant. (7 marks)

• The laws will be written in people’s hearts
• Every individual will know God individually
• God was to forgive their sins and remember them no more.
• There will be individual responsibility for one’s sins.
• The new covenant will be initiated by God
• The new covenant was to last forever and not be broken anymore.
• It will result in the emergence of a new people of God or a new Israel.
• It will be established after God had punished the Israelites and these are the remnants
• In the new covenant a ‘righteous branch’ would be established.

State seven teachings of Jeremiah on Judgement and Punishment. (7 marks)

• God is a just judge – punishes for a reason.
• God will punish Judah as a group – the entire nation will be punished
• God punishes by looking at the heart
• God’s judgment will using political events
• God’s judgment was inevitable and unavoidable
• God’s punishment will be in the form of natural disasters
• God’s judgment is universal
• Yahweh punishment is meant to correct a sinner.
• God gives the people a chance to repent before punishment
• Yahweh’s punishment is real – though it may take long it will surely come to pass

Identify the evils that church leaders condemn today. (6 marks)

• Hypocrisy/ pretense
• Murder/suicide/abortion/genocide
• Witchcraft/divination/sorcery
• Exploitation of the poor
• Dishonesty
• False prophecy
• Bribery and corruption
• Class society – the rich vs the poor

State any seven roles of ancestors in traditional African society. (7 marks)

• They bless the members of the living members/source of blessings
• They mediated between the living and God
• They welcomed the dead into the spiritual world.
• They were custodians of customs and morality
• They were consulted in difficult times to give directions on issues of inheritance of property.
• They bring punishment to the wrongdoers.
• They warn of the impending punishment of those who fail to carry out their wishes
• Through the ancestors, the living have a sense of belonging or identity.
• They provide a reservoir of names for children born.

Identify the importance of naming in traditional African society.    (7 marks)

• Naming gives a child identity to be considered a full member of the community
• Names are also given in honor of the ancestors as they are named after their dead relatives
• It is a way of remembering important events in the society
• It is a sign of acceptance of the children in the new family.
• Naming ceremonies also provide an opportunity to teach the culture to the youth
• Names could also depict the character of the child.
• It’s also a way of showing respect to God for the gift of the children
• Naming ceremonies bring unity among the people who come to celebrate together.

What are the factors that affect initiation rites today? (6 marks)

• Christianity condemns rituals associated with initiation.
• Government policy which banned female genital mutilation
• Formal education which gives no time for initiation rites
• Migration leads to the mixing of various cultures and hence decline of cultural values
• Economic hardships make it difficult to hold elaborate initiation ceremonies
• Modern technology has more modern surgeons than traditional ones
• Effects of Western lifestyle which has led to the decline of traditional African values.