Bible passages for GCSE RS

General introduction

Required Biblical passages

Personal relationships

Birth

and Death

Prejudice and discrimination

Peace

and Justice

World

Community

Other Biblical and Christian teaching:

Personal

Relationships

Birth

and Death

Prejudice and Discrimination

Peace

and Justice

World

Community

General introduction

You must be familiar with all of the quotations  below  (Bible teaching is in a different font, with explanations given underneath). Look at the following examples - they are taken from examination answers; all include biblical teaching, but some are more specific than others.  Remember, if you know any relevant teaching, even if you're not sure where in the Bible it is from, you will still get some marks for including it. 

In an exam, you will impress the examiner by knowing chapter and verse, but it's better to leave those out if you aren't sure!  Also, if you use "speech marks" then you are implying that you know the exact wording from the Bible.  You can say: Christians believe that all races are equal.  However, it would be inaccurate to say:  The Bible says "Everyone is equal" - it doesn't!  The Bible says "From one man He created all races of mankind"  (In fact, Paul says this in Acts17:26).

Be as accurate as you can be.  If you can't learn all of the quotes off by heart, at least know the key points, and who said what! 

For more help, see sample exam answers - they show how knowing these quotes can help you answer an exam question.

Required Biblical passages


'It has been said, "Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce." But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.'   Matthew 5 v 31-32

In this quote and the one below, Jesus gives his views on marriage and divorce. In Old Testament times, Moses allowed men to write a certificate of divorce and end their marriage. In Matthew, Jesus says that a man can only do this if his wife has committed adultery. He says that it is wrong to marry a divorced woman. This passage can be used to argue against remarriage. 

Some Pharisees came and tested Jesus by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" "What did Moses command you?" he replied. They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female'. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Mark 10 v 2-12

In this second passage, Jesus says that divorce is wrong because it was God who joined the man and woman together. He says the married couple become 'one flesh'. This passage is quoted in the marriage ceremony, and can be used to argue against divorce.

'If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.'  1 Timothy 5 v 8

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul teaches Christians to care for their relatives, otherwise they are not true Christians. This can be used to support the care of the elderly.

'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.'  1 John 1 v 9

John tells us that Christianity promises forgiveness. This passage can be used to argue that Christians should be allowed to remarry after divorce.


Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  Genesis 1 v 26-27

You must know this verse! It shows that we have been created in the Divine Image, and are almost God-like. It also shows that the gift of life comes from God. Use this quote to argue for the sanctity of life, and to argue against abortion and euthanasia.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139 v 13

Here, David is saying that he was made by God, that he was created while still in the womb. God is the one who designed him, making him unique and special. This passage supports the sanctity of life. It can be used to argue against abortion and embryology, saying that God knows every embryo; every foetus is a unique individual made by God.

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3 v 16-17

Paul is saying that every human being is sacred and holy. This can be used to argue for the sanctity of life and against abortion and euthanasia. It supports the idea that you should never kill someone, however ill they are, because God's spirit is in them.

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."  Jeremiah 1 v 5

This quote can be used to argue that the foetus is already a person, made by God. Use it to argue against abortion, as it supports the idea that God knows, and has plans for, every foetus.


"Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.

"Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.

"Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.

"When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this. " Deuteronomy 24 v 14-22

This passage teach that Christians should treat everyone the same, whether they are poor or foreigners. If you discriminate against others, it is a sin. Everyone is responsible for their own actions, which can be used to argue against scape-goating. All people are entitled to justice.

Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, saying, "When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?"-- skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.  Amos 8 v 4-6

This passage was aimed at those who lived 'religious' lives, but cheated the poor every day by charging high prices, selling them cheap goods and paying them too little. It is relevant when looking at how we treat people in third world countries today, as well as those in our own country.

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, `Love your neighbour as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?" In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. `Look after him,' he said, `and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."  Luke 10 v 25-37

The Parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us to help anyone in need, regardless of their race or religious group. This story shows us that it is wrong to use stereotypes, and that we should treat all people equally. Jesus was showing that 'Love thy neighbour' means love all people.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.  Colossians 3 v 5-11

Paul teaches that Christians should treat all people, regardless of nationality, religion or position in society, fairly and equally.

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favouritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 

Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  James 2 v 1-9

Social class is meaningless for Christians. In these verses, James is teaching against snobbery. He shows that the teaching 'Love thy neighbour' requires us to love people from all walks of life.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 

"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 

"Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 

"They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."  Matthew 25 v 32-40

This is the parable of the Sheep and Goats. It says that people will be judged on how they helped others in this lifetime. Jesus is telling Christians to change the way they look at the poor, disabled and people in prison. When we look at these people, we must remember that God made them in His image. What we do to them, we do to Jesus.


While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword."  Matthew 26 v 47 - 52

This describes Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus does not support a violent response.

In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.

They will beat their swords into plough-shares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.  Micah 4 v 1-4

The prophet Micah is looking forward to a time when peace reigns. This passage can be used to argue that we should spend less money on weapons and more money on feeding the hungry.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.  Isaiah 58 v 6-10

This verse says that Christians need to look for peaceful solutions to conflicts. It says we should seek justice, feed the hungry and release the oppressed.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12 v 17-21

In his letter to the Romans, Paul says that God will judge people. Christians are told to care for their enemies. Rather than being motivated by revenge, anger or hatred, Christians are told to show kindness to their enemies. In this way, good will overcome evil.


Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1 v 26-31

This teaches Christians that God made the world and it was good. Mankind (not just Christians) was given dominion over God's creation. This means that although the world belongs to God, man has a duty to look after it and be responsible for it.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where there voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. 

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold.  Psalm 19 v 1-10

This passage tries to describe how wonderful creation is, and how the beauty of creation reflects the majesty of God. Any damage to God's creation is therefore like a slur on God, an insult. Christians are taught to respect the environment, and other people, as God's wonderful creation.

Other Biblical and Christian teaching

Personal Relationships

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart."        Matthew 5:27-28

Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.        Ephesians 5:28

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.        1 John 4:7-8

Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.       1 Corinthians 7:9

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?        1 Corinthians 6:18-19

I, …, take you,…,
to be my wife [or husband].
to have and to hold
from this day forward;
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish [and worship/obey],
till death us do part,
according to God's holy law;
and this is my solemn vow.

Church of England Marriage Service

"All members of the family, each according to his or her own gift, have the grace and responsibility of building day by day the community of persons making a family a school of deeper humanity. This happens when there is care and love for the children, the aged and the sick; where there is a sharing of goods, of joys and of sorrows"        Pope John Paul II

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.        Genesis 2:24

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.        1 Corinthians 7:3-5

Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."        Matthew 19:8-9]

"Honour your mother and Father"        Exodus 20:12 - 5th commandment

"Listen to your father who gave you life and do not despise your mother when she is old"        Proverbs 23:22

Purpose of marriage

Procreation - having children
Union - a loving partnership of living together
Rearing children - providing nurture & security
Pattern for society - family unit of mutual support
One flesh - sexual intimacy
Sacred - blessed by God
Eternal - lifelong faithful relationship

Birth and Death

Teaching that can be used to argue against abortion

When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there -you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began.        Psalms 139:15-16

Before I was born, the LORD chose me and appointed me to be his servant.        Isaiah 49:1

You shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb.       

Didache (an early Christian document c100AD)

 

"From the time that the ovum is fertilised a new life is begun which is neither that of the father or the mother. It is the life of a new human being with its own growth. It would never become human if it were not human already"       

Document on Procured Abortion (1974)Roman Catholic Church

 

"Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception; abortion and infanticide are the most abominable of crimes"

Statement from the Roman Catholic Church

'If you do make a mistake don't destroy the life ... because also to that child God says, "I have called you by your name, I have carved you in the palm of my hand: you are mine"'
Mother Teresa (Roman Catholic Nun)

Teaching that can be used to argue for abortion

 

To regard the life of the mother as less valuable than that of the unborn child does not consider her 'right to life' in terms of her wider roles of wife or mother (actual or potential) of other children, as well in terms of her own person.       

Abortion, an Ethical Discussion, Church information office 1965

 

Although the foetus is to be specially respected and protected, nonetheless the life of the foetus is not absolutely sacrosanct if it endangers the life of the mother.       

Church of England - Board of Social Responsibility Report 1984

 

The following passage suggests that life begins at birth, when the first breath is taken:

Then the LORD God took some soil from the ground and formed a man out of it; he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live.        Genesis 2:7

The next two passages suggest that the value of the foetus is not equivalent to the value of a human being

About three months later someone said to Judah, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar has been acting like a whore, and now she is pregnant." Judah ordered, "Take her out and burn her to death."        Genesis 38:24

If some men are fighting and hurt a pregnant woman so that she loses her child, but she is not injured in any other way, the one who hurt her is to be fined whatever the amount the woman's husband demands, subject to the approval of the judges. But if the woman herself is injured, the punishment shall be life for life.        Exodus 21:22-23

Teaching that can be used to argue against euthanasia

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.        1 Corinthians 6:19

You shall not murder.         Exodus 20:13

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die.        Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.

Job 1:21

 

"We have to concern ourselves with the quality of life as well as its length"
Dame Cicely Saunders - Helen House

 

"Hospices are places where people come to live, not to die"
Dr.H. Mossop - A Hospice doctor

 

"..to glorify God by affirming the sanctity and dignity of life - that even the time of death can be filled with a living hope, based on trust in Jesus Christ as Lord of life and death"

Mission statement of Southwest Christian Hospice - Atlanta Georgia USA

 

‘Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God’

Pope John Paul II, 1995

 

“We need to provide better care for the dying rather than kill them off ‘early’”

Methodist Conference 1974

 

God himself has given to humankind the gift of life. As such, it is to be revered and cherished. Those who become vulnerable through illness or disability deserve special care and protection. We do not accept that the right to personal autonomy requires any change in the law in order to allow euthanasia.

Church of England 1999

 

Teaching that can be used to argue for euthanasia

 

"I sincerely believe that those who come after us will wonder why on earth we kept a human being alive against his will, when all the dignity, beauty and meaning of life had vanished; when any gain to anyone was clearly impossible and when we should have been punished by the state if we had kept an animal in similar conditions"       

Dr. Leslie Weatherhead (leader of the Methodist church)

 

You should be aware that the balance of Christian teaching favours a pro-life position, focusing on the sanctity and dignity of all human beings.  However, use any teaching about love, compassion etc. to argue for mitigating circumstances.

 

Other teaching regarding sex, contraception and infertility treatment:

 

"The sexual act should reflect the total self-giving of two couples in love, through marriage. Likewise it should express the quality and the potential of the relationship as open, loving and life-giving."

Roman Catholic Church

 

"We support the recommendation that research, under license, be permitted on embryos up to 14 days old and agree that embryos should not be created just for scientific research"

Anglican report - 1994

 

"Any use whatsoever of any method that stops the natural power of sex to generate life is forbidden"        Pope Pius XI, 1930

 

"Artificial Insemination (AI) is different from natural intercourse. AI violates the dignity of the person and the sanctity of marriage. It is therefore contrary to the Natural and Divine Law. In an address to Catholic doctors, Pope Pius XII condemned AI. It is condemned because a third person becoming involved in a marriage is like "mechanical adultery": the donor fathers a child (with his sperm) yet he has no responsibility to the child; and a process that isolates the sacred act of creating life from the marriage union is a violation of the marriage union (which alone is the way to create life). However, if the marriage act is preserved, then various clinical techniques designed to help create new life are not to be condemned."
Adapted from Modern Catholic Dictionary

 

"The human embryo has the right to proper respect. ‘Test tube babies’ are real babies not simple embryos to be manipulated, frozen or left to die.... Human beings are not be treated as a means to an end"
The Roman Catholic Truth Society - 1985

 

Prejudice and Discrimination

 

When a foreigner lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The foreigner living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”        Leviticus 19:33-34

 

For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.       Galatians 3:26-28

 

"Mentally handicapped people have much to give, they share our common humanity and, like us all, are children of God."        CofE board for social responsibility 1984

 

God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.        Genesis 1:27

 

"I permit no women to teach or have authority over men, she is to keep silent"
1 Timothy 2:12

 

Now I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.       1 Corinthians 11:3

 

"From one human being he created all the races on Earth and made them live throughout the whole Earth."        Acts 17:26

 

You shall love your neighbour as yourself.        Matthew 22:39

 

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.        John 13:34

 

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.         1 Corinthians 12:21-27

 

Every human being created in the image of God is a person for who Christ died. Racism… is an assault on Christ's values and a rejection of his sacrifice.

World Council of Churches 1980

 

Come to me all you who labour and are over-burdened, and I will give you rest.        Matthew 1:28

 

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.        John 10:10

 

Peace and Justice

 

The first set of quotes can be used to argue for pacifism

 

Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.        Psalm 34v14

 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.        Matthew 5v9

 

They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more.        Isaiah 2v4

 

If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.        Proverbs 25v21

 

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.        John 14v27

 

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts."        Colossians 3:15

 

Do not overcome evil by evil, but overcome evil with good.        Romans 12v21

 

Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.        Matthew 5v39

 

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.        Matthew 5v44

 

Many Christians are not pacifists.  All Christians agree that peace is desirable, but some say you need to stand up and fight for what is right in order to achieve peace.   The first passage shows Jesus making it clear that being a Christian means making divisive decisions that mean you can't be friends with everyone.

 

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.        Matthew 10v34

 

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.        Romans 13v1

 

‘Prepare for war; rouse the warriors; let all the fighting men draw near and attack.’

Joel 3:9

 

That night the LORD said to Gideon, "Go, attack the camp, for I have delivered it up to you.”        Judges 7:9

 

[Jesus] entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He was teaching and saying, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."        Mark 11:15-17

 

Put on the armour of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness       Ephesians 6:11-12

 

 

World Community

Environment

You made him ruler of everything you made; you appointed him over all creation.        Psalm 8:6

 

'When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees of the field people, that you should besiege them?'        Deuteronomy 20:19

 

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it        Psalm 24:1

 

Then the Lord God placed the man in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it.        Genesis 2:15

 

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children        Proverbs 13:22

 

Keep safe what has been entrusted to you.        1 Timothy 6:20

 

"The dignity of nature as creation needs to be bound up with our responsibility for the preservation of life"        World Council of churches

 

The earth and all life on it is a gift from God given us to share and develop, not to dominate and exploit. Our actions have consequences for the rights of others and for the resources of the earth. The goods of the earth and the beauties of nature are to be enjoyed and celebrated as well as consumed. We have the responsibility to create a balanced policy between consumption and conservation. We must consider the welfare of future generations in our planning for and utilisation of the earth's resources.

Roman Catholic Church, 1988

 

Christians repudiate (reject) all ill-considered exploitation of nature which threatens to destroy it and, in turn, to make man the victim of degradation.        Assisi Declarations

 

Hunger and Disease

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.        Acts 2:44-45

 

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.        Luke 4:18

 

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.        1 Timothy 6:9-10

 

…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.        Luke 18:25

 

True happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement… God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them.  Rich nations have a grave moral responsibility towards those which are unable to ensure the means of their development by themselves.

Roman Catholic Catechism

 

The Synod [believes] that, as a matter of common humanity and of our mutual interest in survival, the world requires a new and more equitable system of economic relationships between nations.

General Synod of the Church of England, 1981