Skip to main content
EnglandReligious Studies

Christianity: Beliefs and teachings overview - Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A

An overview of the Christianity Beliefs and teachings unit for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0), covering the Trinity, creation, the incarnation, salvation, eschatology and the problem of evil.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.88 min read1B Christianity: Beliefs and teachings

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

Jump to a section
  1. What the unit covers
  2. How it is assessed
  3. How to study it
  4. For the official specification

This unit, Christianity: Beliefs and teachings, is the first of the four sections in the in depth study of Christianity on Paper 1 of Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0). It sets out what Christians believe about God, Jesus, salvation and life after death, and it underpins the practices unit and the philosophy and ethics themes.

What the unit covers

The unit moves from beliefs about God to beliefs about Jesus, salvation and the afterlife.

  • The Trinity: one God in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as set out in the Nicene Creed and reflected in worship.
  • Creation and the incarnation: God as creator of the universe and humanity (Genesis), read literally or metaphorically, and the belief that God became human in Jesus.
  • The last days and salvation: the Last Supper, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, and how Jesus brings salvation through grace and atonement.
  • Christian eschatology: resurrection, judgement, heaven, hell and purgatory, and the divergent Catholic and Protestant views.
  • The problem of evil and suffering: why suffering challenges belief in a loving and righteous God, and the biblical, theoretical and practical solutions.

How it is assessed

This is one section of Paper 1, the in depth study of one religion, worth 102 marks and 50 percent of the GCSE. Each topic uses the (a) to (d) pattern: Outline three (3 marks), Explain two (4 marks), Explain two and refer to a source of wisdom and authority (5 marks), and Evaluate a statement (12 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar).

How to study it

Learn precise definitions (Trinity, incarnation, atonement, eschatology) and one short scriptural source for each belief, since part (c) always requires a source. Note the divergent views (literal and metaphorical readings of Genesis, Catholic and Protestant views of purgatory) for the higher tariff questions. Rehearse the 12 mark Evaluate structure with developed arguments for and against and a justified conclusion.

For the official specification

Pearson publishes the full specification (1RA0), past papers and mark schemes at qualifications.pearson.com. Always revise from the current specification and Edexcel past papers.

Sources & how we know this