THE CATECHISM

CONCERNING THIS CATECHISM

This Catechism is a teaching resource expressing the basic Christian beliefs cast in the traditional question and
answer form for ease of reference. Each answer can be used as an introduction to deeper and wider
understanding. It includes a commentary on the Apostles Creed. The Catechism can be regarded as an
introductory statement to the Church’s belief or practice.
A further use of this Catechism is to provide a summary of the teaching of the Church for an enquirer. It may
also be used selectively in liturgical worship as an instruction to be learned by every person before she/he may
be brought to be confirmed by the Bishop.

CATECHISM

THE NEW COVENANT

43. What is the New Covenant?
The New Covenant is the new relationship with God given by Jesus Christ the Messiah to the apostles; and,
through them, to all who believe in Him.
44. What did the Messiah promise in the New Covenant?
Christ promised to bring us into the Kingdom of God and give us life in all its fullness.
45. What response does Christ require?
Christ commands us to believe in Him and to keep His commandments.
46. What are the commandments taught by Christ?
Christ taught us the Summary of the Law and gave us the New Commandment.
47. What is the Summary of the Law?
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your
strength. This is the first and the great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbour
as yourself.
48. What is the New Commandment?
The New Commandment is that we love one another as Christ loved us.
49. Where may we find what Christians believe about Christ?
What Christians believe about Christ is found in the Scriptures and summed up in the Creeds.

THE CREEDS
50. What are the Creeds?
The Creeds are statements of our basic beliefs about God.
51. How many Creeds does this church use in its worship?
This Church uses three Creeds; The Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed and Athanasius Creed.
52. What is the Apostles’ Creed?
The Apostles’ Creed is the ancient creed of baptism: It is used in the Church’s daily worship to recall our
baptismal covenant.
53. Recite the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, The Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin
Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the
third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
54. What is the Nicene Creed?
The Nicene Creed is the Creed of the universal Church and is used at the Eucharist.
55. What then, is the Athanasian Creed?
The Athanasian Creed is an ancient document proclaiming the nature of the incarnation and of God as Trinity;
and is used at specific occasions numbering thirteen times in the year.
56. What do we mean by speaking of God as Trinity?
We mean that we believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, Three Persons and yet one
God.

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT

57. Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, God at work in the world and in the Church even now.
58. How is the Holy Spirit revealed in the Old Covenant?
The Holy Spirit is revealed in the Old Covenant as the Giver of life, the One who spoke through the prophets.
59. How is the Holy Spirit revealed in the New Covenant?
The Holy Spirit is revealed as the Lord who leads us into all truth and enables us to grow in the likeness of
Christ.
60. How do we recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
We recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit when we confess Jesus Christ as Lord and are brought into love
and harmony with God, with ourselves, with our neighbours, and with all creation.
61. How do we recognize the truths taught by the Holy Spirit?
We recognize truths taught by the Holy Spirit when they are in accord with the Holy Scriptures.

THE HOLY SCRIPTURE

62. What are the Holy Scriptures?
The Holy Scriptures, commonly called the Bible, are the books of the Old and New Testaments, other books,
called the Apocrypha, are often included in some Bibles.
63. What is the Old Testament?
The Old Testament consists of books written by the people of the Old Covenant, under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit, to show God at work in nature and history.
64. What is the New Testament?
The New Testament consists of books written by the Apostles of Jesus Christ, under the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit, to set forth the life and teachings of Jesus and to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God for all
people.
65. What is the Apocrypha?
The Apocrypha is a collection of additional books written by people of the Old Covenant, and can only be used
in the Christian Church for moral teaching.

6. Why do we call the Holy Scriptures the Word of God?

We call them the Word of God because God inspired their human authors and because God still speaks to us
through the Bible.
67. How do we understand the meaning of the Bible?
We understand the meaning of the Bible by the help of the Holy Spirit, who guides the Church in the true
interpretation of the Scriptures.

THE CHURCH
68. What is the Church?
The Church is the body of believers in Jesus Christ who through repentance and faith are called out of sin, the
world and Satan’s bondage to belong to the Living God. They are the Community of the New Covenant.
69. How is the Church described in the Bible?
The Church is described as the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and of which all baptized persons are
members. It is called the people of God, the New Israel, a Holy Nation, a Royal Priesthood and the Pillar and
Ground of truth.
70. How is the Church described in the creeds?
The Church is described as one, holy, catholic and apostolic.
71. Why is the Church described as One?
The Church is One because it is one Body, under One Head, our Lord Jesus Christ.
72. Why is the Church described as ‘Holy’?
The Church is Holy because the Holy Spirit dwells in it, sanctifies its members, consecrates its leaders, and
guides them to do God’s work.
73. Why is the Church described as ‘Catholic’?
The word ‘Catholic’ means universal. The Church is Catholic because it is the universal Body of Christ, which
proclaims the whole faith to all people till the end of time.
74. Why is the Church described as Apostolic?
The Church is Apostolic because it continues in the teaching and fellowship of the Apostles and it is sent out to
carry out Christ’s mission to all people.
75. What is the Anglican Communion?
It is world-wide fellowship of self-governing Churches holding the doctrine and ministry of the One, Holy,
Catholic and Apostolic Church and in communion with the See of Canterbury. It initially grew from the historic
faith of England but is now present in many different cultures and languages.
76. What is the Church of Nigeria? The Church of Nigeria is a self-governing, self-supporting and self-
propagating Church in the Anglican Communion. It proclaims and holds fast the doctrine and ministry of the
One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
77. What is the mission of the Church?
The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and to each other in Christ Jesus the Lord.
78. How does the Church pursue its mission?
The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace
and love.
79. Through whom does the Church carry out its mission?
The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members.
80. How does the Anglican Church regard other Christians?
Anglicans see other Christians as sisters and brothers in Christ and pray and work for the unity which is Christ’s
will for the Church.