JAMB Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies 2027/2028

Christian Religious Studies is a subject that teaches you about the Christian faith, the Bible, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, important people in the Bible, and how biblical teachings can be applied to everyday life.

The JAMB Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies shows you the topics and Bible passages you need to study for the Christian Religious Studies paper in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Christian Religious Studies is one of the approved UTME subjects offered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The subject is commonly called CRS or CRK.

The CRS syllabus has three main aims. You are expected to understand the teachings of the Christian faith contained in the Bible, interpret biblical teachings and themes, and know how those teachings can be applied to life in society.

The thing is, knowing the topic alone is not enough. You should also understand the Bible passages, people, events, lessons and objectives connected to each topic.

I will show you the complete Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies in simple terms so you can know exactly where to direct your study.

JAMB Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies (CRS)

The JAMB Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies (CRS) is divided into four main sections:

1. Section A: Themes from Creation to the Division of the Kingdom
2. Section B: Themes from the Division of the Kingdom to the Return from Exile and the Prophets
3. Section C: Themes from the Four Gospels and Acts of the Apostles
4. Section D: Themes from Selected Epistles

You should study all four sections because each contains topics and Bible passages you are expected to understand.

Let me show you what you need to cover under the first two sections.

Section A: Themes from Creation to the Division of the Kingdom

Section A starts from creation and covers several important events and people in the Old Testament.

1. The Sovereignty of God

You should study God as the Creator and Controller of the universe.

Read Genesis chapters 1 and 2, together with Amos 9:5-6 and Isaiah 45:5-12.

Do not just read the creation story and stop there. You should be able to explain the meaning of sovereignty, the sequence of creation and the role given to human beings in God’s creation.

For example, imagine you are asked about man’s responsibility after creation. Simply knowing that God created man may not give you enough information to choose the correct answer. You need to understand the role given to man.

2. The Covenant

Another major area is covenant.

You need to study:

• The flood and God’s covenant with Noah
• God’s covenant with Abraham
• God’s covenant with Israel
• The New Covenant

Important passages include Genesis 6 to 9, Genesis 11, 12, 17, 21 and 25; Exodus 19, 20 and 24; Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:25-28.

Pay attention to the people involved, the conditions of each covenant and what made one covenant different from another.

You should be able to explain the meaning of covenant and distinguish between God’s covenants with Noah, Abraham and Israel.

3. Leadership Qualities

Under leadership, concentrate on:

• Joseph
• Moses
• Joshua
• Deborah
• Gideon
• Samson

You need to understand how these people became leaders, their qualities, their achievements and God’s role in their work.

For instance, when reading about Joseph, do not memorize his story only. Ask yourself: What qualities did Joseph show? What problems did he face? What did he achieve as a leader?

That approach will help you understand the topic better.

4. Divine Providence

Divine Providence covers God’s guidance, protection and provision.

The syllabus uses several examples from Genesis, Exodus, Numbers and 1 Kings.

You should know different occasions when God guided, protected and provided for His people.

5. Parental Responsibility

Study the examples of:

• Eli and Samuel
• David and his sons
• Asa and Jehoshaphat

Pay attention to the responsibilities of parents and the results of their actions.

The questions here may require more than remembering who someone’s father was. You need to understand how the actions of parents affected their children and families.

6. Obedience and Rewards

The main examples are:

• Abraham
• The Hebrew midwives
• David

Study why these people obeyed God and the rewards connected to their obedience.

7. Disobedience and Consequences

The examples given include:

• Adam
• The Israelites and the collection of manna
• The Golden Calf
• Moses
• Saul

When studying these stories, connect every act of disobedience with its reason and consequence.

That makes the lesson easier to remember.

8. A Man After God’s Own Heart

This topic focuses on David.

You should study:

• The early life of David
• David’s submission to God’s will
• David’s repentance and forgiveness

You should understand David’s childhood experiences, the situations that led to his sin and repentance, and why he received forgiveness.

9. Decision-Making

The final major topic under Section A deals with decisions.

Study:

• Saul’s reliance on a medium
• The wisdom of Solomon
• The unwise policies of Solomon and Rehoboam

You should be able to compare their decisions and explain the results of those decisions.

Section B: Themes from the Division of the Kingdom to the Return from Exile and the Prophets

Section B takes you into events after the division of the kingdom and teachings connected with important prophets.

There are nine major areas to study here.

1. Greed and Its Effects

The main examples are Ahab and Gehazi.

You should understand what greed means, how greed was shown in their stories and the consequences that followed.

2. The Supremacy of God

Study the religious tension during the time of Elijah and Ahab, especially the events on Mount Carmel.

Important passages include 1 Kings 16 to 19.

You should understand the people involved in the contest and what the event teaches about the power of God.

3. Religious Reforms in Judah

Study:

• Cleansing of the Temple
• Renewal of the Covenant

The main passages are found in 2 Kings chapters 22 and 23.

You should know what Josiah changed, why the covenant was renewed and the importance of the reforms.

4. Concern for Judah

This area covers:

• The fall of Jerusalem
• The condition of Judah
• The response to the state of Judah

You will meet people such as Nehemiah and Ezra here.

Do not only memorize what they did. Learn why Jerusalem fell, what happened during the exile and how the people responded to the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

5. Faith in God

Study Daniel chapters 1, 3 and 6.

The focus is on faith, courage and protection, using Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as examples.

You should know the situations in which these men showed faith and the effects their actions had on the people around them.

6. God’s Message to Nineveh

This topic centres on Jonah.

Read Jonah chapters 1 to 4.

You should understand Jonah’s call, his disobedience, its consequences, his message to Nineveh and God’s response to the repentance of the people.

7. Social Justice, True Religion and Divine Love

This part focuses mainly on the teachings of Amos and Hosea.

Study social justice and true religion from Amos and divine love and human response from Hosea.

You should understand the social problems that existed at the time and what the prophets taught about them.

8. Holiness and Divine Call

You will study the calls of:

• Isaiah
• Ezekiel
• Jeremiah

You should be able to compare their calls and the assignments given to them.

9. Punishment and Hope

The final area under Section B deals with Israel’s punishment, hope and restoration.

Important passages come from Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah.

Do not study punishment alone. Pay attention to the conditions for hope and the benefits of restoration as stated in the syllabus.

Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies from the Gospels and Acts

Section C: Themes from the Four Gospels and Acts of the Apostles

Section C of the JAMB Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies focuses mainly on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the activities of the early Church.

This is a large part of the CRS syllabus. So, you should pay attention to the events, people involved, Bible passages and lessons connected with each topic.

You should also learn how to compare accounts of the same event in different Gospels.

Let me show you the areas you need to study.

1. The Birth and Early Life of Jesus

Start with John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus. The passages include Luke 1:5-25, 57-66; Luke 3:1-20; Luke 7:18-35; Mark 1:1-8; Mark 6:14-29; Matthew 3:1-12 and John 1:6-8, 19-37.

You should also study the birth and boyhood of Jesus from Matthew chapters 1 and 2 and Luke chapters 1 and 2.

Pay attention to the stories surrounding the births of John and Jesus. You should be able to compare them and explain the importance of John as the forerunner of Jesus.

2. The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

Study the baptism and temptation of Jesus as recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

You should know the meaning and purpose of Jesus’ baptism, the temptations He faced and the importance of those temptations.

Do not simply memorize that Jesus was tempted. Understand what happened and why the event is important.

3. Discipleship

Under discipleship, study the call of the first disciples and the cost of following Jesus.

Important passages include Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 9:9-13, Mark 1:16-20, Mark 2:13-17 and Luke 5:1-11, 27-32.

The cost of discipleship is covered in Matthew 8:19-22 and Luke 9:57-63; 14:25-33.

You should identify the first disciples called by Jesus and understand what it means to be a disciple.

Important Areas to Study Under Section C

4. Miracles

Miracles form a large part of this section.

The syllabus groups the miracles of Jesus into four areas.

Nature miracles include:

• Stilling the storm
• Feeding of the five thousand
• Walking on the sea
• Changing water to wine

Miracles of resuscitation include:

• Raising Lazarus
• Raising Jairus’ daughter
• Raising the widow’s son at Nain

Healing miracles include the healing of:

• The leper
• The paralytic at the pool
• The centurion’s servant
• The blind

The syllabus also covers exorcism, including the Gerasenes or Gadarenes demoniac and the epileptic boy.

When reading these miracles, pay attention to what happened before and after each one.

You should be able to classify the miracles, identify the occasion of each miracle and explain its importance. You are also expected to understand what they show about Jesus’ power over nature, diseases, demons and death.

5. The Parables

The Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies also includes several parables.

They are grouped into areas such as:

• Parables of the Kingdom
• Parables about the love of God
• Parables about love for one another
• Parables about wealth

Examples include the parable of the sower, the weeds, the lost sheep, the Good Samaritan and the rich fool.

You should know the occasion, meaning and lesson of each parable.

For example, simply remembering the people in the Good Samaritan story is not enough. Ask yourself: What lesson was Jesus teaching? Why did He tell the story? How can that lesson apply to everyday life?

That is the kind of understanding you need.

6. Sermon on the Mount

Study Matthew chapters 5 and 6 and the related passage in Luke 6.

You should understand Jesus’ teachings on the Mount, the demands of the Kingdom, His teaching about worldly possessions and the rewards connected with obedience.

7. Mission of the Disciples

You need to study two missions:

1. The mission of the twelve
2. The mission of the seventy

Pay attention to the instructions Jesus gave them and the results of their missions.

You should be able to tell the difference between the mission of the twelve and the mission of the seventy.

8. The Great Confession

Study Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30 and Luke 9:18-22.

Peter’s confession is central to this topic.

You should understand the event that led to the confession and its importance.

9. The Transfiguration

The Transfiguration is covered in Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13 and Luke 9:28-36.

Learn the events leading to the Transfiguration, the people involved and its importance to the disciples.

10. The Triumphal Entry and Cleansing of the Temple

Study Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem and the cleansing of the Temple.

The passages include Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-19 and Luke 19:29-48.

You should know what happened, why these events were important and how the cleansing of the Temple increased hostility towards Jesus.

11. The Last Supper

The Last Supper is another area you should study carefully.

Read the accounts in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22 and John 13.

You should know the story, the location and the importance of the Last Supper.

12. The Trials and Death of Jesus

This topic covers the trials of Jesus before:

• The High Priest
• Pilate
• Herod

You should also study His crucifixion and burial.

The accounts appear across Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Pay special attention to similarities and differences between John’s account and the accounts in the Synoptic Gospels.

You should also understand the lessons connected with the death of Jesus.

13. Resurrection, Appearances and Ascension of Jesus

Study the accounts of the resurrection, appearances and ascension in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20 and Acts 1.

You should know the sequence of events and the people involved.

You are also expected to compare the accounts found in the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John and Acts of the Apostles.

14. Jesus’ Teachings About Himself

The syllabus identifies several ways Jesus described Himself.

They include:

• The Bread of Life
• The Living Water
• The Light of the World
• The Door
• The Good Shepherd
• The True Vine

Do not memorize these names alone.

You need to understand the meaning of the symbols Jesus used to teach about Himself.

For example, when studying Jesus as the Good Shepherd, think about what a shepherd does for the sheep and how that helps you understand the teaching.

15. Love

This topic covers two main areas:

• God’s love for man
• Love for one another

Study John 3:16-18, John 13:34-35, John 15:12-13 and the related passages in 1 John.

You should understand how God’s love is shown and the ways Christians are expected to show love to other people.

16. Fellowship in the Early Church

You will study communal living among the early Christians.

Read Acts 1, 2 and 4.

You should also study the problems associated with communal living and the solutions found in Acts chapters 5 and 6.

The main point is to understand how communal living worked and how it helped the growth of the early Church.

17. The Holy Spirit and the Mission of the Church

Study Pentecost and the mission of the Church.

Important passages include Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-41 and Acts 8:4-40.

You should know the story of Pentecost, its importance and how the Church carried out its mission.

18. Opposition to the Gospel Message

The spread of the Gospel did not happen without opposition.

You need to study:

• The arrest and imprisonment of Peter and John
• The martyrdom of Stephen
• Persecution by Saul

You should understand what happened in these events and the role persecution played in the growth of the Church.

19. Mission to the Gentiles

The final topic under Section C is the mission to the Gentiles.

Study:

• Conversion of Saul
• Conversion of Cornelius
• Commissioning and mission of Paul
• Council of Jerusalem
• Persecution of Paul

You should compare the conversion of Saul and Cornelius and understand Paul’s commissioning and missionary work.

You should also study the main decisions made at the Council of Jerusalem and the people involved.

Paul’s role in taking the Christian message to the Gentiles is an important part of this topic, so make sure you understand it rather than memorizing names and events only.

Section C contains many Bible passages, but you can make your study easier by taking one topic at a time. Read the event, identify the people involved, understand what happened and then study the lesson or objective attached to it.

That way, you are not reading Bible stories without direction; you are studying each story with a clear idea of what you are expected to understand.

JAMB CRS Area of Concentration from the Selected Epistles

Section D: Themes from Selected Epistles

Section D of the JAMB Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies (CRS) focuses on important Christian teachings found mainly in the Epistles.

This section contains 14 major topics. You need to understand what each teaching means, the Bible passages connected to it and how the teaching applies to Christian life.

Let me show you what to study.

1. Justification by Faith

The first topic is justification by faith.

Study Romans 3:21-24, Romans 5:1-11 and Romans 10:1-13.

You should understand the meaning of justification by faith, the basic conditions for justification and the fruits that come from it.

Do not memorize the term “justification” without understanding its meaning. You should be able to explain the teaching when it appears in a question.

2. The Law and Grace

Study Romans 4:13-25, Romans 5:18-21 and Galatians 3:10-14, 19-29.

Your study should focus on the purpose and importance of law and grace. You should also understand the place of the law among the Jews.

Try to connect the Bible passages to the topic instead of treating each passage as a separate story.

3. New Life in Christ

The syllabus covers the new life in Christ using passages from Romans, Colossians, Galatians, 2 Corinthians and 1 Thessalonians.

You should study:

• Characteristics of the old life
• Meaning of the new life in Christ
• Conditions of the new life
• Paul’s teachings about the new life
• Differences between the old and new life

Pay close attention to the difference between the old life and the new life in Christ.

A question may describe a behaviour and expect you to identify whether it agrees with the Christian teaching about new life.

4. Christians as Joint Heirs with Christ

Study Galatians 3:23-29 and Galatians 4:1-7.

You should know what it means for Christians to be joint heirs with Christ and the benefits connected with it.

5. Humility

The main passages for this topic are Philippians 2:1-11 and 1 Peter 5:5-11.

You should understand:

• The meaning of humility
• Requirements of humility
• Rewards of humility

When studying humility, do not stop at its definition. Look at how the teaching is presented in the passages and what Christians are expected to learn from it.

6. Forgiveness

Study Philemon and 2 Corinthians 2:5-11.

You should understand Paul’s teaching on forgiveness and the benefits of forgiveness.

Think about a simple situation. Someone offends another person and later asks for forgiveness. What does the Christian teaching say about the response?

Connecting the lesson with simple situations like this can make the topic easier to understand and remember.

7. Spiritual Gifts

Study 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:3-18 and 1 Corinthians 14.

You should be able to identify different types of spiritual gifts and understand how an individual should use them.

Knowing the names of spiritual gifts alone is not enough; understand their use as taught in the passages.

8. Christian Giving

Christian giving is another topic in the Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies.

Study Philippians 4:14-20, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 and 2 Corinthians 9.

You should understand the idea of Christian giving and relate Paul’s teachings to the way Christians give.

9. Civic Responsibility

Study Romans 13 and 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

This topic deals with the Christian’s responsibility in society.

You should know the need for obedience to authority and the requirements of good citizenship.

The lesson is not limited to what happens inside a church. It also deals with how Christians should behave as members of society.

10. Dignity of Labour

Study 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 and Colossians 3:23-25.

You should understand the meaning of the dignity of labour and the benefits of labour.

The main idea you should understand is the Christian teaching about work and the attitude a person should have towards it.

11. The Second Coming of Christ

This topic has two main parts:

1. Signs of the Coming of Christ
2. Preparation for His coming

Study 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and 2 Peter 3:1-13.

You should be able to identify the signs connected with the Second Coming and explain how Christians should prepare.

12. Impartiality

Study James 2:1-13 and compare it with Acts 10:34-35.

You should understand what impartiality means, the difference between partiality and impartiality, and the consequences connected with impartiality.

When reading this topic, think about situations where people are treated differently because of their position or wealth. Then connect such examples with the teaching in James.

13. Effective Prayer

Study James 1:2-8, James 4:1-3 and James 5:13-18.

You should know the requirements of effective prayer and be able to distinguish between effective and ineffective prayer.

Pay attention to what the passages teach about how and why people pray.

14. Christian Living in the Community

The final topic in Section D deals with Christian relationships in the community.

It covers:

• Interpersonal relationships among Christians
• Christians living among non-Christians
• Christian attitudes to persecution
• Relationships in the Christian family

Important passages are found in 1 Peter, Romans, Ephesians and Colossians.

You should understand how Christians are expected to relate with one another, behave among non-Christians, respond to persecution and maintain relationships within the family.

How to Use the JAMB Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies

Knowing the topics in the JAMB Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies is a good start, but you also need to know how to study them.

The thing is, the syllabus does more than give you topic names. It also gives Bible passages and tells you what you should be able to do after studying each topic.

Read the Bible Passages Attached to Each Topic

Do not study only the headings in this guide.

For example, suppose you want to study The Covenant. Do not simply learn the definition of covenant and move to another topic.

Read the Bible passages about Noah, Abraham, Israel and the New Covenant. Then ask yourself:

• Who was involved?
• What happened?
• Why was the covenant made?
• What were its conditions?
• What made it different from another covenant?
• What lesson can I learn from it?

Doing this gives you a deeper understanding of the topic.

The same method can be used for miracles, parables, prophets, discipleship and other parts of the syllabus.

Read also: JAMB CRS Syllabus 2026/2027 Download PDF

Your aim should be to understand the event, the people involved, its meaning and the lesson attached to it.

Pay Attention to the JAMB Objectives

One important part of the CRS syllabus that you should not ignore is the objectives.

You will regularly see instructions such as:

• Identify
• Interpret
• Compare
• Analyse
• Examine
• Assess
• Distinguish
• Determine

These words tell you what you are expected to understand after studying a topic.

For example, under the miracles of Jesus, you are expected to classify the different miracles, identify their occasions, examine their importance and understand what they show about the power of Jesus.

So, reading the story of a miracle once may not be enough.

Use the objectives as questions when you study.

After reading a topic, check whether you can explain it without looking at your book.

Can you compare two events when required? Can you identify the people involved? Can you explain why something happened? Can you state the result?

If you cannot, go back to the passage and study it again.

Use the Recommended Christian Religious Studies Textbooks

The syllabus also provides recommended texts that can support your study.

Some of the recommended materials are:

• P.G. Adetunje et al., ExamFocus Christian Religious Knowledge
• I.O. Adeyemo et al., Christian Religious Knowledge for Secondary Schools, Books 1-3
• A.A. Adeyinka et al., Christian Religious Knowledge for Senior Secondary Schools, Books 1-3
• E.O.N. Aghaeghuna, Senior Secondary School Christian Religious Knowledge: Themes from Selected Epistles, Vol. I-III
• A. Dopamu et al., Christian Religious Knowledge for Senior Secondary Schools, Books 1-3
• J.A. Ilori et al., Christian Religious Knowledge for Senior Secondary Schools, Books 1-3
• Revised Standard Version of the Bible
• Wisdomline Pass at Once JAMB

You do not have to read every textbook from the first page to the final page before you can study CRS.

Read also: The Full List of JAMB Recommended Textbooks for Christian Religious Studies 2027/2028

Use the syllabus as your guide. Find the topic you want to study, read the recommended Bible passages and use a suitable textbook to understand areas that need more explanation.

The area of concentration tells you what to study; the Bible passages and textbooks help you understand what you are studying.

Frequently Asked Questions About JAMB Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies

Conclusion

What You Should Do Next

The JAMB Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies 2027/2028 gives you a clear guide to the topics you need to study for CRS.

The syllabus is divided into four major sections:

• Section A: Themes from Creation to the Division of the Kingdom
• Section B: Themes from the Division of the Kingdom to the Return from Exile and the Prophets
• Section C: Themes from the Four Gospels and Acts of the Apostles
• Section D: Themes from Selected Epistles

Do not look at this long list and feel that you must finish everything in one day.

Start with one topic. Read the Bible passages attached to it. Understand the people and events involved. Check the objectives and make sure you can explain what you have studied in your own words.

Then move to the next topic.

Most importantly, do not memorize Bible stories without understanding why they are included in the syllabus. Pay attention to causes, consequences, comparisons, teachings and lessons.

You can also use the recommended CRS textbooks to explain areas you do not understand clearly.

I recommend that you save this Area of Concentration for Christian Religious Studies and use it as a checklist while studying. As you finish each topic, mark it and move to the next one.

Your goal should be simple: cover every section, understand the listed Bible passages and practise what you have studied with questions.

Do you have a CRS topic that you find difficult to understand? Leave it in the comment section, and we can explain it in simple terms.

You can also share this JAMB CRS area of concentration with your friends and classmates so they can use it when planning their study for the examination.