Every great score in Christian Religious Studies begins the same way: not with luck, but with a clear understanding of what JAMB expects from you. That is exactly what the CRS syllabus provides; a deliberate outline of the key themes, parables, and teachings you will encounter in the exam.
To make your preparation even more effective, we have organised the syllabus into clear, manageable sections. Each topic is laid out to help you track your progress and focus your energy where it matters most.
Work through it systematically, revisit the passages that carry weight, and build the confidence you need to tackle every question with precision. Let this syllabus be the tool that sharpens your understanding and sets you up for success in the CRS exam.
General Objectives
The aim of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) syllabus in Christian Religious Studies is to prepare the candidates for the Board’s examination. It is designed to test their achievement of the course objectives, which are to:
1. Acquire the knowledge and understanding of the tenets of the Christian faith as contained in the Bible;
2. Interpret biblical teachings and themes;
3. Apply biblical teachings and tenets to life in society;
4. Evaluate the level of application of biblical teachings and tenets to life in society.
The syllabus is divided into four sections, namely:
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.
Related Article:
JAMB Syllabus 2026 for UTME and Direct Entry Candidates
JAMB Syllabus for CRS 2026
| S/N | Theme | Topics | References |
| A | Themes from Creation to Division of Kingdom | ||
| The Sovereignty of God | God as Creator and Controller of the Universe | Gen. 1 & 2; Amos 9:5-6; Isa. 45:5-12; Ps. 19:1-6 | |
| The Covenant | (a) Flood and covenant with Noah (b) Covenant with Abraham (c) Covenant with Israel (d) The New Covenant | Gen. 6-9; 11:31-32; 12; 17; 21; 25:19-26; Ex. 19, 20, 24; Deut. 28; Jer. 31; Ezek. 36 | |
| Leadership Qualities | Examples: (a) Joseph (b) Moses (c) Joshua d) Judges (Deborah, Gideon, Samson) | Gen. 37, 41, 45; Ex. 1-5, 12; Num. 13-14; Josh. 1, 6, 7, 24; Judges 4, 6, 13, 16 | |
| Divine Providence, Guidance & Protection | (a) Guidance & Protection (b) Provision | Gen. 24, 28, 46; Ex. 13-14; 16-17; Num. 20; 1 Kings 17 | |
| Parental Responsibility | Examples: (a) Eli and Samuel (b) David (c) Asa | 1 Sam. 2, 3, 4, 8; 2 Sam. 13, 15, 18, 19; 1 Kings 15, 22; Deut. 6; Prov. 4, 13, 22, 23, 31 | |
| Obedience and Disobedience | (i) Obedience & Rewards (Abraham, Hebrew Midwives, David) (ii) Disobedience & Consequences (Adam, Manna, Golden Calf, Moses, Saul) | Gen. 22; Ex. 1, 16, 32; Num. 20; Deut. 34; 1 Sam. 10, 15, 16, 31 | |
| A Man After God’s Own Heart | a) Early life of David (b) Submission to God’s will (c) Repentance and forgiveness | 1 Sam. 16 to18, 22, 24; 2 Sam. 2, 3, 11, 12; Ps. 51 | |
| Decision Making | (a) Reliance on a medium (b) Wisdom of Solomon (c) Unwise policies of Solomon and Rehoboam | 1 Sam. 28; 1 Kings 3 to 5, 8, 9, 11, 12 | |
| B | Themes from Division of Kingdom to Return from Exile & Prophets | ||
| Greed and Its Effects | Examples: Ahab, Gehazi | 1 Kings 21, 22; 2 Kings 5; Josh. 7 | |
| The Supremacy of God | Religious tension & God’s power on Mt. Carmel | 1 Kings 16, 17, 18, 19 | |
| Religious Reforms in Judah | (a) Cleansing of the Temple (b) Renewal of Covenant | 2 Kings 22, 23 | |
| Concern for Judah | (a) Fall of Jerusalem (b) Condition of Judah (c) Response to Judah | 2 Kings 24, 25; Neh. 1, 2, 4; Ezra 1 to 7 | |
| Faith, Courage and Protection | Examples: Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego | Dan. 1, 3, 6 | |
| God’s Message to Nineveh | Jonah and his message | Jonah 1to 4 | |
| Social Justice, True Religion & Divine Love | (a) Social justice & true religion (b) Divine love & human response | Amos 2, 4 to 8; James 1; Hosea 1 to 6, 14 | |
| Holiness and Divine Call | Isa. 6; Ezek. 2, 3; Jer. 1 | ||
| Punishment and Hope | Jer. 3, 32; Ezek. 18, 37; Isa. 61 | ||
| C | Themes from the Four Gospels & Acts | ||
| The Birth and Early Life of Jesus | (a) John the Forerunner (b) Birth and boyhood of Jesus | Lk. 1, 3, 7; Mk. 1, 6; Mt. 1, 2; Jn. 1, 3 | |
| Baptism and Temptation of Jesus | Mt. 3 to 4; Mk. 1; Lk. 3 to 4 | ||
| Discipleship | (a) Call of first disciples (b) Demands of discipleship | Mt. 4, 8; Mk. 1 to 2; Lk. 5, 9, 14 | |
| Miracles | (a) Nature miracles (b) Resuscitations (c) Healing (d) Exorcism | Mt. 8, 14, 21; Mk. 4 to 6, 9; Lk. 7 to 9; Jn. 2, 6, 11 | |
| The Parables | (a) Kingdom parables (b) Love of God (c) Love for others (d) Wealth (e) Prayer | Mt. 13, 18, 22; Lk. 10, 12, 16, 18 | |
| Sermon on the Mount | Mt. 5 to 6; Lk. 6 | ||
| Mission of the Disciples | (a) Mission of twelve (b) Mission of seventy | Mt. 10; Mk. 6; Lk. 9 to10 | |
| The Great Confession | Mt. 16; Mk. 8; Lk. 9 | ||
| The Transfiguration | Mt. 17; Mk. 9; Lk. 9 | ||
| Triumphal Entry & Cleansing Temple | Mt. 21; Mk. 11; Lk. 19 | ||
| The Last Supper | Mt. 26; Mk. 14; Lk. 22; Jn. 13 | ||
| Trials and Death of Jesus | (a) Trials before High Priest, Pilate, Herod (b) Crucifixion and burial | Mt. 26-27; Mk. 14-15; Lk. 22-23; Jn. 18-19 | |
| Resurrection, Appearances, Ascension | Mt. 28; Mk. 16; Lk. 24; Jn. 20-21; Acts 1 | ||
| D | Themes from Selected Epistles | ||
| Justification by Faith | Rom. 3:21-24; 5:1-11; 10:1-13; Gal. 2:16-21 | ||
| The Law and Grace | Rom. 4:13-25; 5:18-21; Gal. 3:10-14; 19-29; Rom. 3:24 | ||
| New Life in Christ | Rom. 6:1-4; 12-14; Col. 3:1-17; Gals. 5:16-26; II Cor. 5:16-19; I Thess. 4:1-8; Rom. 12 | ||
| Christians as joint heirs with Christ | Gal. 3:23-29; 4:1-7 | ||
| Humility | Phil. 2:1-11; I Pet. 5:5-11 James 4;10; Matt. 23:12 | ||
| Sexual Immorality | (a) Prostitution (b) Adultery and Fornication (c) Homosexuality | 1Cor.6:16-20 cf. Prov.7:10-27;23:27-28 Heb. 13:4, Eph. 5:3-10 cf. Matt 5:28-32; Rom. 1:24-32 cf. Lev.18:21-30; 20:13 | |
| Corruption | 1 Tim 6:6-11; 2 Tim 3:8; 2 Pet. 1:4-11; James 5:1-6 | ||
| Christian Living in the community | (a) Interpersonal relationships among Christians (b) Christians living among non Christians (c) Christian attitude to persecution (d) Relationship in the Christian family | I Pet. 5:1-4; Rom. 12:3-21; 2 Pet. 1:3-11; Heb.13:1-21; I Pet. 2:3-25; Rom. 15:1-2; I Pet. 1:5-9; 4:1-19; 1 Pet. 3:13-22; Eph. 6: 1-9; Col. 3:18-21; I Pet. 3:1-7 | |
| Forgiveness | Philemon; II Cor. 2:5-11; Matt. 7;14-15 | ||
| Spiritual gifts | I Cor. 12; Rom. 12:3-18; I Cor. 14 | ||
| Christian Giving | Phil. 4:14-20; II Cor. 8:1-5; 9; Matt 6:2-4 | ||
| Civic responsibility | Rom. 13; I Tim. 2:1-4; 1Peter 2;13-17 | ||
| Dignity of labour | Matt. 20;1-16; II Thess. 3:6-15; Col. 3:23-25 | ||
| Impartiality | James 2:1-13cf. Acts 10:34-35; Matt 7:1-5; Luke 6:31) | ||
| Effective Prayer | James 1:2-8; 4:1-3; 5:13-18; Matt 6:5-13 | ||
| The Second Coming of Christ | a) The signs of the Coming of Christ b) Preparation for His coming | 1 Thess. 4:13-18; II Thess. 2:1-12 Matt. 25;31-46; I Thess. 5:1-11; II Pet.3:1-13 |
DOWNLOAD JAMB SYLLABUS FOR CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES 2026
Recommended Texts
- Adetunji, P.G. et al (2000) Exam Focus Christian Religious Knowledge for WASSCE and SSCE Ibadan: University Press Plc.
- Adeyemo, I. O. et al (1998) Christian Religious Knowledge for Secondary Schools Books 1 to 3, Ibadan: Onibonoje
- Adeyinka, A. A. et al (1991) Christian Religious Knowledge for Senior Secondary Schools, Book 1 to 3, Lagos: Longman.
- Adigwe, H.A et al (2004) Christian Religious Knowledge for Senior Secondary Schools. Onitsha. Africana Publishers.
- Aghaeghuna, E. O. N. (1988) Senior Secondary School Christian Religious Knowledge: Themes from Selected Epistles, Vol 1 to III, Awka, Jet Publishers.
- Dopamu, A. et al (1990) Christian Religious Knowledge for Senior Secondary Schools Books 1 to 3, Lagos: Nelson.
- Ilori, J. A. et al (1980) Christian Religious Knowledge for Senior Secondary Schools Books 1 to 3, Ibadan: Evans.
- Izuchukwu, A.E. et al (1997) Round Up for Senior Secondary Certificate Examination Christian Religious Knowledge: A Complete Guide. Lagos: Longman.
- Throckmorton, B.H, Jr. (ed) (1966) Gospel Parallels: A Synopsis of the First Three Gospels. New York; Thomas Nelson.
- L.O. Udokporo, C.O. Okemiri, Y.A. Olaomo (2012) Christian Religious Studies for Senior Secondary Schools
- Books 1 to 3 Sango Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria: Melrose Books and Publishers Limited.
- Edmund Ugochukwu Okoli, Bosede Olabisi Orovwuje (2008) Essential Christian Religious Knowledge for Senior Secondary Schools, Lagos, Nigeria, Tonad Publishers Limited.
- THE BIBLE: Revised Standard Version, Stonechill Green: Bible Society Publishing House (1971).
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!