Bible crossword puzzle 24: The letters of John
Based on material in chapter 31 of Discovering the Bible by Alex Varughese,
textbook for Introduction to Biblical Literature
Challenge: Can you solve this puzzle even if you do not have the book by
Varughese?
ACROSS
- 1 -- The person to whom Third John is addressed
- 7 -- A highly regarded virtue and a necessary gift for the advancement of the Early
Church; a key theme of Third John
- 8 -- The person to whom Second John is addressed
DOWN
- 2 -- John understood that this person will be more than someone who fails to
believe; it will be someone who, in deliberate and reasoned rebellion, denies that Jesus is the
Christ and denies the Father-Son relationship
- 3 -- The New Testament book often recommended for a new
Christian to read first. This book contrasts those who walk in the light with God and love others
with those who walk in the darkness and hate their fellow human beings
- 4 -- A form of Gnosticism which promoted the idea that Jesus only appeared to have
a human form but that He was not truly human and did not have an actual material body
- 5 -- The Roman emperor during the last decade of the first century. He brought
great persecution on the Christians who found themselves treated as aliens in a foreign land and
who also found themselves tempted by syncretism (the
borrowing of religious ideas from pagan religions)
- 6 -- A word used in First John to mean the way of life that opposes God; a place
where deceivers and the Deceiver live and rule
This crossword puzzle was created for use in the course Introduction to Biblical Literature.
The words and clues come from the textbook Discovering the Bible: Story and Faith of the
Biblical Communities edited by Alex Varughese and published by Beacon Hill Press of
Kansas City, now called The Foundry.
-- Howard Culbertson,
Can John's Three Letters Help Us Today?
Toough they are brief, the New Testament letters of John offer wisdom and guidance that can
profoundly impact our lives today. Here are some ways these letters can help us:
- Spiritual Encouragement: The letters provide
encouragement and assurance to believers as John reminds them of their identity in Christ and
the hope they have in Him. The letters emphasize the importance of faith, love, and obedience in
the Christian walk.
- Clarification of Doctrine: These three letters address
theological issues that inclue the nature of God, the incarnation of Jesus, and the importance of
love in the Christian life. They help clarify and reinforce foundational Christian beliefs.
- Combatting False Teaching: The letters of John
confront false teachings. They encourage believers to discern truth from falsehood. They
emphasize the importance of holding to sound doctrine and rather than being swayed by
deceptive teachings.
- Call to Love and Unity: Love is a central theme in
John's letters. He emphasizes the importance of loving one another as Christ loved us. The
letters the significance of unity within the body of believers and the need to demonstrate
Christ-like love in our relationships.
- Assurance of Salvation: John offers assurance of
salvation to believers by highlighting the evidence of a genuine faith that includes love for God
and others, obedience to His commandments, and belief in Jesus as the Son of God.
- Practical Application: These three letters provide
practical guidance for living out the Christian faith in daily life. They offer principles for ethical
living, dealing with sin, and cultivating a deeper relationship with God.
- Hope and Confidence: In the midst of challenges and uncertainties, the letters of
John offer hope and confidence in God's faithfulness and promise of eternal life. They remind
believers of the victory they have in Christ and the assurance of their future inheritance.
Bible book overviews and meditations
More Bible Crossword puzzles
Chapters
1-2 |
Chapters 4-5 |
Chapter 6 |
Chapters 7-8 |
Chapter 9 |
Chapter 10 |
Chapter 11 |
Chapter 12 |
Chapter 13 |
Chapter 15 |
Chapter 16 |
Chapter 17 |
Chapter 18 |
Chapter 19 |
Chapter 20 |
Chapter 21 |
Chapter 22 |
Chapter 23 |
Chapters 24-25 |
Chapters 26 |
Chapters 27 |
Chapter 28 |
Chapters 29-30 |
Chapter 32 |
Supplementary puzzles
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