Crossword: How to read the Bible?

Puzzle 1: Based on material in chapters 1-2, Discovering the Bible by Alex Varughese

Challenge: Can you solve the puzzle even if you do not have the book by Varughese?

crossword puzzle grid

ACROSS

2 God's self-disclosure to humanity through His words and actions
5 The study of how to read and interpret the Bible
6 The study of a biblical text in its historical and/or literary contexts
7 Fifteen books from the Old Testament period that gained canonical status in Roman Catholicism, although those writings are not in the Hebrew Bible (what Protestants call the Old Testament)
9 God taking the flesh-and-blood form of a human being in the person of Jesus of Nazareth
10 Where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found

DOWN

1 The Hebrew name for the first five books of the Jewish scriptures (the Old Testament)
3 The active role God played in writing the books of the Bible
4The study of and reflection upon God and His attributes
8 A collection of writings accepted by a religious body as authoritative and normative for faith and practice

-- Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu

This crossword puzzle was created for use in 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 what is now called The Foundry.

"I am not a huge crossword puzzle person, but figured I would give it a whirl. It was actually fun!" -- Jesse S., student

Father at table reading the Bible to family gathered around

"Readin the Bible," The Louvre, Paris, painted in 1755 by Jean-Baptiste Greuze ((Image Source)

Well-Known Old Testament Passages

The most widely quoted verses from the Old Testament can vary depending on the context, but here are five that are often cited:

Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." This opening statement of the Bible declaares that God is our Maker.
Exodus 20:3-17: The Ten Commandments ate frequently referenced in discussions of morality and religious law.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This verse, known as the Shema, is central to Jewish and Christioan faith and is often cited in discussions of monotheism and devotion to God.
Psalm 23:1: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." This verse is from one of the most well-known and beloved psalms, often recited to express trust in God's provision and care in times of comfort or difficulty.
Isaiah 53:5: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed." This verse is part of the prophetic passage in Isaiah known as the "Suffering Servant" passage, which is often cited in discussions of Jesus Christ's sacrificial death and its significance in Christianity.

These five passages are noteworthy not only in religious contexts but also in literature, art, and popular culture.

Acrostic -- "Old Testament"