Bible crossword puzzle: Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians
Based on material in chapter 26, Discovering the Bible by Alex
Varughese
Challenge: Can you solve this puzzle even if you do not have the book by
Varughese?
ACROSS
- 2 The pagan god whose worship was centered in Ephesus
- 5 A heresy prevalent in the city of Colossae, a heresy which Paul called a "hollow
and deceptive philosophy"
- 7 A letter giving warnings concerning false teachers and their deceptive teachings;
in this letter, Paul declares that all things in creation are held together in Christ
- 9 The city in which there was a church to which Paul wrote a letter urging its
members to live joyfully in harmony and unity by adopting the mindset of Christ. As Paul wrote
to the church in that city, he encouraged his readers to discover the ultimate contentment of life
that can come under the Lordship of Christ
- 10 A term for the theological understanding of the nature and person of Jesus
Christ
DOWN
- 1 Because Paul was incarcerated when he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, and
Colossians, these three letters are known as ___________ epistles.
- 3 The letter in which Paul gives his most comprehensive treatment of the nature of
the Church and life within that community that God the Father has established through His Son
Jesus Christ
- 4 The book that contains the "kenosis hymn," a passage
which speaks of Christ "emptying (kenosis) himself"
- 6 One evidence of problems in the church at Philippi is the exhortation of Paul to
this particular person and to another one that the two of them should "agree with each other in the
Lord"
- 8 A dealer in purple cloth who was the Apostle Paul's first convert in Philippi
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,
Common themes in Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians
Several common themes appear in the New Testament books of Ephesians, Philippians, and
Colossians. Those shared themes include:
- Unity in Christ: Paul emphasizes the importance of
unity among believers, both within local churches and among different communities of
Christians. He stresses that all believers are part of one body, the body of Christ.
- The Supremacy of Christ: Paul exalts Jesus Christ as
the central figure of our faith. He emphasizes His lordship, divinity, and authority over all
things.
- Salvation by Grace through Faith: Throughout these
three letters, Paul reminds readers that salvation is a gift from God. It is received through faith in
Jesus Christ, and is not a result of human effort or works of the law.
- Christian Conduct and Ethics: Paul provides
practicalinstructions for Christian living. These include guidance on how believers should
behave towards one another and towards non-believers. He also emphasizes virtues such as love,
humility, and obedience to Christ.
- Spiritual Warfare: Paul discusses the spiritual battle
that believers face. He encourages them to stand firm against spiritual forces of evil.
- Prayer and Thanksgiving: Paul frequently mentions
prayer and thanksgiving as essential components of the Christian life.
- Christ's Role in Creation and Redemption: Paul emphasizes Christ's role not only in
creation but also in the reconciliation of all things to God because of Christ's death and
resurrection.
While each letter addresses specific issues within the respective churches to which they were
written, these overarching themes tie them together and reflect Paul's teachings on the core
principles of the Christian faith.
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 31 |
|
Chapter 32 |
|
Supplementary puzzles
You might also like these