Crossword: How to Read the Bible

TL;DR: This crossword puzzle covers the formation of the books of the Bible, their literary genres, the unity and continuity of the Old and New Testaments, the history of Bible translation, and the process of understanding the Bible today.

Father at table reading the Bible to family gathered around — *Reading the Bible*, Jean-Baptiste Greuze, 1755, Musée du Louvre, Paris | Image Source

More classic art masterpieces used as illustrations

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

Cover of Discovering the Bible: Story and Faith of the Biblical Communities, edited by Alex Varughese

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

Numbered crossword grid for Puzzle 1 on reading and interpreting the Bible; clues follow below

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 careful interpretation of a biblical text in its historical and literary contexts
7 A collection of Jewish writings outside the Hebrew Bible, some of which are accepted as Scripture by Roman Catholics
9 God becoming human 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 God's guidance of the human authors of the Bible
4 The study of 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

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 declares that God is our Maker.
Exodus 20:3-17: The Ten Commandments are frequently referenced in discussions of morality and religious law.
More on the Ten Commandments
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 passage, part of the Shema, is central to Jewish and Christian faith and is often cited in discussions of monotheism and devotion to God.
Psalm 23:1: "The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing." 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.