TL;DR:
This crossword puzzle, based on Alex Varughese's Discovering the Bible, focuses on the Apostle John's three New Testament letters. Accompanying notes explain how John's letters continue to guide believers today, offering encouragement, doctrinal clarity, warnings against heresy, a call to love and unity, assurance of salvation, and hope grounded in faith and obedience.
Uncial manuscript of verses 1-5 of 2 John in Greek
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Based on material in chapter 31 of Discovering the Bible by Alex Varughese, the 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 -- A person who deliberately denies that Jesus is the Christ and denies the Father and the Son
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 that taught that Jesus only appeared to be human; He did not have a physical body
5 -- The Roman emperor during the last decade of the first century. The textbook describes Christians of that period as facing persecution, feeling like aliens in a foreign land, and being 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.
Can the Apostle John's Three Letters Help Us Today?
Although they are brief, the New Testament letters of John offer wisdom and guidance that can shape our lives today. Here are some ways these letters can help us:
Spiritual Encouragement: John's letters provide encouragement and assurance to believers. They remind us of our identity in Christ and
the hope we have in Him. The letters speak about the importance of faith, love, and obedience in the Christian walk.
Clarification of Doctrine: These three letters tackle theological issues such as 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.
Combating False Teaching: John's letters confront false teachings. They call on us to differentiate truth from falsehood. They
point to the importance of holding to sound doctrine rather than being swayed by deceptive teachings.
Call to Love and Unity: Love is a central theme in John's letters. He calls attention to the importance of loving one another as Christ loved us. The letters emphasize 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 us by talking about the evidence of a genuine faith that includes love for God and others, obedience to God's 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 us principles for ethical living, dealing with sin, and deepening our 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 us of the victory we have in Christ and the assurance of our future inheritance.
