A Hundred Years Ago

For many years, in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the Christadelphian Office published The Christadelphian Children’s Magazine.1It was full of all kinds of Bible stories and activities that our grandparents and great grandparents took delight in when they were young. Perhaps your Sunday school children would like to try their hand at a couple of the same activities.

The Bible from A to Z 2

Children can work alone or in groups to solve this challenging puzzle. How many can they get right? Can they find Bible references to support their answers?

A — was a man who was youthful and fair, but he hung in an oak by his long curly hair.

B — was a prophet who rode on a mule. He tried to curse Jacob, and died like a fool.

C — was a river of Old Testament story, where once a prophet had visions of glory.

D — was a woman who served for the poor, they mourned her when dead, but long life was in store.

E — was a preacher, though short was his name, he built a high pulpit, and preached from the same.

F — was a governor, pompous and grand, but preaching on judgment he never could stand.

G — Was a young general, who, early one morn, did rout a great army with pitcher and horn.

H — was a man who brought shame to his mother. He hanged on the gallows he built for another.

I — was a boy who was vulgar and rough, whose impudent mocking brought him trouble enough.

J — Was a brave wife, who, with a nail and a hammer, slew Israel’s foe without army or banner.

K — had a son, a very tall boy; they made him a king, and then shouted for joy.

L — married two wives and murdered a man. In the days before Noah these evils began.

M — was a woman both loving and kind, but careful and troubled and fretful in mind.

N — was a captain with servants and gold, but his leprosy filled him with horrors untold.

O — was a land that was far, far away, where the ships went for gold in King Solomon’s day.

P — was a preacher of wonderful fame, who in all the wide world did the Gospel proclaim.

Q — stands for one whom Paul calls a brother, and in all the Bible it’s the name of no other.

R — was a maiden, and strange ‘tis to tell, she first met her lover beside an old well.

S — stands for a man who a lion could tear, and yet he was bound by a woman so fair.

T — was a twin who continued to doubt, till the Lord gave a sign which put fears all to rout.

U — was a land from which nature recoils, where once an old patriarch suffered from boils.

V — was a beautiful Queen in the East, who refused to be seen at a grand royal feast.

W — is that which is better than gold. Who’ll seek it and find it? Its price is untold.

X — was a king who another name bears: Ahasuerus, the Bible declares.

Y — is what Jesus invites us to wear, that we may find rest in his loving care.

Z — was a priest who an angel did see; a mighty forerunner his great son would be.

Answer Key:

A = Absalom (2 Sam 18:9-10); B = Balaam (Numb 22:21-30; Numb 31:8); C = Chebar (Ezek 1:1; Ezek 3:23); D = Dorcas (Acts 9:36-41); E = Ezra (Neh 8:1-4); F = Felix (Acts 24:25); G = Gideon (Jdgs 7:16-22); H = Haman (Esth 5:14; Esth 7:9-10); I = Ishmael (Gen 21:9-10; cp. Gen 16:15); J = Jael (Jdgs 4:17-22); K = Kish (1 Sam 9:1-2); L = Lamech (Gen 4:19-24); M = Martha (Luke 10:38-42); N = Naaman (2Kgs 5:1-5); O = Ophir (1Kgs 9:28; 2 Chron 8:18); P = Paul (Acts 9:15; 13:46-47; 22:21; 26:16-18, etc.); Q = Quartus (Rom 16:23); R = Rachel (Gen 29:1-12); S = Samson (Jdgs 14:5-6; Jdgs 16:4-21); T = Thomas (John 11:16; John 20:24-29); U = Uz (Job 1:1; Job 2:7); V = Vashti (Esth 1:9-12); W = Wisdom (Prov 2:1-7; Prov 3:13-14); X = Xerxes (Esth 1:1, see Bible dictionary); Y = Yoke (Matt 11:28-30); Z = Zacharias, Zechariah (Luke 1:5-17)

A Bible Acrostic3

Can the children identify these Bible names? The first initials name a man on whom the greatest of miracles was performed. In what chapter of the Bible is his story found?

  • One of the twelve tribes of Israel on whom a special honor was conferred.
  • A very wicked king of Israel. He was killed in battle.
  • A rich man who gave half of his goods to the poor.
  • A famous city in Greece where Paul preached the Gospel.
  • The wife of a patriarch and the mother of his favorite sons.
  • A country from which Abraham came when he went into Canaan.
  • A woman who in the time of the Apostles was guilty of a great sin for which she was suddenly and fearfully punished.

Many more creative and engaging Bible puzzles appeared in The Christadelphian Children’s Magazine. Take a look at it online. You may well find others that your children would like to try.

  1. Copies of (The Christadelphian) Children’s Magazine can be downloaded from http://www. christadelphianvault.net/.
  2. Published in (The Christadelphian) Children’s Magazine, May, 1902.
  3. Published in (The Christadelphian) Children’s Magazine, February, 1903. The puzzle was submitted by 12-year old John Carter of Halifax. Thirty-four years later, this spiritually minded young man became the third editor of The Christadelphian Magazine.