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Biblical Expectations For Christian Mothers

Biblical expectations for Christian mothers center on their role in nurturing children, both physically and spiritually, within the family unit. The Bible frequently portrays children as a gift from God, and parents are entrusted with their care and upbringing [1, 2].

A primary expectation for mothers, alongside fathers, is to instruct their children in God's word and to train them in His ways [2]. Deuteronomy 4:9 and 11:19 emphasize teaching God's statutes to children, and Proverbs 22:6 advises training a child in the way he should go. This instruction includes teaching them to fear God, obey Him, and remember Him [1]. Parents are also expected to tell their children about God's judgments and His miraculous works [2]. The goal of this training is for children to grow into individuals who know the Scriptures, observe God's law, and whose obedience to parents is pleasing to God [7].

The New Testament reinforces these parental duties. Ephesians 6:4 exhorts fathers not to provoke their children to anger but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. While specifically addressing fathers, this instruction is understood to encompass both parents in the Christian household [2]. Mothers are also encouraged to bring their children to Christ, as Jesus Himself welcomed children, stating that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these (Matthew 19:13-14) [2].

Beyond direct instruction, mothers are called to love their children (Titus 2:4) and to provide for them (1 Timothy 5:8) [2]. The imagery of a mother giving birth is used in scripture to illustrate God's parental love for His children [11]. The Apostle Peter uses the analogy of babies desiring milk to describe believers' longing for the "true milk of the word" for spiritual growth [3].

The Old Testament highlights the esteemed position of mothers within the Jewish family, contrasting it with other ancient cultures. The king's mother, for instance, received special honor [8]. Proverbs 23:25 expresses the joy a mother feels when her child brings gladness [5]. The concept of a "mother of nations" is seen in God's promise to Sarah in Genesis 17:16 [4].

In the early church, the role of women, including mothers, was also considered. Paul, in 1 Timothy 2:15, speaks of women being "saved through childbearing." This passage has been interpreted in various ways. One view suggests that "saved through childbearing" refers not to the means of salvation itself, but to the circumstances amidst which salvation occurs, implying that women will be preserved through the trials associated with childbirth, which is part of the curse from Genesis 3:16 [9]. Another interpretation, particularly from Augustine, suggests that faithful women, whether married or virgins, become "mothers of Christ" in a spiritual sense by doing the will of the Father, even if they give birth to children "after the flesh" (i.e., "Adam") [10]. These children then need to be "dyed in His Sacraments" to become members of Christ [10].

The New Testament also uses the term "mother" more broadly to refer to older women in the church, encouraging younger women to treat them with respect and purity (1 Timothy 5:2) [6]. This suggests a communal aspect to the maternal role, extending beyond biological motherhood to spiritual guidance and care within the Christian community. Augustine also uses the metaphor of a mother hen gathering her young to describe the church's role in nurturing believers [12].

The biblical emphasis on mothers, therefore, encompasses both the physical act of giving birth and the profound responsibility of nurturing, instructing, and spiritually guiding children, while also extending to a broader spiritual maternal role within the community of faith.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children — Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Parents — Receive their children from God -- Ge 33:5; 1Sa 1:27; Ps 127:3. Their duty to their children is To love them. -- Tit 2:4. To bring them to Christ. -- Mt 19:13,14. To train them up for God. -- Pr 22:6; Eph 6:4. To instruct them in God's word. -- De 4:9; 11:19; Isa 38:19. To tell them of God's judgments. -- Joe 1:3. To tell them of the miraculous works of God. -- Ex 10:2; Ps 78:4. To command them to obey God. -- De 32:46; 1Ch 28:9. To bless them. -- Ge 48:15; Heb 11:20. To pity them. -- Ps 103:13. To provide for them. -- Job 42:15; 2Co 12:14; 1Ti 5:8. To rule”
  3. I Peter “I Peter 2:2 (BBE) — Be full of desire for the true milk of the word, as babies at their mothers' breasts, so that you may go on to salvation;”
  4. Genesis “I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.” -- Genesis 17:16”
  5. Proverbs “Proverbs 23:25 (BSB) — May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!”
  6. I Timothy “I Timothy 5:2 (BSB) — older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children, Good — The Lord is with -- 1Sa 3:19. Know the Scriptures -- 2Ti 3:15. Observe the law of God -- Pr 28:7. Their obedience to parents is well pleasing to God -- Col 3:20. Partake of the promises of God -- Ac 2:39. Shall be blessed -- Pr 3:1-4; Eph 6:2,3. Show love to parents -- Ge 46:29. Obey parents -- Ge 28:7; 47:30. Attend to parental teaching -- Pr 13:1. Take care of parents -- Ge 45:9,11; 47:12. Make their parents' hearts glad -- Pr 10:1; 29:17. Honour the aged -- Job 32:6,7. Adduced as a motive for submission to God -- Heb 12:9. Spirit of, a requisite f”
  8. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Mother — The superiority of the Hebrew over all contemporaneous systems of legislation and of morals is strongly shown in the higher estimation of the mother in the Jewish family, as contrasted with modern Oriental as well as ancient Oriental and classical usage. The king's mother, as appears in the case of Bath-sheba, was treated with special honor. (Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 19:3; 5:16; 21:18,21; 1 Kings 2:29; Proverbs 10:1; 15:20; 17:25; 29:15; 31:1,30)”
  9. 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 2:15: be saved in childbearing--Greek, "in (literally, 'through') (her, literally, 'the') child-bearing." Through, or by, is often so used to express not the means of her salvation, but the circumstances AMIDST which it has place. Thus Co1 3:15, "He . . . shall be saved: yet so as by (literally, 'through,' that is, amidst) fire": in spite of the fiery ordeal which he has necessarily to pass through, he shall be saved. So here, "In spite of the trial of childbearing which she passes through (as her portion of the curse, Gen 3:16, 'in sorrow shalt thou brin”
  10. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — OF HOLY VIRGINITY. (part 5): mother, but not of Christ. Forsooth both faithful women who are married, and virgins dedicated to God, by holy manners, and charity out of a pure heart,(2) and good conscience, and faith unfeigned, because they do the will of the Father, are after a spiritual sense mothers of Christ. But they who in married life give birth to (children) after the flesh, give birth not to Christ, but to Adam, and therefore run, that their offspring having been dyed(3) in His Sacraments, may become members of Christ, forasmuch as they kn”
  11. James (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on James 1:18: 1:18 God’s true word is the Good News (1:21-23; 1 Pet 1:23-25). • give birth: The imagery of a mother giving birth shows the full scope of God’s parental love for his children (cp. Luke 13:34; John 1:13; 3:3-8; 1 Pet 1:23). • his prized possession: Literally a kind of firstfruit (cp. Exod 23:16; Lev 23:9-14; 1 Cor 15:20; Col 1:18). Christians are examples of the ultimate restoration of all creation (Rom 8:20-22).”
  12. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM LXXXIX.(6) (part 28): while yet unfledged. For the Christian ought not to hope in himself: if he hopes to be strong, let him be reared by his mother's warmth. This is the hen who gathers her young together; whence is the reproach of our Saviour against the unbelieving Jerusalem. "Behold, your house shall be left unto you desolate."(8) Hence was it said, "Thou hast made his strongholds a terror." Since then they would not be gathered together under the wings of this hen, and have given as a warning to teach us to dread the unclean spirits th”
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