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Biblical Principles for Teaching the Next Generation

Biblical principles for teaching the next generation emphasize the continuous transmission of divine knowledge and the cultivation of godly character from one generation to the next. This responsibility primarily falls upon parents and the community, ensuring that children are instructed in the ways of God and equipped to live righteously [2, 9].

A foundational principle is the importance of children knowing God's covenant and testimonies. Psalm 78:6 states that the purpose of recounting God's works is "that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children" [3]. This highlights a multi-generational chain of instruction. Similarly, Psalm 132:12 links the keeping of God's covenant by children to enduring blessings [4]. John Gill, commenting on Psalm 78:6, notes that this knowledge should be not only notional but also spiritual and experimental, facilitated by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation [8].

Parents are specifically tasked with diligently communicating what they have learned from the Lord to their children [9]. This includes instructing them in the ways of God and judiciously training them [2]. Children are expected to attend to parental teaching, as indicated in Proverbs 1:8-9 and 13:1 [1, 2]. The goal is for children to obey God, fear Him, and remember Him, as well as to honor and obey their parents [2, 1]. The Lord was with Samuel from his youth, and he knew the Scriptures, observing the law of God [1]. Children's obedience to parents is pleasing to God and brings blessings [1].

The New Testament further elaborates on the training of children. Ephesians 6:4 instructs parents to bring up their children "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." This training should be judicious [2]. Children are seen as a gift from God and are capable of glorifying Him [2, 5]. They should be brought to Christ and brought early to the house of God [2]. Christ himself serves as an example for children, demonstrating obedience to his parents [2].

The concept of "first principles" or foundational teachings is also relevant to intergenerational instruction. Hebrews 6:1 speaks of "leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ" to "press on to perfection" [6]. These first principles include repentance from dead works and faith toward God [6]. The author of Hebrews suggests that while these are foundational, believers should not remain perpetually at this basic level but should mature to become teachers themselves [13]. Calvin, in his commentary, likens this to building a house: one must never leave the foundation, but to be always laboring in "laying the foundation" would be ridiculous [10]. The six basic teachings mentioned in Hebrews 6:1-3 were foundational elements of Jewish instruction, and the author encourages moving beyond them to a deeper understanding of Christ [14].

The ultimate aim of this teaching is not merely intellectual assent but a transformation that leads to a life of Christian conduct. This includes believing and fearing God, loving God and Christ, following God's example, and obeying His commands [7]. The propagation of God's truth is a communal responsibility, where no one retains knowledge for private use but edifies others according to their calling and measure of faith [9]. While the Old Covenant relied on priests to keep knowledge, the New Covenant promises that under its terms, all will know the Lord, from the least to the greatest, implying a widespread internal knowledge rather than solely external instruction [12, 11]. However, this does not negate the need for teaching, but rather emphasizes its effectiveness when accompanied by the Spirit [8, 11].

Sources

  1. 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”
  2. 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 ”
  3. Psalms “that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children, -- Psalms 78:6”
  4. Psalms “If your children will keep my covenant, my testimony that I will teach them, their children also will sit on your throne forever more.” -- Psalms 132:12”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Missionaries, All Christians Should Be As — After the example of Christ -- Ac 10:38. Women and children as well as men -- Ps 8:2; Pr 31:26; Mt 21:15,16; Php 4:3; 1Ti 5:10; Tit 2:3-5; 1Pe 3:1. The zeal of idolaters should provoke to -- Jer 7:18. The zeal of hypocrites should provoke to -- Mt 23:15. An imperative duty -- Jdj 5:23; Lu 19:40. The principle on which -- 2Co 5:14,15. However weak they may be -- 1Co 1:27. From their calling as saints -- Ex 19:6; 1Pe 2:9. As faithful stewards -- 1Pe 4:10,11. In youth -- Ps 71:17; 148:12,13. In old age -- De 32:7; Ps 71:18. In”
  6. Hebrews “Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, -- Hebrews 6:1”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  8. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 78:6: That the generation to come might know them,.... Not only notionally, but spiritually and experimentally; which is the case, when human teachings are attended with the spirit of wisdom and revertion in the knowledge of divine truths; for the truths of the Gospel are unknown to men; the Gospel is hidden wisdom, the wisdom of God in a mystery; the Bible is a sealed book, the doctrines of it are riddles and dark sayings; the ministry of the word is the means of knowledge, which become effectual when attended with the Spirit and power of God: even the children which sho”
  9. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 22.18: to posterity and that they may deliver the knowledge received through us, from hand to hand, (as we say,) to their descendants. Wherefore, it is the duty of parents to apply themselves diligently to the work of communicating what they have learned from the Lord to their children. In this manner the truth of God is to be propagated by us, so that no one may retain his knowledge for his own private use; but that each may edify others, according to his own calling, and to the measure of his faith. There is however no doubt, that the”
  10. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 6 (introduction): WARNING AGAINST RETROGRADING, WHICH SOON LEADS TO APOSTASY; ENCOURAGEMENT TO STEADFASTNESS FROM GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS WORD AND OATH. (Heb 6:1-14) Therefore--Wherefore: seeing that ye ought not now to be still "babes" (Heb 5:11-14). leaving--getting further forward than the elementary "principles." "As in building a house one must never leave the foundation: yet to be always laboring in 'laying the foundation' would be ridiculous" [CALVIN]. the principles of the doctrine--Greek, "the word of the beginning," that is, the discussion ”
  11. Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 31:34: And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother,.... Which is not to be understood of the outward ministry of the word; in heaven indeed there will be no need of it, nor in the New Jerusalem state; but in every period of time before it. In the first times of the Gospel, persons were appointed and qualified by Christ to be pastors and teachers; and in the latter day men shall run to and fro, and increase knowledge; besides, the saints in the present state stand in need of teaching; since they know but in part, and there is room for a ”
  12. Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 8:11: Second of the "better promises" (Heb 8:6). they shall not--"they shall not have to teach" [ALFORD]. his neighbour--So Vulgate reads; but the oldest manuscripts have "his (fellow) citizen." brother--a closer and more endearing relation than fellow citizen. from the least to the greatest--Greek, "from the little one to the great one." Zac 12:8, "He that is feeble among them shall be as David." Under the old covenant, the priest's lips were to keep knowledge, and at his mouth the people were to seek the law: under the new covenant, the Holy Spiri”
  13. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 5:11: For when for the time ye ought to be teachers,.... These Hebrews had had great advantages; they were not only descended from Abraham, and had the law of Moses, and the writings of the Old Testament, but some of them had enjoyed the ministry of Christ, and however of his apostles; and it was now about thirty years from the day of Pentecost, in which the gifts of the Holy Ghost were bestowed in such an extraordinary manner, and a large number were converted, and a church state settled among them; and therefore considering the length of time, the opportunities and advan”
  14. Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 6:1: 6:1-3 In light of the hearers’ immaturity (5:11-14), the author urges them to move beyond basic teachings. The six basic teachings here were all foundational elements of Jewish instruction. The author might be challenging them to move beyond these basic teachings to further understanding about the person of Christ, which he elaborates in 7:1–10:25. 6:1 Let us go on: Or Let us be carried on, suggesting that God initiates growth to maturity (Phil 2:12-13) and that it is an ongoing process. • Repenting and faith are the basic commitments that initiate a person to the”
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