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Involving Children in Planning and Leading Bible Study

The biblical tradition places significant emphasis on the instruction of children in the ways of God, suggesting that children are not merely passive recipients but can also be active participants in spiritual learning and even leadership. The Old Testament frequently highlights the responsibility of parents and elders to teach the younger generation. For instance, Psalm 78:6 speaks of the importance of transmitting knowledge of God's works to "the coming generation... even children yet to be born" [7]. Similarly, Deuteronomy 4:9 and 11:19 instruct parents to teach God's word diligently to their children, and Proverbs 22:6 advises to "train up a child in the way he should go" [8]. Matthew Henry interprets this as catechizing and initiating children, training them "as soldiers" to handle their arms and observe commands [11].

This instruction is not limited to rote memorization but involves cultivating a "fear of Yahweh" [3]. David, though a king and warrior, did not consider it beneath him to teach children, offering counsel from his own experience [12]. John Gill suggests that "children" in Psalm 34:11 could refer to one's own family, subjects, or young people in general, emphasizing early instruction in duty to God and others [10]. The concept of "learning" is also embedded in biblical names, such as "Eleph" and "Chilmad," which mean "learning" and "teaching or learning," respectively [5, 6].

Children are presented as capable of understanding and glorifying God. Psalm 8:2 and 148:12-13 indicate their capacity to praise God, a point reinforced by Jesus in Matthew 21:15-16 [2]. The New Testament further encourages bringing children to Christ, as seen in Mark 10:13-16, and emphasizes their obedience to parents as "well pleasing to God" [1, 2]. Timothy is noted for having known the "holy Scriptures" from childhood, demonstrating the value of early exposure to sacred texts [13]. This early knowledge of Scripture is seen as a foundation for understanding doctrine [13].

The involvement of children in spiritual activities extends beyond mere reception. They are encouraged to "observe the law of God" and "attend to parental teaching" [1]. Proverbs 1:4 suggests that wisdom, knowledge, and understanding can be given to the young [4]. The author of Hebrews urges believers to move beyond "basic teachings" to further understanding, implying a progression in spiritual maturity that begins with foundational elements of instruction [9]. This suggests that while children start with basic teachings, they are expected to grow in their comprehension and engagement.

Parents are explicitly tasked with bringing their children to Christ, training them for God, and instructing them in God's word, including telling them of God's judgments and miraculous works [8]. Adam Clarke emphasizes the "necessity of an early religious education" throughout the "oracles of God," stating that parents who neglect this have "an awful account to give" [14]. This strong emphasis on parental responsibility underscores the active role children are meant to play in the spiritual life of the family and community, not just as learners but as participants whose understanding and obedience are valued.

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 “Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. -- Psalms 34:11”
  4. Proverbs “ut detur parvulis astutia, adolescenti scientia et intellectus. -- Proverbs 1:4”
  5. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Eleph — learning”
  6. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Chilmad — teaching or learning”
  7. Psalms “Psalms 78:6 (BSB) — that the coming generation would know them— even children yet to be born— to arise and tell their own children”
  8. 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”
  9. 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”
  10. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 34:11: Come, ye children,.... Meaning either his own children, those of his own family, judging it his duty to instruct them, and bring them up in the fear of the Lord; or his subjects, to whom he stood in the relation of a father, as every king does; or all his hearers, as those who attended the prophets are called the children or sons of the prophets; or young people in common may be designed, who should be taught early their duty to God and men: unless the children of God in general are here meant; or particularly the least among them, called babes and little children, w”
  11. Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 22:6: Here is, 1. A great duty enjoined, particularly to those that are the parents and instructors of children, in order to the propagating of wisdom, that it may not die with them: Train up children in that age of vanity, to keep them from the sins and snares of it, in that learning age, to prepare them for what they are designed for. Catechise them; initiate them; keep them under discipline. Train them as soldiers, who are taught to handle their arms, keep rank, and observe the word of command. Train them up, not in the way they would go (the bias of their corrupt ”
  12. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 34:11: David, in this latter part of the psalm, undertakes to teach children. Though a man of war, and anointed to be king, he did not think it below him; though now he had his head so full of cares and his hands of business, yet he could find heart and time to give good counsel to young people, from his own experience. It does not appear that he had now any children of his own, at least any that were grown up to a capacity of being taught; but, by divine inspiration, he instructs the children of his people. Those that were in years would not be taught by him, though he”
  13. 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 3:14: And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures,.... And therefore must know that the doctrines he had learned were agreeable to them; and so is another reason why he should continue in them. The Jews very early learned their children the holy Scripture. Philo the Jew says (w), "from their very infancy"; a phrase pretty much the same with this here used. It is a maxim with the Jews (x), that when a child was five years of age, it was proper to teach him the Scriptures. Timothy's mother being a Jewess, trained him up early in the knowledge of these writing”
  14. Joshua (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Joshua 4:22: Then ye shall let your children know - The necessity of an early religious education is inculcated through the whole oracles of God. The parents who neglect it have an awful account to give to the Judge of quick and dead.”
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