Starting a Home School Co-Op: Biblical Considerations

Biblical considerations for starting a home school co-op often center on principles of community, mutual instruction, and the holistic upbringing of children. The concept of a co-op aligns with scriptural calls for believers to "consider one another" and to "provoke unto love and to good works" ^[8]. This involves attentively fixing one's mind on the needs and characteristics of fellow believers to offer mutual help and counsel ^[8].

The Bible emphasizes the importance of instructing children in the ways of God. Deuteronomy 31:12-13 and Proverbs 22:6 highlight the need for children to be taught the Scriptures and judiciously trained ^[2]. Families are encouraged to teach the Scriptures to their children and to worship God together ^[5]. This parental responsibility for education is a recurring theme, with children being seen as a gift from God, capable of glorifying Him, and needing to be brought up in His ways ^[2]. The instruction of children should include teaching them to obey God, fear Him, remember Him, and attend to parental teaching ^[2].

A home school co-op can be viewed as an extension of the family's educational role, providing a structured environment where parents can collaborate in this endeavor. The idea of learning together is supported by passages such as Job 34:4, which states, "Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good" ^[4]. This suggests a communal approach to discerning and pursuing what is righteous.

The New Testament also speaks to the concept of mutual edification and growth within the Christian community. Hebrews 5:12 indicates that believers should progress to a point where they are capable of teaching others, rather than still needing to be taught basic principles ^[1]. This implies a dynamic where those with more understanding can assist those who are still developing. The call for "brotherly love" to continue (Hebrews 13:1) further supports the idea of Christians working together for common good, which can include educational pursuits ^[3].

John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, discusses the mutual commendation of believers to each other's prayers, noting that it "serves to keep alive a feeling of charity when they, as it were, share each other’s wants, and bear each other’s burdens" ^[9]. While Calvin applies this specifically to prayer, the underlying principle of sharing burdens and needs within the community can extend to educational support.

Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, argues that if the state undertakes the education of its populace, it is bound to conduct schools on Christian principles in a Christian country ^[6]. This perspective underscores the importance of Christian education and suggests that parents have a right to ensure their children's education aligns with their faith. Hodge also emphasizes the general rule of obedience to God, even when it conflicts with human authority, guided by a conscience enlightened by God's Word and Spirit ^[10]. This principle can inform decisions about educational choices, including forming co-ops.

The early church fathers also emphasized the importance of understanding and correctly interpreting the Holy Scriptures. Origen, for instance, noted that "numerous errors have been committed in consequence of the method in which the holy documents ought to be examined not having been discovered by the multitude" ^[7]. This highlights the need for careful instruction and guidance in biblical literacy, a goal often central to Christian home education.

Sources

Hebrews “For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food. -- Hebrews 5:12”
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 ”
Hebrews “Hebrews 13:1 (LITV) — Let brotherly love continue.”
Job “Job 34:4 (BSB) — Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Families — Of saints blessed -- Ps 128:3-6. Should Be taught the Scriptures. -- De 4:9,10. Worship God together. -- 1Co 16:19. Be duly regulated. -- Pr 31:27; 1Ti 3:4,5,12. Live in unity. -- Ge 45:24; Ps 133:1. Live in mutual forbearance. -- Ge 50:17-21; Mt 18:21,22. Rejoice together before God. -- De 14:26. Deceivers and liars should be removed from -- Ps 101:7. Warning against departing from God -- De 29:18. Punishment of irreligious -- Jer 10:25. Good -- Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 18:19. Jacob. -- Ge 35:2. Joshua. -- Jos 24:15. David. -- 2Sa 6:20. Job. -- Job 1:5.”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: a state, composed of Christians, must be governed by Christianity, so far as its spirit and precepts apply to matters of civil government. If therefore the state assumes that the education of the people is one of its functions, it is bound in a Christian country, — a country in which ninety hundredths of the population consist of Christians, — to conduct the schools on Christian principles, otherwise it tramples on the most sacred rights of the people. This the people never will submit to, until they lose all interest in their religion. N”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — FROM THE GREEK.: holy Scriptures, it is necessary to proceed to the (consideration of the) manner in which they are to be read and understood, seeing numerous errors have been committed in consequence of the method in which the holy documents[1] ought to be examined[2] not having been discovered by the multitude. For both the hardened in heart, and the ignorant persons[3] belonging to the circumcision, have not believed on our Saviour, thinking that they are following the language of the prophecies respecting Him, and not perceiving”
Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 10:24: Here, as elsewhere, hope and love follow faith; the Pauline triad of Christian graces. consider--with the mind attentively fixed on "one another" (see on Heb 3:1), contemplating with continual consideration the characters and wants of our brethren, so as to render mutual help and counsel. Compare "consider," Psa 41:1, and Heb 12:15, "(All) looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God." to provoke--Greek, "with a view to provoking unto love," instead of provoking to hatred, as is too often the case.”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: be invoked by us. Nor does it follow that such invocation is to be used because, while men are alive upon the earth, they can mutually commend themselves to each other’s prayers. It serves to keep alive a feeling of charity when they, as it were, share each other’s wants, and bear each other’s burdens. This they do by the command of the Lord, and not without a promise, the two things of primary importance in prayer. But all such reasons are inapplicable to the dead, with whom the Lord, in withdrawing them from our society, has left”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 47: 352 The Scriptural rule is simple and comprehensive. It does not go into unnecessary details. It prescribes the general rule of obedience. The exceptions to that rule must be such as justify themselves to a divinely enlightened conscience, i.e ., a conscience enlightened by the Word and Spirit of God. The general principle given in the Bible in all such cases is, “It is right to obey God rather than man.” The Promise. This commandment has a special promise attached to it. This promise has a theocratical form as it stands in the decalogue,”

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