Teaching Children About God and His Attributes Effectively

Effectively teaching children about God and His attributes is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, emphasizing the parental responsibility to instruct the next generation in divine truths. The Bible presents children as a gift from God and capable of glorifying Him ^{[2, 3]}.

Parents are specifically commanded to instruct their children in God's word and ways ^{[2, 3]}. Deuteronomy 4:9 and 11:19 highlight the importance of teaching God's statutes diligently to children, while Proverbs 22:6 advises training a child in the way he should go ^{[2, 3]}. This instruction includes telling them of God's judgments and miraculous works, as seen in Exodus 10:2 and Joel 1:3 ^[3]. The goal is for children to know the Scriptures, observe God's law, obey Him, fear Him, and remember Him ^{[1, 2]}. John Gill notes that such early teaching should encompass the corruption of human nature, the need for grace, justification by Christ's righteousness, and the practices of prayer and praise ^[10].

The New Testament reinforces these principles. Ephesians 6:4 instructs fathers to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Matthew Henry interprets this as God and nature granting parents authority to command, with children's obedience to pious parents leading them toward piety ^[9]. Children are also encouraged to be brought to Christ, as exemplified when Jesus welcomed them, stating that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these (Mark 10:13-16) ^[2]. Adam Clarke stresses that parents who neglect early religious education have a significant account to give to God ^[13].

Teaching children about God's attributes involves presenting His character and works. This includes understanding Christ's excellency and glory as God, the Son of God, one with the Father, the Creator, and the image of God ^[4]. Children should learn about Christ's supreme, unlimited, and everlasting power, demonstrated in creation, upholding all things, salvation, His teaching, and miracles ^[6]. They should also be taught about Christ's meekness, which He exemplified and taught ^[7].

The instruction should also cover practical aspects of faith. Children are to attend to parental teaching, honor their parents, and obey them ^{[1, 2]}. Proverbs 1:8-9 emphasizes listening to a father's instruction and not forsaking a mother's teaching. Matthew Henry connects the fear of God and honoring parents as two fundamental laws for shaping young people ^[14]. John Gill advises children to cease hearing instruction from bad men or false teachers, emphasizing discernment ^[11].

The Bible also notes that children are capable of glorifying God (Psalm 8:2) and that the Lord is with them (1 Samuel 3:19) ^{[1, 2]}. They partake in the promises of God (Acts 2:39) and are blessed when they follow God's ways (Proverbs 3:1-4) ^[1]. The instruction is not merely intellectual but aims to cultivate a spirit of reverence and obedience. Psalm 34:11 states, "Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh" ^[5]. John Gill interprets this as teaching children their duty to God and others, or instructing young people early in life ^[12]. While children can be "impudent" and "obstinate" (Ezekiel 2:4), the consistent biblical emphasis is on the parental duty to diligently impart spiritual knowledge and guide them in God's ways ^[8].

Sources

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”
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 ”
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”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
Psalms “Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. -- Psalms 34:11”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of Christ, The — As the Son of God, is the power of God -- Joh 5:17-19; 10:28-30. As man, is from the Father -- Ac 10:38. Described as Supreme. -- Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. Unlimited. -- Mt 28:18. Over all flesh. -- Joh 17:2. Over all things. -- Joh 3:35; Eph 1:22. Glorious. -- 2Th 1:9. Everlasting. -- 1Ti 6:16. Is able to subdue all things -- Php 3:21. Exhibited in Creation. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. Upholding all things. -- Col 1:17; Heb 1:3. Salvation. -- Isa 63:1; Heb 7:25. His teaching. -- Mt 7:28,29; Lu 4:32. Working miracles. -- Mt 8:27; Lu 5:17. Enabling ot”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Meekness — Christ set an example of -- Ps 45:4; Isa 53:7; Mt 11:29; 21:5; 2Co 10:1; 1Pe 2:21-23. His teaching -- Mt 5:38-45. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22,23. Saints should Seek. -- Zep 2:3. Put on. -- Col 3:12-13. Receive the word of God with. -- Jas 1:21. Exhibit, in conduct, &c. -- Jas 3:13. Answer for their hope with. -- 1Pe 3:15. Show to all men. -- Tit 3:2. Restore the erring with. -- Ga 6:1. Precious in the sight of God -- 1Pe 3:4. Ministers should Follow after. -- 1Ti 6:11. Instruct opposers with. -- 2Ti 2:24,25. Urge, on their people. -- Tit 3:1,2. A char”
Ezekiel “Ezekiel 2:4 (Webster) — For [they are] impudent children and obstinate in heart. I send thee to them; and thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.”
Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 6:1: Here we have further directions concerning relative duties, in which the apostle is very particular. I. The duty of children to their parents. Come, you children, hearken to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. The great duty of children is to obey their parents (Eph 6:1), parents being the instruments of their being, God and nature having given them an authority to command, in subserviency to God; and, if children will be obedient to their pious parents, they will be in a fair way to be pious as they are. That obedience which God demands from their childr”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 71:17: O God, thou hast taught me from my youth,.... The corruption of human nature; the weakness and impotence of it, to everything that is spiritually good; and the need of continual strength and grace from Christ, to go to him for righteousness and strength, life and salvation, and to walk by faith on him; the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ, and the insufficiency of his own; the will, ways, and worship of God; and all the duties of religion, prayer, praise, &c. and whoever were the instruments, or whatever were the means, of teaching David these”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 19:27: Cease, my son, to hear the instruction,.... The counsel of bad men, or the doctrine of false teachers. The words are spoken either by Solomon to his son; or by Wisdom, that is, Christ, to everyone of his children, to beware of false prophets, and take heed what they hear; see Mat 7:15; such as the doctrines of the church of Rome; concerning the Scriptures, forbidding the people to read them; setting unwritten traditions upon a level with them, and making the pope an infallible interpreter of them; concerning merit, works of supererogation, indulgences, pardons, pen”
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”
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.”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 1:7: Solomon, having undertaken to teach a young man knowledge and discretion, here lays down two general rules to be observed in order thereunto, and those are, to fear God and honour his parents, which two fundamental laws of morality Pythagoras begins his golden verses with, but the former of them in a wretchedly corrupted state. Primum, deos immortales cole, parentesque honora - First worship the immortal gods, and honour your parents. To make young people such as they should be, I. Let them have regard to God as their supreme. 1. He lays down this truth, that the”

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