Teaching Children About God in a Biblical Manner

Teaching children about God in a biblical manner is presented as a fundamental duty for parents and a crucial aspect of a child's upbringing, with numerous scriptural injunctions and examples supporting this practice ^[3]. The Bible emphasizes that children are a gift from God and are capable of glorifying Him ^[2].

Parental Responsibility and Instruction

Parents receive their children from God and are tasked with their spiritual formation ^[3]. This responsibility includes several key areas:

Love and Care: Parents are to love their children and provide for them ^[3].
Bringing to Christ: A significant duty is to bring children to Christ ^[3]. Jesus Himself welcomed children, indicating His tender disposition towards them and encouraging their early application to Him ^{[2, 12]}.
Training for God: Parents are to train their children up for God ^[3]. This involves judicious training ^[2].
Instruction in God's Word: A core component of biblical parenting is instructing children in God's word ^[3]. This includes teaching them about God's judgments and His miraculous works ^[3]. Deuteronomy 4:9 and 11:19 are cited as passages emphasizing this instruction ^[3]. The necessity of an early religious education is inculcated throughout the oracles of God, and parents who neglect this have a serious account to give ^[11].
Commanding Obedience to God: Parents are to command their children to obey God ^[3].

The Old Testament provides clear directives for this instruction. For instance, Deuteronomy 31:12-13 speaks of gathering people, including children, to hear and learn to fear the Lord and observe His words ^[2]. Proverbs 22:6 advises to "train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" ^{[2, 3]}. Children are encouraged to attend to parental teaching ^{[1, 2]}.

Content of Instruction

The instruction children receive should cover various aspects of God and their relationship with Him:

Knowing the Scriptures: Children should know the Scriptures from an early age ^{[1, 15]}. Timothy is presented as an example of someone who knew the holy Scriptures from childhood ^[15]. Jewish tradition held that children should be taught the Scriptures by age five ^[15].
Obeying God's Law: Children are to observe the law of God ^[1]. Their obedience to parents is pleasing to God ^[1].
Fearing God: Children should be taught the fear of Yahweh ^[4]. David, despite his kingly duties, undertook to teach children the fear of the Lord from his own experience ^[9]. This teaching is not limited to one's own children but extends to young people in general ^{[9, 10]}. The "fear of Yahweh" implies reverence and respect for God ^[4].
Remembering God: Ecclesiastes 12:1 encourages children to "remember also your Creator in the days of your youth" ^[2].
Glorifying God: Children are capable of glorifying God, as seen in Psalms 8:2 and Matthew 21:15-16 ^[2].
Understanding God's Nature: While not explicitly detailed for children, the broader biblical understanding of God includes His excellency and glory as God, the Son of God, one with the Father, Creator, and Judge ^[6]. The Lord is described as being like a father to His children, a concept that forms the basis for Jesus' teaching about God's fatherhood ^[14].

Children's Response and Conduct

The Bible also outlines the expected conduct and spiritual state of children:

Obedience to Parents: Children are repeatedly exhorted to obey their parents ^{[1, 2]}. This obedience is "well pleasing to God" ^[1]. Ephesians 6:1 directly commands children to obey their parents, noting that parents are instruments of their being and hold authority subservient to God ^[13].
Honoring Parents: Honoring parents is a divine command ^[2]. This includes showing love, taking care of them, and making their hearts glad ^[1].
Respect for Elders: Children are to honor the aged ^[1].
Partaking in Promises: Children partake of the promises of God ^[1].
Blessings: Children who follow these instructions are promised blessings ^[1].

Conversely, the Bible addresses the characteristics and consequences of wicked children:

Lack of Knowledge of God: Wicked children are described as not knowing God ^[8].
Void of Understanding: They are void of understanding ^[8].
Pride: They can be proud ^[8].
Disobedience and Disrespect: Wicked children do not hearken to their parents, despise them, curse them, bring reproach and grief upon them, and despise their elders ^[8]. Ezekiel 2:4 describes some as "impudent children and obstinate in heart" ^[5].
Punishment: The Bible outlines punishments for specific acts of disrespect towards parents, such as setting light by them, disobeying, mocking, cursing, or smiting them ^[8].

Early Engagement with Faith

The emphasis on early instruction is consistent throughout scripture. Children are to be brought early to the house of God ^[2]. The example of Jesus welcoming little children to be brought to Him underscores the importance of early spiritual engagement ^{[2, 12]}. This early exposure and training are seen as foundational for a lifelong relationship with God. The concept of children being "children of the Lord" or "children of God" highlights their potential for a special relationship with the divine ^[7].

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”
Psalms “Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. -- Psalms 34:11”
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.”
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”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Titles and Names of Saints — Believers -- Ac 5:14; 1Ti 4:12. Beloved of God -- Ro 1:7. Beloved brethren -- 1Co 15:58; Jas 2:5. Blessed of the Lord -- Ge 24:31; 26:29. Blessed of the Father -- Mt 25:34. Brethren -- Mt 23:8; Ac 12:17. Brethren of Christ -- Lu 8:21; Joh 20:17. Called of Jesus Christ -- Ro 1:6. Children of the Lord -- De 14:1. Children of God -- Joh 11:52; 1Jo 3:10. Children of the Living God -- Ro 9:26. Children of the Father -- Mt 5:45. Children of the Highest -- Lu 6:35. Children of Abraham -- Ga 3:7. Children of Jacob -- Ps 105:6. Children of promise”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children, Wicked — Know not God -- 1Sa 2:12. Are void of understanding -- Pr 7:7. Are proud -- Isa 3:5. With regard to parents Hearken not to them. -- 1Sa 2:25. Despise them. -- Pr 15:5,20; Eze 22:7. Curse them. -- Pr 30:11. Bring reproach on them. -- Pr 19:26. Are a calamity to them. -- Pr 19:13. Are a grief to them. -- Pr 17:25. Despised their elders. -- Job 19:18. Punishment of, for Setting light by parents. -- De 27:16. Disobeying parents. -- De 21:21. Mocking parents. -- Pr 30:17. Cursing parents. -- Ex 21:15; Mr 7:10. Smiting parents. -- Ex 21:15. Mocking of a ”
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”
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.”
Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 10:13: It is looked upon as the indication of a kind and tender disposition to take notice of little children, and this was remarkable in our Lord Jesus, which is an encouragement not only to little children to apply themselves to Christ when they are very young, but to grown people, who are conscious to themselves of weakness and childishness, and of being, through manifold infirmities, helpless and useless, like little children. Here we have, I. Little children brought to Christ, Mar 10:13. Their parents, or whoever they were that had the nursing of them, brought them t”
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 (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 103:13: 103:13 The Lord is like a father to his children: This analogy forms the basis for Jesus’ teaching about God’s fatherhood (see Matt 5:43-48; 6:1; 10:19-20; 12:50; Luke 6:36; 12:29-32; John 8:31-59; 15:1-8; see also 2 Sam 7:14; Jer 3:19; 31:9; Mal 1:6; 2 Cor 6:16-18).”
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”

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